Anyone who is familiar with my blog will know what a big admirer I am of Mark Knopfler. He has been on my playlist for years and has featured here prominently. A lot of his solo music (post Straits) is intimate, unassuming and restrained. No fancy fireworks solos… just pure groove and feel. I have presented the original studio version of today’s featured track Postcards From Paraguay and below that a live performance from the Meistersaal, Berlin on the 10th September 2007 filmed and broadcast by German TV station. Just last night I was watching Paraguayan football team (Nacional) comfortably dispense with Colombian team (Atletico Nacional) in the Copa Libertadores (South American Club football tournament). Paraguay is a South American country located in the southern central region.
Postcards From Paraguay is the second song to be presented here from Mark Knopfler’s fourth solo studio album Shangri-La . The previous entry was the title-track. In March 2003, Knopfler was involved in a motorbike crash in Grosvenor Road, Belgravia, and suffered a broken collarbone, broken shoulder blade, and seven broken ribs. Knopfler spent seven months away from the guitar in physiotherapy, but eventually recovered and was able to return to the studio in 2004 for his fourth album and supporting tour the following year.
[Verse 1]
One thing was leading to the next
I bit off more than I could chew
I had the power to sign the cheques
It wasn’t difficult to do
[Chorus]
I couldn’t stay and face the music
So many reasons why
I won’t be sending postcards
From Paraguay
From Paraguay
From Paraguay
[Verse 2]
I robbed a bank full of dinero
A great big mountain of dough
So it was goodbye compañero
And cheerio
“Postcards From Paraguay”: I imagined some errant individual doing a runner with the stolen loot. Someone suggested to me recently that the album is partly about the honest toiler versus those who thrive on ill-gotten gains. Perhaps the subject has been more on my mind in these days of corporate crime.
– Mark Knophler
References:
1. Shangri-La (Mark Knopfler album) – Wikipedia
2. Stories From Shangri-La / Interview with Mark Knopfler
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
Observation Blogger 
Great song
Hi Tom. I didn’t really appreciate it much upon first listen, but upon subsequent listens it just keeps getting better to my ears. That’s the same with a lot of his solo material. I’m chuffed you liked it.
Was not familiar with this song, but it has such a pleasing melody. I love the organ and Knopfler’s warm vocals, and those guitars are stunning!
I’m glad I was able to bring it to your attention Jeff and that your liked it so much. I couldn’t have more aptly worded what I liked about this song as much as what you did here. Thanks friend.
Mark Knopfler is an ace guitarist in my book. I still remember how blown away I was when I first listened to “Sultans of Swing”. To me, that will always remain “the classic Mark Knopfler”. I didn’t know “Postcards From Paraguay” – love it!
Do you know he has a new album coming up? It’s called “One Deep River” and is slated for April 12.
Yeh, I suspect Knopfler is in my top 5 favourite guitarists in contemporary music. I think his legacy excluding his time with Dire Straits is under regarded; including his contributions with other artists like Dylan, his soundtracks and solo works.
I’m chuffed you liked ‘Postcard from Paraguay’. I didn’t know he had a new album coming out until now. Thanks a bunch Christian! I will be on the look-out for sure.