I first heard the live version of today’s featured track on the above ‘Money For Nothing‘ greatest hits record (1988) which I purchased in my teens. It was a previously unreleased outtake from Alchemy: Dire Straits Live, 1984. Only 2 days ago did I hear for the first time the original acoustic version from the album Communiqué which I also enjoyed. Both versions are presented below. Portobello Belle always struck me as such an underrated and beautiful song in the Dire Straits collection. It’s sad, amusing, infectious, mysterious, accurate (according to accounts below), and uplifting at the same time. All in all, it’s just great songwriting and makes me smile whatever mood I’m in.
According to Song Meanings, Mark Knopfler wrote this song at Portobello Road London, in a pub called The Duke of Wellington. He was there often as a guest and wrote it for a pretty young lady who was the sister of the manager. The pub was often visited by the Dubliners, Donovan and Jimi Hendrix who celebrated his last night there. Also it’s said Adele signed her first contract at The Duke and it was also her hang out place before she became famous.
Described as an Irish reggae number it sees Mark exploring the streets of his adopted home Portobello Road. It’s also said the Irish and Jamaicans very much the low-status immigrants from the area in those days.
One contributor in Song Meanings said he worked as a street performer in the 80s in Portobello road. Here is what he wrote:
I recognise some of the people in the song. The “man on his back there escaping from a sack there” was a hard-drinking escapologist up at the top end near the Earl of Lonsdale who had one trick getting free of a chain he asked someone from the crowd to tighten, collect the money and down to the pub. He was miserable old bastard who had been there since the 50s I was told by some stallholders. He actually threatened me once cos I took his pitch and he was desperate for a drink. “The blind man singing Irish” was a blind busker on the corner further down the road. He collected his money in a kind of brass collection dish that organ grinders usually had. The song (he sang “about the long gone Irish girl” was “Molly Malone”, (She wheels her barrow through streets broad and narrow etc) , with which MK also hinted at the long-goneness of the Belle.
The following was extracted from the Wikipedia reference below:
Portobello Belle was released on Dire Straits‘ second album Communiqué in 1979. The album featured the single Lady Writer, which reached number 45 on the Billboard chart and number 51 in the UK. The album reached number one on album charts in Germany, Spain, New Zealand, and Sweden, number 11 in the United States and number 5 in the United Kingdom.
It is the last album to feature David Knopfler, who departed from the band during the making of their following album, and the last with the original lineup. He left over creative differences with his brother during the recording of their third album in August 1980.
[Verse 1]
Bella donna’s on the high street
Her breasts upon the off beat
And the stalls are just the side shows
Victoriana’s old clothes
And yes, her jeans are tight now
She got to travel light now
She got to turn up all her roots now
She got to turn up for the boots now
[Chorus]
She thinks she’s tough
She ain’t no English rose
Ah, but the blind singer
He’s seen enough and he knows
Yes, and he do a song about a long-gone Irish girl
Ah, but I got one for you, Portobello Belle
[Verse 2]
She sees a man upon his back there
Escaping from a sack there
And bella donna lingers
Her gloves ain’t got no fingers
Yeah, the blind man sing in Irish
He get his money in a tin dish
Just a corner serenader
Upon a time he could have made her, made her
[Chorus]
[Verse 3]
Yes, and the barrow boys are hawking
And the parakeet’s squawking
Upon a truck there is a rhino
She get the crying of a wino
And then she hear the reggae rumble
Bella donna’s in the jungle
But she is no garden flower
There is no distress in the tower
[Outro]
Bella donna walks
Bella donna taking a stroll
She don’t care about your window box or your buttonhole
Yes, and she sing a song about a long-gone Irish girl
Ah, but I got one for you, Portobello Belle
References:
1. Song Meanings – Portobello Belle
2. Communiqué (Dire Straits album) – Wikipedia
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
Observation Blogger 
Interest pick, Matt. I’m pretty familiar with Dire Straits’ catalog including the “Communiqué” album. But I didn’t recall that track. In addition to the title track, I best recall “Once Upon a Time In a West” and “Lady Writer.” I’m glad you highlighted another song.
Do you have a favorite Dire Straits album? If I could pick one only, I think I’d go with their self-titled debut. I also really dig “Making Movies” and “Love Over Gold.”
I always liked the songwriting in ‘Portobello Belle’. He evokes a carnival-like street atmosphere which puts the listener front and centre into what’s going on in that time and place. I liked “Once Upon a Time In a West” and “Lady Writer” as well.
Regarding favourite albums, I mostly listened to the ‘The Money For Nothing’ greatest hits album. I think I have posted on more songs from his solo career (including soundtrack albums) than with Dire Straits. May be I should listen to those albums you hold in such high regard. Cheers, man.
Thanks for the history lesson on The Duke of Wellington…I never heard of that before. I’ve read about The Tramp, The Marquee Club, Ronnie Scotts, The Roundhouse, The Scotch of Saint James, and The Bag o Nails…but never this one…I’ll have to look into that one.
Love the song…I had this album along with their debut….it’s been a while!
I was surprised there was no other source to verify the information apart from ‘Song Meanings’. And you just gotta hope they are right.
Wow you’ve read of a lot of places. Impressive. Obviously you have a great memory.
They were ingrained in British Rock from the 60s and 70s…walk in there and you could meet around anyone… it probably is right.
The account of the street performer was great and seemed accurate, based on the lyrics.
sitting sipping, listening to music, Down to the Waterline is playing…perfect timing, excellent…
Sounds like a wonderful Saturday night Dylan. Cheers.
it’s always the timing…
Thank you very much! Really great read.I was actually just remembering when I visited Portobello Road back in 2017. As a fan of Dire Straits and that song, I couldn’t help but think of it while I was there.My favorite version is the one from the original Money for Nothing compilation — the live version I grew up listening to in the ’80s. That version is very special and has a completely different vibe from the studio one and even from the other live versions. It’s almost a different song, since the vocal and instrumental performances have a certain degree of improvisation that make it truly unique.I was disappointed when they reissued the compilation and used a different live take of the track.
That must have been marvellous — lucky you to have visited the actual place! I can only imagine how much that experience must have deepened your sense of the song, giving it a renewed feeling of place and history. It seems our favourite versions are one and the same. I don’t recall hearing the reissued live version, though. Thanks for chiming in, Isaac, and sharing your personal connection with the song.