Seattle – Mark Knopfler

The alluring, melancholic Seattle was released on his 2012 album Privateering. The album was promoted during Knopfler’s North American tour with Bob Dylan later that year. The concerts typically consisted of Knopfler and his band performing an 11-song opening set, followed by Dylan and his band performing a 14-song set, with Knopfler accompanying Dylan on guitar for the first four songs.

This country-coloured track weaves beautifully through the gentle sounds of Knopfler’s unmistakable, lyrical guitar work and gentle vocals. Other stand-out parts are the meandering piano and the wailing pedal steel guitar. The album credits confirm Jim Cox on piano and Paul Franklin on pedal steel, with Knopfler on electric, slide and acoustic guitars.

The lyrics are beautifully cosy too, as Mark recalls to his girl their time spent on a grey day in Seattle. But something isn’t going right between them: it feels as though I have a key / But every time I try it, it won’t turn for me. Still, he’s holding out hope that there’s somewhere for them as he pleads with her to stay with him. The longing he expresses seeps into every fibre of the song’s being.

Someone wrote this interesting tidbit in the comments below:

“Imagine this: Romeo and Juliet, from that song so long ago, stuck it out. Now they’ve left NYC and hope to resettle in Seattle. But will it work? Can they make it work, after all these years? Somewhere… there’s a place for us. Maybe it’s here. We both love rain.”

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From Wikipedia:

The first studio double-album of Knopfler’s 35-year career as a recording artist, Privateering consists of 20 original songs (plus four more released in other editions), and integrates blues rock with traditional folk and country genres.

It reached the number one position on album charts in Austria, Germany, Norway and the Netherlands, as well as the number two or three position in Belgium, Italy, New Zealand, Poland, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

The album peaked at number eight in the United Kingdom. The album was released in North America a full year after its European release due to a contractual dispute between Knopfler and his North American distributors.

[Verse 1]
Above the bar, the TVs are showing the game
But we’re not watching it, we’re hardly focussing
Through the windows in the fading day
1st Avenue is turning grey

[Pre-Chorus]
Do you ever look at me and see another man?
Let’s get two more beers and try to make a plan
Sometimes it feels as though I have a key
But every time I try it, it won’t turn for me

[Chorus]
Seattle
You’ve got to love the rain
And we both love rain
We both love rain

[Verse 2]
We watched the city skyline from the ferry deck
And you put your arms around my neck
We talked of looking just out of town
Now it’s looking like a dream shot down

[Pre-Chorus]
I still believe that there’s somewhere for us
But now that’s something that we don’t discuss
And you’re the best thing I ever knew
Stay with me, baby, and we’ll make it to
We’ll make it to

[Chorus]
Seattle
You’ve got to love the rain
And we both love rain
We both love rain

[Chorus]
Seattle
I want you just the same
And we both love rain
We both love rain

References:
1. Privateering (album) – Wikipedia