Why Worry – Dire Straits

Posted on August 26, 2026 by observationblogger — 4 Comments

This restrained, atmospheric track from the stellar guitar rock band Dire Straits was sweet, tender music to my young ears. Along with the album’s title track, Brothers in Arms, it would signpost where Mark Knopfler was later headed with his soundtrack albums and solo career.

The 1985 album was immense, becoming the first album to sell one million copies on CD. Brothers in Arms also spent a total of 14 non-consecutive weeks at number one on the UK Albums Chart.

Why Worry is a beautifully crafted song that includes a long, soft and meandering guitar instrumental outro. In a 1989 BBC interview, Knopfler later admitted that he felt the extended four-minute instrumental outro was “pointless faffing around with pretty sounds.” Though I think many fans would disagree, as its tranquil, stress-relieving quality is a big part of the song’s appeal. Why Worry was written by Mark as a poetic message of comfort to a loved one facing difficult times.

The song has some pretty intricate finger-picked guitar work. I love the descending piano interludes throughout. It’s such a serene, lullaby-like ballad, with a melody reminiscent of the Everly Brothers, who were among Knopfler’s own musical idols. They even covered it on their 1985 album Born Yesterday.

As one astute listener commented below about Why Worry:

“Knopfler is living proof that the greatest guitarists in the world don’t need to shred at 100 mph! They can touch your heartstrings and your soul slowly and gently.”

[Verse 1]
Baby, I see this world has made you sad
Some people can be bad
The things they do, the things they say
But baby, I’ll wipe away those bitter tears
I’ll chase away those restless fears
That turn your blue skies into grey

[Chorus]
Why worry? There should be laughter after pain
There should be sunshine after rain
These things have always been the same
So why worry now?
Why worry now?

[Verse 2]
Baby, when I get down, I turn to you
And you make sense of what I do
I know it isn’t hard to say
But baby, just when this world seems mean and cold
Our love comes shining red and gold
And all the rest is by the way

[Chorus]
Why worry? There should be laughter after pain
There should be sunshine after rain
These things have always been the same
So why worry now?
Why worry now?

References:
1. Brothers in Arms (album) – Wikipedia