Top 22 Mark Knopfler Quotes

What I always try to do is to respond to the song; I’ve always rebelled against theory.

While I was into many different types of music, and played with many different local groups, I really didn’t have a band to call my own until Dire Straits was formed in 1977.

Whenever a political regime or religious establishment refuses to tolerate criticism, it advertises itself as repressive, backward, and insecure.

I don’t know whether your heart ever necessarily changes, but time changes the way that you perceive the world. And you just hope it gives you more empathy and all those other things.

If you feel that you’re not getting enough out of a song, change the instrument – go from an acoustic to an electric or vice versa, or try an open tuning. Do something to shake it up.

I actually spend as much time listening to new music as to old. Probably more. I just try to get something out of it all.

I don’t like definitions, but if there is a definition of freedom, it would be when you have control over your reality to transform it, to change it, rather than having it imposed upon you. You can’t really ask for more than.

While listening, to things like western swing, for instance, I’d work something out in my head, then play it on my National; not the same song, but one that captured the feeling of the original tune.

I’m not a collector, however, and I have no desire to own 50 or 60 guitars.

I just try to stay fit. That’s important – just to try to stay physically fit so you can go out there and play. You do need to be in reasonable shape.

If you’re thinking the road ahead is a little shorter than the one behind you, you’re thinking about trying to write a good song and hoping to make a decent record of it.

There happened to be guitar classes at the college, and there was a guitar teacher there with whom I used to play. In addition, I also would go out into country schools and teach little kids basic guitar and singing a few times a week.

After a while, though, the group just wasn’t a good vehicle for the songs I’d written.

The music just tends to be a vehicle for that poetry.

The ‘music industry‘ is not a term I use. I tend to concentrate on music, and the music business is something different.

I love Gibsons, and Nationals, too. There’s something magical about them.

I did learn eventually – perhaps far too late – to respect the talent I have. For a lot of years out there, I was just bashing on to the next thing and not really thinking about it too much. That’s what we do. But I’m learning to appreciate the moment.

I like to buy records for people, make a present of the music.

For me, songwriting is really where it’s at. I turn to use the guitar just to help me write the songs. That’s it. As a result, my guitar playing suffers pretty horribly.

Instead of receding, the past actually becomes more important. That’s what will happen to you. It sounds unlikely, but the past actually changes complexion as you get older.

I just want to be able to play and make people feel good with what I do. When you’re thinking that way, anything can happen. And, usually, what happens is good.

Each song has its own secret that’s different from another song, and each has its own life. Sometimes it has to be teased out, whereas other times it might come fast. There are no laws about songwriting or producing. It depends on what you’re doing, not just who you’re doing.