Knopfler, Mark - Matchstick Man Lyrics

This is a bit bland for my taste, I am a big MK fan though for sure

When he said "no one invited you"...I felt that.

I every time I play the song, I wonder if Mark ever got home that Christmas day.
Maybe thats what He wants us to do..

Saw him play some of this on Brian Johnson's show and immediately had to look it up. Absolutely one of my favorite musicians of all time. Such an extraordinary artist and gentleman

Hey that's why I'm here too :3

Had no idea about this 'Brian Johnson show' and now it's safe to say I know what I'll be binge-watching this weekend!!

Great music , all the album !!!!!!!! ♪♥♫ Thank you Mark, i hope you could come in Greece soon for a live , you have so many friends here that love you and your music. Take care and keep making great music!!!! Love and greetings from Thessaloniki, Greece. ♥
Yianna P.

If this song doesn't make your heart respond, you need to go and see if you've still got one...

Saw him a few weeks ago at red rocks. It was may first ever live concert and it was amazing.

Tyler, good for you! What a great first concert to see. I'm 72, I've seen many a live concert, but not Mark Knopfler. He's on my bucket list.

@DPB1947 might be too late now or perhaps you would need to pop in to London as he's said the long tours would be over

I don't know your age, but I assume you are young. Please treasure this man - he is simply the best song composer & guitar player, as an overall package in my life ( I am 58). There are bette guitar players, & perhaps better songwriters, but for me, Mark is pure class and humble. Chances are, at age 70, he will not tour (globally) again. No one emotes like this man's music. I hope you will grow into appreciating & keeping alive this man's music long after he is gone.

I've seen him I believe it was 1980 at the Park West in Chicago. Can't believe the years have flown by so fast. So glad I was able to tag along on this journey. ❤️

vintagestrings6 Good thing you didn’t get lost in the snow. ;)

Great song! I love Mr. Knopfler's electric guitar playing, but it's very nice to hear him on acoustic occasionally. Such a rare talent to be able to capture tremendous feeling and a sense of place and time. Well done!

This one became a special one to me..

At The Met in Philadelphia, on 8/17/19, MK shared that this song is about one Christmas wherein he found himself in the South of England after playing some gigs and decided to hitchhike home. A kind trucker helped him make it to a certain point, where he dropped him off at a crossroads so he could more easily continue his journey; however, it snowed and there wasn't a vehicle in sight! As he stood there completely alone, it was quiet and beautiful, which helped him to reflect upon his life and write this beautiful song. He never finished the story, so I'm not sure how he made it the rest of the way home, but I think we've all had a moment in our lives which have sparked an epiphany. This was his. :)

nice concert in Vienna, disappointing that brothers in arms was not performed...

One bit of advice: never, ever go to a concert and expect (or even hope) for a specific old song to be played. Simply enjoy the music that’s right there in front of you. Re-hashing those old songs must be a terrible bore for performers... I’m surprised Mark Knopfler still plays so many of those, having had such a vast career after Dire Staits. I once went to a Birdy-concert.. some people were simply waiting for her to play ‘Skinny Love’.. and surely they would have left disappointed if she hadn’t played it! She played it on that occasion, but what a waste if her audience can’t simply enjoy her recent music... only waiting for that one song! And this was a rather young audience, already sort of stuck in the past. What a waste.

Drove from Penzance right up to North Wales must of listened to this song 20 times.

Top notch concert at Antwerp yesterday, True legend!

Saw this genius at the O2 in London 2 weeks ago where he sat and explained the entire concept of this tune...superb concert, my favourite guitarist and songwriter...quality concert again....as ever

God this guy is good. Just listen to the words, and place yourself in the same circumstances as one who is now on the verge of 70 reflecting on his youth. Is life fleeting?

-for slowly ,mark,(not good old days,this)

Seen him live last night in my home town Newcastle. Legend and this song got me x

It was brilliant....

Lucky man

Mark gracias por toda tu música sublime. Pones banda sonora a todos mis días de existencia. Gracias de corazón.

Thank you Mark 👌

This album is brilliant. The mood is so nice.

I really hope this song doesn't mark a sign off from MK - I know he can't go on forever I hope this isn't the end of him producing new music.

2 good!

You Mark Knopfler continue to pull every string of my heart! Thank-you so much for your music/art!

If anyone's not aware, it's about Mark playing a gig in Cornwall on Christmas eve when he was in his youth and his subsequent journey home the next day. Honestly, it fills me up when I listen to it. I hate to think it's his swan song, as, like many of us, MK's been a massive part of my life over the years. But if it is his finale then it's an absolute bloody masterpiece.

And maybe you got it right TSK 126, maybe it is. And indeed it is a bloody masterpiece.

There's something about this song that feels like a swan song.

This is charming, maestro!!!

Very innocent lyrics, isn't it? Haha! If people treat you like a vaga-bond, then do the same back to them. I just don't want to ride with my girlfriend and not with girls, and it's ok to me that a girl is stronger than me in the relatioship, that's main all.

So there he was then, Penzance to play
Christmas Eve in a nowhere band
Now early morning Christmas Day
He’s hitching home to Geordieland

Last night the snow came, just my luck
And who the hell do you think you are
Climbing up into that truck
With your old bag and your guitar

And you, you would-be vagabond
No-one invited you, you know
Matchstick man, up in the dawn
You’ve got five hundred miles to go

The driver now must drop off his load
The snow still laying thick on the ground
Leaves him on a high crossroads
Where he can see for miles around

The sun is shining, sky is blue
And everything is white and bare
Not a car comes into view
There’s nothing moving anywhere

And you, you would-be vagabond
No-one invited you, you know
Matchstick man, you speck upon
These vast and silent plains of snow

So there he was then, Penzance to play
Christmas Eve in a nowhere band
Now early morning Christmas Day
He’s hitching home to Geordieland

Last night the snow came, just my luck
And who the hell do you think you are
Climbing up into that truck
With your old bag and your guitar

And you, you would-be vagabond
No one invited you, you know
Matchstick man, up in the dawn
You’ve got five hundred miles to go

The driver now must drop off his load
The snow still laying thick on the ground
Leaves him on a high crossroads
Where he can see for miles around

The sun is shining, sky is blue
And everything is white and bare
Not a car comes into view
There’s nothing moving anywhere

And you, you would-be vagabond
No one invited you, you know
Matchstick man, you speck upon
These vast and silent plains of snow

I think Mark and my other favourite geordie lad Chris Rea would have made a wonderful bluesy/jazzy/folk album together. Here's wishing both all the best for 2019 - especially Chris after his collapse on stage this year.

oh yeah damn right heart of oak no doubt in my mind....i always thought that song should have been longer. now it is....that maybe why its a bonus song?

Heart of oak? sounds familiar :)

Imprimes tu sello en cada uno de tus temas. Thank Mark 🎸🎼

Спасибо!!! Этот альбом, как спасательный круг. Я так боялась Рождества. А теперья я знаю как я его проведу. Спасибо!

So there he was then, Penzance to play
Christmas Eve in a nowhere band
Now early morning Christmas Day
He’s hitching home to Geordieland

Last night the snow came, just my luck
And who the hell do you think you are
Climbing up into that truck
With your old bag and your guitar

And you, you would-be vagabond
No-one invited you, you know
Matchstick man, up in the dawn
You’ve got five hundred miles to go

The driver now must drop off his load
The snow still laying thick on the ground
Leaves him on a high crossroads
Where he can see for miles around

The sun is shining, sky is blue
And everything is white and bare
Not a car comes into view
There’s nothing moving anywhere

And you, you would-be vagabond
No-one invited you, you know
Matchstick man, you speck upon
These vast and silent plains of snow

thank you again Mr Mark "The Greatest" for sharing your world-soul with us

So there he was then, Penzance to play
Christmas Eve in a nowhere band
Now early morning Christmas Day
He’s hitching home to Geordieland

Last night the snow came, just my luck
And who the hell do you think you are
Climbing up into that truck
With your old bag and your guitar

And you, you would-be vagabond
No-one invited you, you know
Matchstick man, up in the dawn
You’ve got five hundred miles to go

The driver now must drop off his load
The snow still laying thick on the ground
Leaves him on a high crossroads
Where he can see for miles around

The sun is shining, sky is blue
And everything is white and bare
Not a car comes into view
There’s nothing moving anywhere

And you, you would-be vagabond
No-one invited you, you know
Matchstick man, you speck upon
These vast and silent plains of snow

Sweet song!

👌❤️

Heart of Oak deserved an extended version and here it is...perfect!!

Exactly what I thought.