1982
Performed by Dire Straits
Words and Music by Dire Straits
A pretty obvious choice. The unnamed gumshoe in Mark Knopler’s bittersweet, downbeat blues from the 1982 album Love Over Gold seems to have had a few too many cases turn out like that of the detective in Ed Hamell’s “The Long Drive.” He sits in his office, at the end of the day, and offers up a litany of minor key ruminations on the life. Imagine Marlowe with the blues, a bottle, and a guitar, too depressed to even wisecrack. Uplifting it ain’t.
Pass the bottle.
It’s a mystery to me The game commences For the usual fee Plus expenses Confidential information It’s in a diary This is my investigation It’s not a public inquiry
I go checking out the reports
Digging up the dirt You get to meet all sorts In this line of work Treachery and treason There’s always an excuse for it And when I find the reason I still can’t get used to itAnd what have you got
At the end of the day? What have you got To take away? A bottle of whisky And a new set of lies Blinds on a window And a pain behind the eyesScarred for life
No compensation Private investigationsAVAILABLE ON
- Love Over Gold | Buy this CD
FURTHER INVESTIGATION
- It’s Only Words
Lyrics to Some Songs About Private Eyes