Classical Composer Reaction & Analysis of Brothers in Arms (Dire Straits) | The Daily Doug (Ep. 486)

#direstraits #brothersinarms

In this episode of #thedailydoug, I'm returning to music by Dire Straits...and I was not disappointed! Brothers in Arms is the title track from their fifth album, released in 1985. It's an understated and emotionally rivoting song about the follies of war and of the comradery between its participants on the front lines. This song especially hit home for me, as it is just a few days after Veterans Day (Armistice Day). Peace to you all!

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[michaelbaucom]

Mark's voice is the narrator, Mark's guitar is the singer...

[APthefirst]

This song does an amazing job walking the line between honoring the soldiers while condemning the wars they are sent to fight. So many vets love this song.

[MarioCosta]

"We're fools to make war on our brothers in arms" is one of the greatest lines ever.

[martinlong]

I was in the British Army at the time of the Falklands conflict. My Regiment were on 24 hour standby to deploy, fortunately we werent called upon.
Always brings a lump to my throat when I hear this masterpiece.
As a side note, my nephew was killed by friendly fire in the gulf war (I won't name the nation responsible for his death here). It's been well documented.
To all Brothers in Arms, I salute you.

[oal]

Mark's voice tells the story. The guitar expresses the pain.

[Doctorbeermaker]

My late brother in law had this played at his humanist funeral. It says a great deal about many aspects of life. far more meaningful than an empty hymn

[Geotubest]

"But it's written in the starlight
And every line in your palm
We're fools to make war
On our brothers in arms". That lyric gets me every time.

[hipeli]

For me the guitar line that follows "let me bid you farewell" is the greatest line played in the history of man. It's so sad but yet full of hope. Pure perfection. It brings tear to my eye every time and i can't even listen to this song in public places because it shatters my soul every time.

[agirotto]

Mark's guitar playing is always touching and sensitive. With David Gilmour and Brian May, he's in my pantheon of guitar playing.

[photobearcmh]

There is some sadness magic in that chord progression. This song makes me feel like weeping less than a minute in. So powerfully evocative.

[gbluemoon]

I was a British Soldier for 18 years (87 - 05) ... this is still the song I want at my funeral... and he is talking about all soldiers.... and I still have tears when I listen to it...

[Neil_BT]

Our local radio station always plays this on Armistice Day - 2 minute silence, then the last post, then this. Can't imagine the album finishing any other way than this song gently fading out in to the distance.

[pbrynild]

I was lucky enough to introduce Dire Straits to my father when I was a student back in the 90s. He absolutely loved it and told me a couple of times throughout his life that he would like 'Brothers in arms' to be played at his funeral. And in 2020 I made sure that it was indeed played in his funeral. Such a wonderful piece of music.

[domenicov_versus]

Another masterpiece by Mark Knopfler that shows his immense class of songwriter, poet and storyteller. The Gibson les paul in his hands sounds like a crying and sobbing cello. Pure art.

[freudsigmund]

The reality of war is not that you as a soldier might die.
The reality of war is that some of your brothers WILL die.

so well adressed in these lyrics.
I can't listen to this song without tearing up.

[petervenkman]

Mark Knopfler had an uncle who served as a piper in the Black Watch during ww2 and died holding the line so that troops could retreat from Dunkirk. This inspired a song called "Piper till the End" which he released in 2009 one of his many solo albums "Get Lucky"

[blackysalamanka]

This song is about something Mark's father said about Falklands war. Mark is a great songwritter and musician. Im from Argentina, is allways going to be a very sad piece of our history to remember.

[tommonk]

Brothers in Arms is simply fantastic. I get teary every time I hear it. The album cut is sublime. Really powerful song. I love the way it builds....

[ArrowtheACL]

Doug says it so perfectly in this video. We ask our soldiers to sacrifice so much, but get so little in return when they come back home.

[PeterBuwen]

One of the saddest and most beautiful songs I know. Some would say: "a masterpiece". I say: a revelation.