Dire Straits — Water Of Love
Album: Dire StraitsAvg rating:
Your rating:
Total ratings: 3218
Length: 5:16
Plays (last 30 days): 2
share
tweet
High and dry in the long hot day
Lost and lonely every way
Got the flats all around me sky up above
Yes I need a little water of love
I've been too long lonely and my heart feels pain
Crying out for some soothing rain
I believe I have taken enough
Yes I need a little water of love
Water of love deep in the ground
But there ain't no water here to be found
Some day baby when the river runs free
It's gonna carry that water of love to me
There's a bird up in a tree sitting up high
Just a-waiting for me to die
If I don't get some water soon
I'll be dead and gone in the afternoon
Water of love deep in the ground
But there ain't no water here to be found
Some day baby when the river runs free
It's gonna carry that water of love to me
Once I had a woman I could call my own
Once I had a woman now my woman she gone
Once there was a river now there's a stone
You know it's evil when you're living alone
Water of love deep in the ground
But there ain't no water here to be found
Some day baby when the river runs free
It's gonna carry that water of love to me
(Carry that) water of love deep in the ground
But there ain't no water here to be found
Some day baby when the river runs free
It's gonna carry that water of love to me
Lost and lonely every way
Got the flats all around me sky up above
Yes I need a little water of love
I've been too long lonely and my heart feels pain
Crying out for some soothing rain
I believe I have taken enough
Yes I need a little water of love
Water of love deep in the ground
But there ain't no water here to be found
Some day baby when the river runs free
It's gonna carry that water of love to me
There's a bird up in a tree sitting up high
Just a-waiting for me to die
If I don't get some water soon
I'll be dead and gone in the afternoon
Water of love deep in the ground
But there ain't no water here to be found
Some day baby when the river runs free
It's gonna carry that water of love to me
Once I had a woman I could call my own
Once I had a woman now my woman she gone
Once there was a river now there's a stone
You know it's evil when you're living alone
Water of love deep in the ground
But there ain't no water here to be found
Some day baby when the river runs free
It's gonna carry that water of love to me
(Carry that) water of love deep in the ground
But there ain't no water here to be found
Some day baby when the river runs free
It's gonna carry that water of love to me
Comments (233)add comment
I didn't even own a turntable in 1978 when they released this LP. I was so blown away by his guitar work I want out and bought the record anyway.
This entire album is a masterpiece.
paul28 wrote:
No, written by Mark Knopfler!
Is this a Jj Cale song? I saw DS in a pub in Putney London before any albums. It seems like a week later they where one of the biggest stadium bands in the world.
No, written by Mark Knopfler!
jas1776 wrote:
I think you're talking about Nighthawks, by Edward Hopper. Both have a certain haunting feeling
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
Not to be confused with nighthawks at the diner by Tom waits
I think you're talking about Nighthawks, by Edward Hopper. Both have a certain haunting feeling
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
Not to be confused with nighthawks at the diner by Tom waits
lily34 wrote:
yeah. it reminds me of a couple other things, too. like a rothko piece. or that one of a shot outside a diner at night, i forget the artist and title of the piece...damnit.
also, love the song, too.
yeah. it reminds me of a couple other things, too. like a rothko piece. or that one of a shot outside a diner at night, i forget the artist and title of the piece...damnit.
also, love the song, too.
Is this a Jj Cale song? I saw DS in a pub in Putney London before any albums. It seems like a week later they where one of the biggest stadium bands in the world.
The (c)lean sound they produced on their first (two) albums is the truest DS to me. Later on they sounded more refined with elaborate orchestration, keyboards and such, but in turn, lost some of their original purity.
Edweirdo wrote:
WHAT'S IT LIKE ON PLANET KNOB!!!
I saw Dire Straits supporting Talking Heads in Swindon, UK in 1978. I thought they were a competent pub band then, and have not since felt any need to revise this opinion.
WHAT'S IT LIKE ON PLANET KNOB!!!
What a genius first album. Not many bands could have follow up after that album but Dire Straits certainly did!!!
Stratocaster wrote:
Sitting on my deck in Nassau, Bahamas. Overlooking my dock, my boat, and a bunch of coconut trees. Different climate, same feels for Bill & Rebecca.
Sitting in my home office with a pair of Stax, great cognac, RP and its 23:50 on a 'school night' after a hot humid day in NZ.
Trying ...kinda... to go to bed, but the the damn' music's just so good!
Different climate, same feels for Bill & Rebecca.
Sitting on my deck in Nassau, Bahamas. Overlooking my dock, my boat, and a bunch of coconut trees. Different climate, same feels for Bill & Rebecca.
Sitting in my home office with a pair of Stax, great cognac, RP and its 23:50 on a 'school night' after a hot humid day in NZ.
Trying ...kinda... to go to bed, but the the damn' music's just so good!
Different climate, same feels for Bill & Rebecca.
Vintage....very nice 
lily34 wrote:
yeah. it reminds me of a couple other things, too. like a rothko piece. or that one of a shot outside a diner at night, i forget the artist and title of the piece...damnit.
also, love the song, too.
Hopper's Nighthawks at the diner?
yeah. it reminds me of a couple other things, too. like a rothko piece. or that one of a shot outside a diner at night, i forget the artist and title of the piece...damnit.
also, love the song, too.
Hopper's Nighthawks at the diner?
jjtwister wrote:
Sitting on my deck in Nassau, Bahamas. Overlooking my dock, my boat, and a bunch of coconut trees. Different climate, same feels for Bill & Rebecca.
Sitting in my shed in Vermont with the Woodstove blazing and listening to RP. Thanks Bill and Rebecca for all the great tunes
Sitting on my deck in Nassau, Bahamas. Overlooking my dock, my boat, and a bunch of coconut trees. Different climate, same feels for Bill & Rebecca.
Come on this is Knofler for christ sake
he don't do bad.
10/10
he don't do bad.
10/10
Just Sublime!
An album I can always listen to.
MASTERPIECE ALBUM ....
Edweirdo wrote:
I saw Dire Straits supporting Talking Heads in Swindon, UK in 1978. I thought they were a competent pub band then, and have not since felt any need to revise this opinion.
jjtwister wrote:
Never been to Vermont. But I get the feeling.
Sitting in my shed in Vermont with the Woodstove blazing and listening to RP. Thanks Bill and Rebecca for all the great tunes
Never been to Vermont. But I get the feeling.
Aaronosteo wrote:
Surely their back catalogue doesn't change each year...? Must be your appreciation of it improving with age
Mightly fine music though!!
DS. Their back catalogue only gets better each passing year.
Surely their back catalogue doesn't change each year...? Must be your appreciation of it improving with age
Mightly fine music though!!
I saw Dire Straits supporting Talking Heads in Swindon, UK in 1978. I thought they were a competent pub band then, and have not since felt any need to revise this opinion.
Vivid picture of the human condition.
I just left Las Vegas and I am heading up to Panamint Springs to look at the night sky , God this is such a pretty drive across Nevada to California
Well, it was 'Sultans' that brought me to this band, back in '78. So I have a different perspective on that song. 'Sultans' introduced all of us to DS, which is what I remember every time I hear 'Sultans'. I agree with your assessment of the rest of the album. You kinda know that Knopfler can do no wrong! Happy Anniversary!
COMMANDER_KENT wrote:
Every song on the first LP was a smash! My least favorite was sultans of swing. Maybe because commercial radio played it to death.
Walking in the wild west end was the song my wife and I danced too at our wedding. 1984! We still dance to it 34 years later...
COMMANDER_KENT wrote:
Every song on the first LP was a smash! My least favorite was sultans of swing. Maybe because commercial radio played it to death.
Walking in the wild west end was the song my wife and I danced too at our wedding. 1984! We still dance to it 34 years later...
I loooooooooooove this album 
I'll give you this Bill, at least you didn't go for the low hanging pandemic fruit like "It's The End of the World as We Know It"
Remember learning to drive a stick in a pickup truck at 16 with this tape on repeat. One of the best debut albums ever IMHO. Classic and brilliant!
COMMANDER_KENT wrote:
You two dug the deep well. Keep on rock steady.
Every song on the first LP was a smash! My least favorite was sultans of swing. Maybe because commercial radio played it to death.
Walking in the wild west end was the song my wife and I danced too at our wedding. 1984! We still dance to it 34 years later...
Walking in the wild west end was the song my wife and I danced too at our wedding. 1984! We still dance to it 34 years later...
You two dug the deep well. Keep on rock steady.
10 for the guitar, 8 for the song as a whole.
Lots of hints of where he was headed in the future.
Lots of hints of where he was headed in the future.
definitely a 10 for me , the lead guitar is a killer .
так лутьше
This is a great track, and I love how a great guitarist can play notes that almost sound off, yet knowing he's doing it on purpose stirs something inside me that I can not describe....so I'll just say it's a 9 (almost a 10....) and Long Live RP!!
way too much old stuff on RP... ho hum mostly... and I'm 57. please, some decent music after 1990!!!!!!
lily34 wrote:
yeah. it reminds me of a couple other things, too. like a rothko piece. or that one of a shot outside a diner at night, i forget the artist and title of the piece...damnit.
also, love the song, too.
Edward Hopper?
yeah. it reminds me of a couple other things, too. like a rothko piece. or that one of a shot outside a diner at night, i forget the artist and title of the piece...damnit.
also, love the song, too.
Edward Hopper?
DS. Their back catalogue only gets better each passing year.
lily34 wrote:
yeah. it reminds me of a couple other things, too. like a rothko piece. or that one of a shot outside a diner at night, i forget the artist and title of the piece...damnit.
also, love the song, too.
I think you're talking about Nighthawks, by Edward Hopper. Both have a certain haunting feeling
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
yeah. it reminds me of a couple other things, too. like a rothko piece. or that one of a shot outside a diner at night, i forget the artist and title of the piece...damnit.
also, love the song, too.
I think you're talking about Nighthawks, by Edward Hopper. Both have a certain haunting feeling
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
One of my all-time favorites.
COMMANDER_KENT wrote:
One hell of a choice. I was lucky enough to see DS with all the original members after Communique came out. Ian Gomm opened, and he joined them for an encore of "Gloria". That was cool as hell.
Every song on the first LP was a smash! My least favorite was sultans of swing. Maybe because commercial radio played it to death.
Walking in the wild west end was the song my wife and I danced too at our wedding. 1984! We still dance to it 34 years later...
Walking in the wild west end was the song my wife and I danced too at our wedding. 1984! We still dance to it 34 years later...
One hell of a choice. I was lucky enough to see DS with all the original members after Communique came out. Ian Gomm opened, and he joined them for an encore of "Gloria". That was cool as hell.
YES - OUTSTANDING INDEED.
Massive 10. Grew up with DS and Knopfler's genius. DS had lots of soul during a post-disco era that, well, lacked soul.
COMMANDER_KENT wrote:
Lovely
Every song on the first LP was a smash! My least favorite was sultans of swing. Maybe because commercial radio played it to death.
Walking in the wild west end was the song my wife and I danced too at our wedding. 1984! We still dance to it 34 years later...
Walking in the wild west end was the song my wife and I danced too at our wedding. 1984! We still dance to it 34 years later...
Lovely
Every song on the first LP was a smash! My least favorite was sultans of swing. Maybe because commercial radio played it to death.
Walking in the wild west end was the song my wife and I danced too at our wedding. 1984! We still dance to it 34 years later...
Walking in the wild west end was the song my wife and I danced too at our wedding. 1984! We still dance to it 34 years later...
Okay it is has taken almost forty years but this song has grown on me. In my defence I am a Philistine from the Wild West End.
jab49 wrote:
lily34 wrote:
yeah. it reminds me of a couple other things, too. like a rothko piece. or that one of a shot outside a diner at night, i forget the artist and title of the piece...damnit.
also, love the song, too.
Hopper-esque in its own way
Love the song, but also, what do you think about the cover art? For me, never before has someone looked so lonely and in "dire straits" like the girl on the cover. Maybe it's not meant to mean that, but to me it does.
lily34 wrote:
yeah. it reminds me of a couple other things, too. like a rothko piece. or that one of a shot outside a diner at night, i forget the artist and title of the piece...damnit.
also, love the song, too.
Hopper-esque in its own way
Geecheeboy wrote:
I concur. So smooth. Tempo. Tone. Feel.
Clever seque from Nick Drake's Cello Song.
I concur. So smooth. Tempo. Tone. Feel.
Yes. But what about "In The Gallery"? As Tippster says below, it's - wow. Fabulous, scathing; totally nails the whole pretentious scene.
————-
BuzzPete wrote:
————-
BuzzPete wrote:
Six Blade Knife. Another great one.
BuzzPete wrote:
YES YES YES. Six Blade Knife please.
Sitting in my shed in Vermont with the Woodstove blazing and listening to RP. Thanks Bill and Rebecca for all the great tunes
Six Blade Knife. Another great one.
jab49 wrote:
yeah. it reminds me of a couple other things, too. like a rothko piece. or that one of a shot outside a diner at night, i forget the artist and title of the piece...damnit.
also, love the song, too.
Love the song, but also, what do you think about the cover art? For me, never before has someone looked so lonely and in "dire straits" like the girl on the cover. Maybe it's not meant to mean that, but to me it does.
yeah. it reminds me of a couple other things, too. like a rothko piece. or that one of a shot outside a diner at night, i forget the artist and title of the piece...damnit.
also, love the song, too.
Damn, dat dobro...
Love the song, but also, what do you think about the cover art? For me, never before has someone looked so lonely and in "dire straits" like the girl on the cover. Maybe it's not meant to mean that, but to me it does.
Outstanding! Been a long time since I heard it.
NicJohn wrote:
Holds up like high quality steel.
Great album. Fresh sound when it came out and still stands up well.
Holds up like high quality steel.
Deadwing wrote:
Sultans of Swing is the song that launched Dire Straits into the rock world and established their unique sound. It's a brilliant song. That being said, this song and Down to the Waterline are my favs from the album.
I agree with all your points, but my personal favorite is "In the Gallery." Those solo breaks are just...
Sultans of Swing is the song that launched Dire Straits into the rock world and established their unique sound. It's a brilliant song. That being said, this song and Down to the Waterline are my favs from the album.
I agree with all your points, but my personal favorite is "In the Gallery." Those solo breaks are just...
A great classic
how could this be their first album?!?
yes that's true
Great album. Fresh sound when it came out and still stands up well.
stegokitty wrote:
There's nothing weak about "Sultans of Swing".
It, along with this, is just another wonderful song from a wonderful album.
Sultans of Swing is the song that launched Dire Straits into the rock world and established their unique sound. It's a brilliant song. That being said, this song and Down to the Waterline are my favs from the album.
There's nothing weak about "Sultans of Swing".
It, along with this, is just another wonderful song from a wonderful album.
Sultans of Swing is the song that launched Dire Straits into the rock world and established their unique sound. It's a brilliant song. That being said, this song and Down to the Waterline are my favs from the album.
swtobias508 wrote:
I agree Cynera. It is odd that their break out hit was the weakest song on the album. However, so glad it was there or this kid would have never bought the album. I thank MK as well as Steely Dan for fermenting a deeper love and respect for music in me.
There's nothing weak about "Sultans of Swing".
It, along with this, is just another wonderful song from a wonderful album.
I agree Cynera. It is odd that their break out hit was the weakest song on the album. However, so glad it was there or this kid would have never bought the album. I thank MK as well as Steely Dan for fermenting a deeper love and respect for music in me.
There's nothing weak about "Sultans of Swing".
It, along with this, is just another wonderful song from a wonderful album.
Remember in Conan the Barbarian, when he was hanging on the Tree of Woe or whatever it was? I get that picture in my head when I hear this...in a parched wasteland, the vultures circling, river dried up, if I don't get some water soon...
Clever seque from Nick Drake's Cello Song.
Part of a such beautiful set this cold february morning here, thank you Bill !
Lazarus wrote:
miss you so much, Cynaera...
love this wet song... love this album... love sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll...
I agree Cynera. It is odd that their break out hit was the weakest song on the album. However, so glad it was there or this kid would have never bought the album. I thank MK as well as Steely Dan for fermenting a deeper love and respect for music in me.
miss you so much, Cynaera...
love this wet song... love this album... love sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll...
I agree Cynera. It is odd that their break out hit was the weakest song on the album. However, so glad it was there or this kid would have never bought the album. I thank MK as well as Steely Dan for fermenting a deeper love and respect for music in me.
smooooothThis song makes me thirsty...
Beyond cool....
aspicer wrote:
This album was a real breath of fresh air when in came out in the stale late seventies.
Such a BRILLIANT album! A desert island disc for sure!
This album was a real breath of fresh air when in came out in the stale late seventies.
10, next
maxmox wrote:
Yeah, people keep posting that here. Interesting. I don't have a lot of exposure to JJ but I see what you mean.
Knopfer has an amazing ability to get a rounded, singing sound out of his playing although that sort of disappeared on "Brothers in Arms." Perhaps he's just a genius at mixing the recorders...
A respectful nod to JJ Cale seems happening here.........
Yeah, people keep posting that here. Interesting. I don't have a lot of exposure to JJ but I see what you mean.
Knopfer has an amazing ability to get a rounded, singing sound out of his playing although that sort of disappeared on "Brothers in Arms." Perhaps he's just a genius at mixing the recorders...
Ahh, that's more like it.
Make forget this Alpha Blondy madness.
Favorite vinyl ever.
Make forget this Alpha Blondy madness.
Favorite vinyl ever.
Had to drive to Toronto to "The Record Pedler" to get this import when the buzz hit the streets about these guys.
George_Tirebiter wrote:
...and Punk.
Hard to believe that this has been around for 32 years. It was welcome relief to the horror 
of disco......
of disco.........and Punk.
Cynaera wrote:
miss you so much, Cynaera...
love this wet song... love this album... love sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll...
Looking at the track listing for this album, it strikes me as funny that "Sultans of Swing" is my least favorite song. To me, all the other songs are far stronger. I especially love "Six Blade Knife" and "Down to the Waterline." Some very edgy, intelligent music coming out of the Knopfler brothers here. (And David Knopfler came out with "Lips Against the Steel" with some very good schtuff on it. Worth buying, if you can find it.)
miss you so much, Cynaera...
love this wet song... love this album... love sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll...
Good. Not one of my favorites. There's a nice version on their BBC album.
jocelynsart wrote:
And yet so is "Money For Nothing", odd isn't it?
wow, this is Dire Straits
And yet so is "Money For Nothing", odd isn't it?
Absolutely a TEN !
Krispian wrote:
Krispian wrote:
10
wow, this is Dire Straits
10
A great album to listen to from beginning to end.
Last of a kind it seems. Not many artists have been able to accomplish gifts of these kind in many years.
Albums these days seem to be more of contractual obligations and a couple of gems than complete thoughts.
Last of a kind it seems. Not many artists have been able to accomplish gifts of these kind in many years.
Albums these days seem to be more of contractual obligations and a couple of gems than complete thoughts.
Cynaera wrote:
I consider MK to be my personal guitar god, and must say across the entire Dire Straits library the radio singles are almost always my least favorites. When listening to a full album, I'll skip past tunes like "Walk of Life" yet when it comes on a commercial radio station it's still way better than most of the other drivel they've played that day.
Looking at the track listing for this album, it strikes me as funny that "Sultans of Swing" is my least favorite song. To me, all the other songs are far stronger. I especially love "Six Blade Knife" and "Down to the Waterline." Some very edgy, intelligent music coming out of the Knopfler brothers here. (And David Knopfler came out with "Lips Against the Steel" with some very good schtuff on it. Worth buying, if you can find it.)
I consider MK to be my personal guitar god, and must say across the entire Dire Straits library the radio singles are almost always my least favorites. When listening to a full album, I'll skip past tunes like "Walk of Life" yet when it comes on a commercial radio station it's still way better than most of the other drivel they've played that day.
maxmox wrote:
great call my man
A respectful nod to JJ Cale seems happening here.........
great call my man
Such a BRILLIANT album! A desert island disc for sure!
...Ahhh. Thank you! This is my favorite song of the album.
Thanks RP for playing great tracks from Dire Straits, aside from the standard Sultans of Swing :)
ohhhh. one of my favorites. thanks, bill!
A respectful nod to JJ Cale seems happening here.........
YEAH!! Without knowing it at first i really wanted to hear this song right now.... Wait... wut? Never mind, it's just the utmost PERFECT timing...
10
10
Bill!
I am gettin your thread theme here for the last five or six...
(yer a genious!)
I am gettin your thread theme here for the last five or six...
(yer a genious!)
Pretty timeless song.
Sweet memories for sure!Outstanding album - great, great song.
yikes good call! It doesn't sound like jj cale, but it DOES have that feel
flatpicker wrote:
flatpicker wrote:
A real J.J. Cale feel to this.
Which is ok in my books.
Which is ok in my books.
Well... maybe this should be a 10 after all.
George_Tirebiter wrote:
32 years? Holy crap... I've finally hit that age-range when I keep saying, "That's from ___ years ago? What?!" Egad.
Hard to believe that this has been around for 32 years. It was welcome relief to the horror of disco......
of disco......32 years? Holy crap... I've finally hit that age-range when I keep saying, "That's from ___ years ago? What?!" Egad.
great lullaby
This is a great song. It really gets me going in the morning.
Looking at the track listing for this album, it strikes me as funny that "Sultans of Swing" is my least favorite song. To me, all the other songs are far stronger. I especially love "Six Blade Knife" and "Down to the Waterline." Some very edgy, intelligent music coming out of the Knopfler brothers here. (And David Knopfler came out with "Lips Against the Steel" with some very good schtuff on it. Worth buying, if you can find it.)
Felix_The_Cat wrote:
Maybe in such way that Mark Knopfler played a tune (of which is only used a second or two) on the album "Gaucho" (on "Gaucho" itself, I believe).
Reminds me of JJ Cale. That is: the first album resembles JJ Cale quite a lot...
reminds me of steely dan somehow...
Maybe in such way that Mark Knopfler played a tune (of which is only used a second or two) on the album "Gaucho" (on "Gaucho" itself, I believe).
Reminds me of JJ Cale. That is: the first album resembles JJ Cale quite a lot...
exjunkie wrote:
My favorite 2 Dire Straits songs!
This is a great album. I love "In the gallery"
My favorite 2 Dire Straits songs!
Brings me back to the days when I made silver flutes in the wooded outback of Vermont. Such fine musicians!
This is a great album. I love "In the gallery"
This song still gets to me.
GREAT set of songs! I never would have thought to put them together, but they work very well. Bill you've got a great talent
Sarah McLachlan - Plenty
Hooverphonic - Inhaler
Broken Bells - Your Head is On Fire
Dire Straits - Water of Love
Sarah McLachlan - Plenty
Hooverphonic - Inhaler
Broken Bells - Your Head is On Fire
Dire Straits - Water of Love
reminds us always of an Interrail - Trip in 1988.
A real J.J. Cale feel to this.
Which is ok in my books.
Which is ok in my books.
thank gawd...a Dire Straits song not on Brothers in Arms.
Hard to believe that this has been around for 32 years. It was welcome relief to the horror of disco......
of disco......This is the one that got me back in 1979. Hooked on Knopfler ever since.
romeotuma wrote:
This song is soooo gooood for the ears...
Papernapkin wrote:
Har-dee-har-har... you think that up yourself, Stimey?
Too bad it's dishwater.
Har-dee-har-har... you think that up yourself, Stimey?
reminds me of steely dan somehow...
Too bad it's dishwater.
Foe sure!
On_The_Beach wrote:
On_The_Beach wrote:
The first album is still their best, IMO.
Used to come back from some heavy nights out with my art college flatmates and listen to DS. This album was so different to everything else then. It all seemed rather 'same as, same as' after that. You just had to be there at the right time in your life.
gumbo73039 wrote:
When you don't play D S often you forget how damn fine they were. Great memories
Yes 'ndeed! I still listen to "On every street" very frequently ... 
Saw them live at the Knickerbocker Arena (Albany, NY) back in 92 ...
helluva concert dude! 
When you don't play D S often you forget how damn fine they were. Great memories
Greatness.
coolpeople_rule wrote:
"If I don't get some water soon...I'll be in Dire Straits"