The 25 Best Mark Knopfler Songs, from Sultans of Swing to Going Home

What is Mark Knopfler's most famous song?

"Sultans of Swing", the 1978 debut single of Dire Straits, is Mark Knopfler's most famous song, along with "Money for Nothing", the band's only number one on the Billboard Hot 100. "Romeo and Juliet", "Walk of Life", "Brothers in Arms" and "Private Investigations" are his other signature songs.

Dire Straits' biggest hits

1. "Sultans of Swing", 1978: a story about a pub jazz band, with one of rock's most famous guitar solos.
2. "Money for Nothing", 1985: a satirical rocker with Sting on backing vocals and a groundbreaking video.
3. "Walk of Life", 1985: an upbeat, organ-driven top ten hit in the US and number two in the UK.
4. "Romeo and Juliet", 1981: a tender, bittersweet love song played on a resonator guitar.
5. "Brothers in Arms", 1985: a moving anti-war ballad.
6. "Private Investigations", 1982: a moody, cinematic number two hit in the UK.
7. "So Far Away", 1985: a laid-back single from Brothers in Arms.
8. "Tunnel of Love", 1980: an eight-minute epic set at a fairground.
9. "Lady Writer", 1979: the lead single from Communiqué.
10. "Twisting by the Pool", 1983: a playful, retro rock and roll hit.

More Dire Straits classics

11. "Telegraph Road", 1982: a fourteen-minute epic about a town growing over the years.
12. "Water of Love", 1978: a gentle, swaying song from the debut.
13. "Down to the Waterline", 1978: the debut album's opener.
14. "Skateaway", 1980: a song about a roller-skating girl gliding through the city.
15. "Industrial Disease", 1982: a witty satire of 80s Britain.
16. "Your Latest Trick", 1986: a smoky, saxophone-led song from Brothers in Arms.
17. "Calling Elvis", 1991: the lead single from On Every Street.
18. "On Every Street", 1992: the moody title track of their final studio album.

Mark Knopfler solo and film songs

19. "Going Home: Theme of the Local Hero", 1983: his instrumental theme from the film Local Hero.
20. "Darling Pretty", 1996: the lead single from his first solo album, Golden Heart.
21. "What It Is", 2000: a rhythmic, Celtic-flavored single from Sailing to Philadelphia.
22. "Sailing to Philadelphia", 2000: a duet with James Taylor about the surveyors Mason and Dixon.
23. "Boom, Like That", 2004: a song about the founder of McDonald's.
24. "Why Aye Man", 2002: a song about workers from northeast England.
25. "Storybook Love", 1987: the theme from The Princess Bride, which Knopfler scored, sung by Willy DeVille.

Who is Mark Knopfler?

Mark Knopfler was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1949 and grew up in Newcastle upon Tyne in northeast England. He worked as a journalist and a teacher before forming Dire Straits in London in 1977 with his brother David Knopfler, bassist John Illsley and drummer Pick Withers. Dire Straits became one of the biggest bands of the 80s and sold more than 100 million records, and since the band ended in the 90s Knopfler has released a long series of solo albums and film soundtracks.

Knopfler's guitar style

Knopfler plays without a pick, using his thumb and fingers to pluck the strings, which gives his playing its warm, clean, singing tone. He often plays a red Fender Stratocaster, and on "Romeo and Juliet" a National resonator guitar like the one on the cover of Brothers in Arms. His style has influenced generations of guitarists; for songs to start with, see our easy guitar songs.

The story behind Sultans of Swing

Knopfler wrote "Sultans of Swing" after watching a small jazz band play to an almost empty pub in south London on a rainy night, with the band introducing themselves by a grand name at the end of the set. A demo of the song was played on BBC radio, which led to Dire Straits' first record deal, and the single went on to reach the top ten in both the UK and the US.

Money for Nothing and Brothers in Arms

"Money for Nothing" was inspired by an appliance store worker Knopfler overheard complaining about rock stars on MTV. Its computer-animated video became one of the most famous of the 80s, it was the first video played on MTV Europe, and the song reached number one in the US and won a Grammy. Its album, Brothers in Arms, was one of the first albums recorded digitally and one of the first to become a huge seller on CD, and it remains one of the best-selling albums of all time in the UK.

Live Aid and the end of Dire Straits

At Live Aid in July 1985, Dire Straits played Wembley Stadium, with Sting joining them for "Money for Nothing", and the Brothers in Arms tour that followed was one of the biggest of the decade. The band released one more studio album, On Every Street, in 1991 and ended a few years later. Dire Straits were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.

Duets and side projects

Knopfler has made some of his best music with friends. Neck and Neck, his 1990 album with the country guitar legend Chet Atkins, won Grammy awards, and All the Roadrunning, his 2006 duet album with Emmylou Harris, was a critical favorite. He also played in the Notting Hillbillies, a relaxed roots band with Brendan Croker, Steve Phillips and Guy Fletcher, who released Missing...Presumed Having a Good Time in 1990.

Mark Knopfler albums to start with

• Dire Straits (1978): the debut, with "Sultans of Swing".
• Making Movies (1980): with "Romeo and Juliet", "Tunnel of Love" and "Skateaway".
• Love over Gold (1982): with "Telegraph Road" and "Private Investigations".
• Brothers in Arms (1985): the blockbuster.
• Sailing to Philadelphia (2000): one of his best solo albums.

Mark Knopfler songs for a wedding

"Romeo and Juliet" is a romantic, bittersweet choice for a rock-loving couple, and the instrumental "Going Home: Theme of the Local Hero" makes a stirring processional or recessional. "Walk of Life" is a joyful pick for the dance floor that guests of every age will recognize. For more, see our rock wedding songs and 80s wedding songs.

Mark Knopfler songs for a memorial or for veterans

"Brothers in Arms" is often played at memorials and remembrance services, especially for veterans, and "Going Home" is a moving instrumental tribute that fans of Newcastle United also know well from the stadium. For more, see our Veterans Day songs.

Mark Knopfler songs for a road trip

For a drive, play "Sultans of Swing", "Walk of Life", "Money for Nothing", "Skateaway" and "Telegraph Road", whose fourteen minutes are perfect for an open highway. On a quiet night, "Romeo and Juliet", "Private Investigations" and "Brothers in Arms" set a moody, cinematic mood. For more, see our road trip songs.

A song with a story, like Knopfler's

Mark Knopfler's songs are full of real characters and places. A personalized song can tell your own story the same way: their name, their hometown and the moments that made them who they are. It makes a great birthday, retirement or Father's Day gift for a classic rock fan.

How to create a personalized song

1. Choose a style from 14 genres: rock, folk, acoustic and more.
2. Add their name.
3. Share three memories or details about them.
4. Review the lyrics and edit or regenerate them for free before any music is made.
5. Listen to 4 free 45-second previews and choose your favorite.

The full 3 to 4 minute song costs $35.99, or $40.99 for Premium with four full versions and editable lyrics. You get the MP3, a gift page and the lyrics as a PDF.

Give them a song of their own: create a song and hear four previews for free.