Track 1Once Upon a Time in the West

The opening track is always crucial in establishing the vibe of an album, and “once upon a time in the west” kills it with this.

By the way, the “west” mentioned in the title isn’t the west you’re thinking of. Keep in mind that Dire Straits is a bunch of brits. Our “west” might feel like the wild west like Arizona or something, but to these guys the “west” is just anything beachy that’s literally west of England. So using some logic, “once upon a time in the west” is actually referring to the Bahamas, which is conveniently west of the UK and where the band recorded this song.

Now that weve gotten that out of the way, this song feels like the beginning of a coastal morning, probably near the water. I wouldn’t say sunrise exactly, as its got some energy to it. Im feeling its like 10 am, sort of the time where the day starts to settle in. People might be on the beach, or walking through some waterfront streets. Shops are opening, and boats are leaving the marina for a warm sailing day.

One thing I notice is how “wide” the song feels. Its hard to explain, but the guitar isn’t too pushy and the drums are on the slower, more relaxed side. Theres also not too many instruments going on, and Knopfler allows these incredibly addicting little guitar “solos” after every single line that he sings. Theres probably a name for this style but to me I would just say the song sounds relaxed and spread out. The guitar is bright and clear, but not to the point of being harsh. Knopfler somehow gets the lead guitar to feel like its floating over the drums. It sounds like sunlight reflecting off of water.

Interestingly enough, the lyrics are talking about random things he sees, such as people breaking the speed limit and scaring pedestrians. I don’t really know what hes getting at, and it doesn’t matter. This song is a masterpiece.

Remember that this song feels like the day starting. 10 am, and the coastal town is settling in for the day. Also “once upon a time” is a classic line for starting off a book, play, or just a setting; just like it starts off the day and this album. It sets the scene.