☝️ Key Points
- Sultans of Swing is a tribute to musicians who play for passion and not for fame
- The song describes a jazz band playing in an empty bar on a rainy evening
- Two members of the band, 'Guitar George' and 'Harry', are portrayed as humble and passionate musicians
- Despite the indifference of a group of young men towards their music, the band continues to play
- The song ends with the announcement that it's time to go home and the introduction of the band as 'Sultans of Swing'
Interpretation
The song 'Sultans of Swing' by
Dire Straits tells the story of a band that performs in a local music pub and lives their passion for music despite the lack of recognition from the audience. It is a tribute to the countless musicians who play their music out of love and not for fame.
In the first verse, a scene is described on a rainy night where a band called 'Dixie' is playing, a form of jazz. The singer enters the place, but not many faces can be seen that have come from the rain to listen to the music.
The second verse introduces two members of the band, 'Guitar George' and 'Harry'. George is poor and can only afford an old guitar, but he knows all the chords and plays strictly rhythm, without trying to make it 'cry or sing'. Harry has a day job and gets by. He can play the 'honky tonk', a specific style of country music, and looks forward to Friday night to play with the 'Sultans of Swing'.
The third verse addresses a group of young men who hang around the corner and don't care about the band because they don't play what they would call rock and roll. However, the band continues to play and performs 'Creole', a mix of different musical influences.
The last verse describes the end of the show, when the singer turns to the microphone and says it's time to go home. But before he does, he introduces the band as the 'Sultans of Swing'.
Overall, 'Sultans of Swing' is a tribute to the simple pleasure of playing music, regardless of the recognition or success it brings.