Mark Knopfler – The Man's Too Strong lyrics

Mark Knopfler – The Man's Too Strong lyrics

I'm just an ageing drummer boy
And in the wars I used to play
And I've called the tune
To many a torture session
Now they say I am a war criminal
And I'm fading away
Father please hear my confession

I have legalised robbery
Called it belief
I have run with the money
And hid like a thief
I have re-written history
With my armies and my crooks
Invented memories
I did burn all the books
And I can still hear his laughter
And I can still hear his song
The man's too big
The man's too strong

Well I have tried to be meek
And I have tried to be mild
But I spat like a woman
And sulked like a child
I have lived behind walls
That have made me alone
Striven for peace
Which I never have known
And I can still hear his laughter
And I can still hear his song
The man's too big
The man's too strong

Well the sun rose on the courtyard
And they all did hear him say
'You always were a Judas
But I got you anyway
You may have got your silver
But I swear upon my life
Your sister gave me diamonds
And I gave them to your wife'
Oh Father please help me
For I have done wrong
The man's too big
The man's too strong

I'm just an ageing drummer boy And in the wars I used to play And I've called the tune To many a torture session Now they say I am a war criminal And I'm fading away Father please hear my confession I have legalised robbery Called it belief I have run with the money And hid like a thief I have re-written history With my armies and my crooks Invented memories I did burn all the books And I can still hear his laughter And I can still hear his song The man's too big The man's too strong Well I have tried to be meek And I have tried to be mild But I spat like a woman And sulked like a child I have lived behind walls That have made me alone Striven for peace Which I never have known And I can still hear his laughter And I can still hear his song The man's too big The man's too strong Well the sun rose on the courtyard And they all did hear him say 'You always were a Judas But I got you anyway You may have got your silver But I swear upon my life Your sister gave me diamonds And I gave them to your wife' Oh Father please help me For I have done wrong The man's too big The man's too strong Explain Request ×

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Unregistered 2012-05-04 22:52:24

I agree with the above meaning. I get the impression that the confessor in the song is remorseful about his crimes, and in particular about one man he killed. I get the impression that "the man" was the leader of a movement, and killing him turned one man's religion into a crusade, which eventually overthrew the regime the confessor killed for, and ultimately led to his being brought to justice.
The way I picture it, is that the killer, so arrogant in his power at the time pointed his gun at "the man" and "the man" laughed in his face, completely without fear at his fate. He had been a captive for some time before his execution, and the confessor would hear him sing his song. A haunting melody. When he shot him, the confessor looked in his eyes and realized that even though he killed him, he would live on. "the man" was too strong, too big. His laughter and song would haunt the confessor for the rest of his life. In his quiet moments, he would hear his laughter and his song and it would torture his soul. He would shake his head violently trying to escape the memory. To me, this is what the clashing guitars represent when he sings "the man's too big... The man's too strong"
In a way, killing "the man" started the confessor's road to redemption.
That's my take on this song.
Knopfler has some truly amazing lyrics that are amazing poetry.

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