Sultans of Swing fue escrita por Mark Knopfler. Fue inspirada por una actuación de jazz que Knopfler presenció en un pub en Deptford, Londres, donde una banda llamada Sultans of Swing tocaba para una audiencia casi inexistente. La ironía de la situación y la dedicación de los músicos a seguir tocando a pesar de la falta de público inspiraron a Knopfler a escribir la letra de la canción.
Tono: Dm
Introducción:
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You get a shiver in the dark, it's raining in the park but meantime
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South of the river you stop and you hold everything
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A band is blowing Dixie double four time
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You feel alright when you hear that music ring
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Well now, you step inside but you don't see too many faces
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Coming in out of the rain to hear the jazz go down
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Competition in other places
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Uh, but the horns they blowin' that sound
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way on down south
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way on down south
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London Town
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You check out Guitar George, he knows all the chords
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Mind he's strictly rhythm he doesn't want to make it cry or sing
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They say an old guitar is all he can afford
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When he gets up under the lights to play his thing
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And Harry doesn't mind if he doesn't make the scene
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He's got a daytime job, he's doin' alright
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He can play the honky tonk like anything
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Saving it up for Friday night
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with the Sultans
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with the Sultans of Swing
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Then a crowd of young boys, they're foolin' around in the corner
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Drunk and dressed in their best brown baggies and their platform soles
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They don't give a damn about about any trumpet playin' band
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It ain't what they call rock and roll
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and the Sultans
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Yeah, the Sultans, they play Creole
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... Creole
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F
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And then the man he steps right up to the microphone