Hip Hop Fan Reacts To Brothers In Arms by Dire Straits 

For me the song is a conversation between the narrator and the guitar. The narrator is a soldier dying on the battlefield, conscious of what is happening, and that whilst his brothers return to their valleys and farms he is destined to die in the mist covered mountains. But meanwhile the guitar represents his soaring spirit leaving him. Taken together with the last verse, the whole thing tells of the bond between soldiers, even those on opposing sides, being stronger than the bond they have with the fools from whom they all take their orders.

The song was a protest to the Falklands war of the 1980s and the lyrics are the words of a dying soldier who is not returning home...he reflects on life and death saying goodbye and the key message is we have 1 world and we are all brothers and we are fools to make war with each other....

"These mist covered mountains are home now for me." I believe this is a dying man's last words to his comrades. The war will end and they'll be able to go home. He's finished his journeys. Also note, "We are fools to make war on our brothers in arms." He considers even the adversaries brothers.

This is one to listen to again uninterrupted and let it flow through you. It's played at many Veterans funerals.

It's moving for me that his lyrics expand the traditional 'brother's in arms' idea to include all those on both sides who lost their lives in battle. I think the song is told from the point of view of one who died. He knows those who did die in those mist-covered mountains weren't deserted by those who lived to return home. He doesn't want them to feel guilty. All of them, the living & the dead, from both sides were ultimately brothers both when their world went to hell and for eternity.

Mark Knopfler allows us to be privy to his soul through his guitar work. His talent seems to have an unobstructed path from his soul to his fingertips. Simply magical.

It's an iconic masterpiece. A tribute to all those incredible men and women who are prepared to sacrifice their very lives to keep us all safe. There's a wonderful video to accompany this track which greatly enhances the power and the message of the song.

Mark's mastery of the guitar is matched by very few. And the lyrics are sent directly to your heart.

In any war, the opposing soldiers killing each other have much more in common with each other than they do with the upper class sending them to war for the enrichment of the upper class. That last verse kind of hints at that realization.

Another utter masterpiece from Knopfler. Dire Straits music is timeless. One of a kind.

One of my favourites of Dire Straits. Something we can all relate to, as we all come from countries that have experienced war, no matter where you’re from. 😢😢 You must watch the animated video version of this song. It’s absolutely beautiful. ❤

Good catch on this being a love song. Few get that - they see the anti war message and miss that it’s simply talking about love for your fellow man whoever that is. Lot of us who were in uniform feel this one in the soul because it speaks to a bond that’s hard to describe.

Mark's guitar is out of this world, there is nobody like him.

Tunnel of Love, both studio and live (Alchemy), is fantastic. Add it to your reaction list. I haven't heard Brothers in Arms for a long time. Great track.

Les Paul things from a Fender guy. What makes that great is he is really exploring the things that make the instruments different, and focusing on that.

This song is about the Falklands War, which had just taken place at the time, so the highlands can be seen as the mountains on the island - which are now home for him because that is where he was killed.

Its really Heartbreaking to hear the guitar weep like that.😢

If you want and even deeper tug on your emotions have a look at the version with the animation.

The inspiration for the song was the Falklands War.

No coincidence that "Brothers in Arms" & the instrumental "Going Home" (theme tune to the film Local Hero) are two of the most played tracks by DS at funerals. Going Home (long version) will be played at mine. DS are one of my most favourite bands of all time. Mark is a fantastic story teller & musician &, as a group, DS are one of the few bands that actually sound as good if not better live than their studio albums.

Marks voice narates his guitar does the singing and crying, brilliant.

At last! Someone who really listens to the words. Thank you.

Great review; thanks! I've been loving your song selection lately, and I find your reactions intelligent and interesting. The one thing I usually miss is how little you tend to say about (or show) emotion...which of course you're entitled to do. I love that you felt this one, right off the bat. You still don't show it much, but we all have our own styles. It's hard for me to hear this song (or watch the videos) and not weep.

Syed, I enjoy your intelligent and honest reaction to some of the best musical talent of the music we grew up with. Much success to you.

I love love love the sentiment when he says maybe we WOUNT burn to be brothers in arms.

Listen to the live version, The Mandela Concert at Wembley is an amazing one

the sound of this guitar tears your heart out

Used by many former military personnel's funerals (I've got it penned in for mine when the time comes) it cuts to the chase of a man dying surrounded by his comrades. It's the "boys"that pay the price of political egos. One of the greatest lines of all time; "Now the suns gone to hell and the moon's riding high,let me bid you farewell every man has to die."

What a masterpiece.

I have tears in my eyes every time listen to this song - don't know how the emotion does not seem to touch you in the same way. It was about the Falklands War and even though I have never been in a conflict it still rips the emotions out of me.. maybe its your youth and the age we live in - so much war and violence in the world seems to make the younger people a bit more immune and detached from it all. Still like that you appreciate the Dire Straights music. (PS I am a 69 year old male)

What I really like about these lyrics, are that they apply to all soldiers, on both sides. They become brothers in arms, not by their choosing, they are just common men/women thrust into a nightmare where all they really have is their fellow soldiers. "Every line on their palm" --every person, just as every person sees the starlight, yet we kill one another----we have just one world, but we live in different ones--two sides from two different points of view. And we are fools to make war on our brothers in arms, the other side and vice versa.

I absolutely love his voice on this one

The life long bond between brothers in arms is matchless in life relationships.

Check out the live version at Nelson Mandelas Birthday Concert. Mark played very emotionally. He was moved because of Nelson Mandela.

I fully agree with you about how they fade out on his solos. (As you've seen, in their live work that's when they DO jack it up and take it all the way. He's so restrained on the in-studio stuff.) BTW, there are dozens of songs to try, but check out "Romeo and Juliet' from the studio.

think about those huge brown speakers we had plus vinyl record prety amazing experience listening to this for th first time

I been watching reactions to this song last few days looking to see who starts crying first 😂 best ive had is during verse 2. Anyhow, most intelligent and sympathetic reaction ive heard so far 💯✅👊🍻

I've heard the song is in Tribute to the soldiers lost in the Falklands war.

George Harrison wrote While My Guitar Gently Weeps but Mark Knopfler shows us all how it's done on this song!!

Twisting by the pool is really cool. Makes you reflect.

Again, the live versión on Nelson Mandela tribute concert is worth reacting to

Excellent British band......

Tribute to Mandala live performance of Brother's in Arms is fantastic. Marks guitar solo is incredible. Hope you check it out

-We can see a classic scene with this song, on the TV show "Miami Vice" in the 1980's, (in last scene of the episode: 'Out Where the Buses Don't Run')

I know it's probably not your genre, but Home Free is an a cappella group that did an amazing version of this song. Definitely worth a listen. I personally like their version more than the original.

This song is about a British Soldier dying on the battlefield during the Falklands war. The lyrics are his message to the soldiers who never left his side while he was dying.

Don’t forget to watch the official video, it’s really worthwhile. If you like the cinematic side of DS’ songs try : - Tunnel Of Love (not the video but the lyrics video or Alchemy live version) - Private Investigations (same comments as above) and its film noir atmosphere + Romeo And Juliet, Money For Nothing (the video is a classic!), Walk of Life, Calling Elvis (great video too!), and so many incredible songs…

you should have seen the video it's so incredible and inspiring

Nice time taken to break things down. I agree re BIA. Live, like at Mandela's Birthday Concert, made you smile 😊😊

Great analysis Syed.

I believe this is written from the point of view of a wounded and dying soldier. Who his brothers in arms carried away from the battlefield. Immense track. I agree with you about fade out’s. Funnily enough, they don’t do that in the live versions.

You need to watch the live concert of this

10:22 Then you have to watch the Mandela concert from 1988 version of Brothers in arms Trust me !!!

Their best song

You already listened to album and live versions of Dire Straits' tracks. Do it again and you will get your full outro guitar solo. I recommand Brothers in arms live from Wembley Stadium 1988.

the live version at wembley is one of the most powerful and emotional performances in rock history

The extended versions (live) are ca. 11-12 mins.

I've just spent the last couple of hours watching your videos, starting with Telegraph Road (I am a huge Dire Straits fan) and working my way through a bunch of others that caught my eye. I honestly don't watch many reactors as I find most really don't have much to say, but you seem to be able to put an interesting interpretation on the lyrics and identify some of the same musical elements as I do that make the song stand out as well as others that I have missed and you're able to articulate it very well. For Brothers In Arms itself I would highly recommend you listening to the SACD version in 5.1 surround sound if you get the chance as it's perfectly mixed to entirely immerse you in the song. If you get the chance I would also recommend you take a listen to The Warning, a power trio of sisters from Mexico who are still only in their late teens / early twenties but have released three albums which don't have a single bad song on them. In particular Survive from their first album, The One from their second album (a concept album which was the brainchild of their drummer when she was in her mid-teens) and off their third album I personally love Animosity, Money and Amour.

Private investigations is another very cinematic Dire Straits track. It is very film noire

Go hear Mark live , and try some of his much newer music . He never plays something the same way twice ,every version is super good .

Hi there. To avoid fade outs with Dire Straits Live performances are the way to go. This song live for example Dire Straits - Live On The Night 1993 makes you bring out the tissues it's that emotional seeing the way Mark and play live. Cheers All the best

You should be teaching a course in music , lyrics ,appreciation or something similar.

Mark Knopfler turns the guitar into the 5th band member.

Nice assessment of the track, you just gained a subscriber. I presume you’ve listened to Alchemy live….

change of topic - you must check out Bowie's "Lazarus" video released just before his death. Incredible.

First band I ever saw live in 1986, aged 14, barely matched since for quality.

It's so sad that the days of war are approaching again. When will ever learn to reject the greed.

I also thinks suns has the double meaning/homonym of sons.

you should listen the mandela live version

I think you missed the most important line of all "we're fools to make war on our brothers-in-arms." This is about the futility of war.

Hey you did and do great reactions: first the studio version (most shorter) and then the live version: that's luxury, but it shows the live quality and "well-rehearsed art of improvisation and interaction" of the band. But what I find terrible is the drum machine or did Mark demoted the drummer to a slave or should it have been mixed less loudly and without echo. Or should it, according to Mark, symbolize the stubborn, headless uniform marching in of the Brit soldiers on Falkland, ha-ha?!? Big thanks goes to TheChessShed; always thought of the arms race in the cold war early 80s. Actually with all DS-songs I prefer the live versions One The Night 1993 (not by every song, but especially by this ) or the Mandela version 1988. These performances like others havn't the horrible guitar solo fade outs. I would be very INTERETED in what you would say about the musically unexpected song Private Investigation (here important first the studio version: was used at the time because of the crystal-clear sound when buying a cd-system in a specialist shop and was a UK no.2, as well as a hit in Central Europa. Tunnel Of Loove live will be again a guarantee for a varied musical trip. I wish you nice, relaxing Christmas holidays among other things with all kinds of good music!👍

I am afraid you missed one key point. It was the singer who died in the song. and that is why the fade out is very appropriate. On his death bed he had 2 revelations made clear in one line "We are fools to make war on our brothers in arms" - 1) War is stupid 2) Brothers in arms are not just the people on your own side; the enemy soldiers are also brothers in arms.

Listen to a live version and you will hear the guitar better and a longer version to an end.

Pink Floyd vibes! I know guys, don´t come after me!

If you think this was good, listen to the live version at Nelson Mandela's birthday. It completely blows this one out of the water

I didn’t understand that you couldn’t hear the immense guitar solo. Odd.

It's about the UK and Argentina war over the Falkland islands trje

Regarder le live de 1993 super 😊😊

musically this song reminds me of territory Pink Floyd were mining a decade earlier, that they’d left behind. Don’t mean that negatively, it’s just the beautiful atmospherics and silence respecting guitar work. Lyrically it reminds me of Billy Bragg’s contemporary a capella song Tender Comrade. one other note on this album, it was one of the first major albums recorded entirely digitally.

Song is about the Falklands war.

It's not Thunder it's cannon fire.

I don't know if anybody suggested it yet, but the live version from the Mandela concert is well worth a look, or rather listen: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-CDY2K_f_5-s.html

Sad in a good way? Okay, I can agree with that. But: Man can that man make a guitar weep.

Live versions from 2000 and on are better (especially the final solo), in my opinion.

Try private investigations

I always take the last four lines together - it’s written in the starlight and every line in your palms - that we are fools to make war on our brothers in arms. (the most important message) A different interpretation than you

Don't show the word to the songs. Quit interrupting the songs. Quit talking over the songs.

Not thunder - artillery fire. Yet another clueless critique of this song by another pointless "reaction" channel. Stick to hip hop.

love the vocal displayed!

Powerful stuff

by the way was inspired by the falklands war and is an anti war song.