RE: Brothers in Arms Lyrics -- Israel?

[Seth Rogovoy <seth.rogovoy...>]

There is definitely some intention on Knopfler's part to connect this to
Israel. There was a video made for this song (which may not have been the
main video aired when it was a single) that aired on MTV at one point, maybe
on a Dire Straits special, or something, in which it comprised in large part
of scenes from an early Israeli war ('48?, '56?). The Magen David Adom
trucks were the most blatant specific reference.
 
somewhere i think i have a copy of this video, but I don't know if i could
track it down easily.
 
I've never been able to pin down anything more about this. ANd I've gotten
conflicting information as to whether or not Knopfler is even Jewish.

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org [mailto:owner-jewish-music (at) 
shamash(dot)org]
On Behalf Of Robert Wiener
Sent: Sunday, March 21, 2004 7:19 AM
To: World music from a Jewish slant
Cc: Avi Finegold
Subject: Brothers in Arms Lyrics -- Israel?


Avi Finegold mentioned some time back that the song "Brothers in Arms" by
Dire Straits is related to Israel.  Below are his comments on how its lyrics
relate to war in Israel.  Avi has suggested that I ask the list what you
think about that idea -- based on the lyrics themselves or other material
(such as hearsay, interviews, live concert intros -- for example, in a video
of concert in Israel)?
 
Thanks,
Bob
 
 
Brothers In Arms Lyrics
 
These mist covered mountains
Are a home now for me
But my home is the lowlands
And always will be
 
-fighting in the golan, but the soldier lives elsewhere-
 
 
Some day you'll return to
Your valleys and your farms
And you'll no longer burn
To be brothers in arms
 
Through these fields of destruction
Baptisms of fire
I've witnessed your suffering
As the battles raged higher
And though they did hurt me so bad
In the fear and alarm
You did not desert me
My brothers in arms
 
-the strong feeling of close kin when fighting next to one in war-
 
 
There's so many different worlds
So many differents suns
And we have just one world
But we live in different ones
 
-wo this one's a cincher, the soldier realizes that though there is but one
area that they inhabit they
come from vastly different worldviews and this affects their lives and who
they fight for profoundly-
 
 
Now the sun's gone to hell
And the moon's riding high
Let me bid you farewell
Every man has to die
But it's written in the starlight
And every line on your palm
We're fools to make war
On our brothers in arms
 
-even though the above is true the soldier still sees the futility of
fighting against one who will never come to see his worldview or vice versa-
(aside from the references made above it is quite clear that the song is
about war and battle)
 
(comments by Avi Finegold)