Sailing to Philadelphia

Apart from Leonard Cohen, it is Mark Knopfler who truly deserves the title of rock bard. “Sailing to Philadelphia” is a story whose main characters are two men: Charles Mason (1728–1786) and Jeremiah Dixon (1733–1779). Both, originally from England, served as surveyors in colonial America, among other roles. They established the famous Mason-Dixon Line, the actual border separating the northern part of the East Coast from the southern part.

The song “Sailing to Philadelphia” was released on September 26, 2000, and comes from Mark Knopfler’s album of the same title. An added treat is the duet featured in the song, as we also hear American singer-songwriter James Taylor.

For me, this is a perfect example of what a great musical storyteller Knopfler is and how incredibly atmospheric his songs are. Awesome!