Boom, Like That

KFOG, my terrific local radio station, has been playing a new Mark Knopfler song called "Boom, Like That". I've heard the song probably a dozen times in the background while working or driving, which I how I usually listen to music, and I really like it. A couple of days ago I heard Knopfler on the radio talking about the song. Imagine my surprise when he said it tells the story of the founding of McDonalds!

I realized then that I had never really listened to the lyrics of the song, although a few of them had crept into my mind: "Goin' to San Bernadino"..."like 'crocodile' but not spelled that way"..."oughta be one of these in every town". Yep, it made sense! Apparently, Knopfler found a copy of Ray Kroc's autobiography, "Grind It Out", and wrote the song from there. The song tells the story in the first person, from Kroc's point of view, mostly using quotes from the book, of how he sold milkshake mixers to the McDonald brothers, then bought the restaurant from them and drove their new place out of business.

The next time I head the song, I listened closer. Now I like it even more -- it's another cool Mark Knopfler story song.

Comments

[anna]

If you like Boom Like That, buy the new Mark knopfler CD, Shangri-la. It is excellent as all his solo CDs are.

He is touring American in a couple of months and it is a great show, if you can buy tickets, do! I saw him here in NZ and what an incredible show - there aren't words to describe how incredible he and the band he tours and records with, are.