Music history is littered with duets that felt forced. You know the ones—two superstars thrown together by a label to move units, standing in separate vocal booths across the country, mailing in their parts. But every so often, the universe corrects itself.
In 2006, Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris released "This Is Us," a track that feels less like a polished studio production and more like a private conversation you weren't supposed to overhear. It wasn't some flashy attempt at a radio hit. Honestly, it’s a song about a photo album.
Basically, it's the sonic equivalent of sitting on a dusty carpet, flipping through 4x6 glossies, and remembering why you stayed with someone for twenty years.
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The Seven-Year Itch (But for Recording)
Most people assume Mark Knopfler This Is Us was recorded in a quick weekend session in Nashville. Nope. Not even close.
The song, and the parent album All the Roadrunning, actually took seven years to finish. Knopfler and Harris first met way back in 1987 during a Chet Atkins TV special. They clicked, but life happened. It wasn't until the late 90s that they started "stealing" hours in the studio.
They’d meet up when their schedules aligned, record a track or two, and then go back to their solo lives. Knopfler was busy with Sailing to Philadelphia and Shangri-La; Harris was doing her thing with Stumble into Grace. This slow-burn approach is exactly why the song feels so lived-in.
You can’t fake the chemistry they have. When you combine two iconic voices like that—his gravelly, low-register mumble and her ethereal, silver-threaded soprano—you get what Harris calls a "phantom voice." It’s a third harmony that doesn't exist when they sing alone.
What Mark Knopfler This Is Us Is Actually Saying
If you listen to the lyrics, the song is a literal walkthrough of a relationship's "highlight reel."
It starts at the Mardi Gras. Then it moves to a "daddy's car." It hits the wedding day (where Mark admits he was "stoned on love, I guess") and follows the timeline through kids, anniversaries, and the general "ephemera" of life.
The Lyrics Breakdown:
- The Early Days: "This is us down at the Mardi Gras / This is us in your daddy's car."
- The Chaos: "Had a little too much to drink / Too long in the sun / Having too much fun."
- The Milestones: The "amazing dress" at the wedding and the "honeymoon in the rain."
But there’s a deeper, slightly heavier layer here. Knopfler has mentioned in interviews that "This Is Us" acts as a counterpoint to another song on the album, "If This Is Goodbye." While that song was inspired by the heartbreaking final phone calls made on 9/11, Mark Knopfler This Is Us is the celebration of the "ordinary" love that those people were trying to protect.
It’s an affirmation. It’s saying that the small, boring stuff—the Sunday games, standing next to "what's-his-name"—is the stuff that actually makes a life.
Why the Guitar Work is Subtly Brilliant
We all know Mark Knopfler is a guitar god. The man who gave us the "Sultans of Swing" solo could easily have turned this into a six-minute shred-fest.
He didn't.
On this track, his playing is incredibly restrained. He uses his signature fingerstyle technique to create a rhythmic, almost train-like chug that keeps the song moving. It’s tasteful. He lets the vocals take the front seat, which is the mark of a true producer.
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Paul Franklin’s pedal steel guitar adds that Nashville "cry" in the background, making it feel like a classic country-rock crossover without leaning too hard into the "honky-tonk" clichés.
The Chart Success and Legacy
Surprisingly, for a song about a photo album, it did quite well. Mark Knopfler This Is Us hit No. 5 on the Billboard Adult Alternative Airplay chart.
It resonated because it wasn't trying to be cool. It was just being true.
The song has also seen a bit of a resurgence in recent years. With the popularity of shows like This Is Us (the NBC drama), many younger fans stumbled upon the track while searching for the show's soundtrack. What they found instead was a masterclass in songwriting from two legends who had nothing left to prove.
How to Get the Most Out of This Track
If you’re just discovering this collaboration, don’t stop at the single. The entire All the Roadrunning album is a vibe.
- Listen for the "Third Voice": Pay close attention to the way their voices blend in the chorus. It’s a specific frequency that very few duos ever hit.
- Watch the Live Version: Check out the Real Live Roadrunning DVD. Seeing them perform this at the Gibson Amphitheatre in LA adds a whole new layer of warmth to the performance.
- Contrast it with the Solo Stuff: Listen to Knopfler’s Privateering and then come back to this. You’ll hear how much Harris's influence softened his edges.
The real beauty of the song is that it doesn't demand anything from you. It’s just there, like an old friend, reminding you that "making history" doesn't require a textbook. It just requires a camera and someone to stand next to you in the sun.
To really appreciate the depth of this era, go back and listen to "Red Staggerwing" from the same album. It’s much faster and more "Cajun-flavored," showing the range these two had when they finally decided to stop "stealing" time and just make a record.