About The Song
“Your Latest Trick” is a song by British rock band Dire Straits, the fourth track on their fifth studio album, Brothers in Arms (1985). It was released as the album’s fifth and final single in April 1986 by Vertigo Records. It later appeared on the live album On the Night; the same live version is on Sultans of Swing: The Very Best of Dire Straits. The full-length studio album version was included on the compilation The Best of Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler: Private Investigations.
Randy Brecker played the trumpet intro on the CD version, but it is missing on the vinyl version. After that, there is a saxophone intro, played by Michael Brecker, who also plays the saxophone solo. Chris White played the saxophone part on the live version on the Brothers in Arms and On Every Street world tours.
The saxophone introduction was used in the theme music for the TVB series File of Justice.
According to Classic Rock critic Paul Rees, the song was originally done at a faster, jazzier tempo, but Dire Straits’ manager Ed Bicknell suggested slowing it down to the “stately bossa nova” that was released.
“Your Latest Trick” was released as a 12″ maxi single in April 1986 as the fifth and final single from the “Brothers in Arms” album in the UK, as well as in other selected territories including Brazil. The single did not have a US release. It peaked at #26 on the UK charts.
The other songs featured on the single were “Irish Boy” and “The Road,” both credited as solo efforts by Mark Knopfler.
Video
Lyrics
All the late night bargains have been struck
Between the satin beaus and their belles
Prehistoric garbage trucks
Have the city to themselves
Echoes roars dinosaurs
They’re all doing the monster mash
And most of the taxis, most of the whores
Are only taking calls for cash
I don’t know how it happened
It all took place so quick
But all I can do is hand it to you
And your latest trick
Well now my door was standing open
Security were laid back and lax
But it was only my heart that got broken
You must have had a pass key made out of wax
You played robbery with insolence
And I played the blues in twelve bars down Lover’s Lane
And you never did have the intelligence to use
The twelve keys hanging off from my chain
I don’t know how it happened
It all took place so quick
But all I can do is hand it to you
And your latest trick
Now it’s past last call for alcohol
Past recall has been here and gone
The landlord he finally paid us all
The satin jazzmen have put away their horns
And we’re standing outside of this wonderland
Looking so bereaved and so bereft
Like a bowery bum when he finally understands
The bottle’s empty and there’s nothing left
I don’t know how it happened
It was faster than the eye could flick
But all I can do is hand it to you
And your latest trick