The Ragpicker's Dream

The Ragpicker's Dream
Studio album by Mark Knopfler
Released	September 30, 2002
Recorded	2002
Genre	Roots rock, folk rock
Length	55:39
Label	Warner Bros. (US) Mercury
Producer	Mark Knopfler Chuck Ainlay
Mark Knopfler chronology
A Shot at Glory (2002) The Ragpicker's Dream (2002) Shangri-La (2004)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic
Rolling Stone

The Ragpicker's Dream is the third solo album by Mark Knopfler. Released on September 30, 2002, the album is a collection of songs written from the point of view of poor but dignified itinerant men, struggling to get by in life, often enjoying small triumphs. Knopfler gives a folk imprint to the whole album without relying too heavily on the acoustic guitar. The first song, "Why Aye Man", was used as the theme tune for the third series of Auf Wiedersehen, Pet which first aired in 2002. The album contains numerous other references to North East England, including the village of Tow Law on "Hill Farmer's Blues". The cover image is taken from a photo by Elliott Erwitt.

Track listing

1. "Why Aye Man" – 6:14
2. "Devil Baby" – 4:05
3. "Hill Farmer's Blues" – 3:45
4. "A Place Where We Used to Live" – 4:34
5. "Quality Shoe" – 3:56
6. "Fare Thee Well Northumberland" – 6:29
7. "Marbletown" – 3:33
8. "You Don't Know You're Born" – 5:21
9. "Coyote" – 5:56
10. "The Ragpicker's Dream" – 4:20
11. "Daddy's Gone to Knoxville" – 2:48
12. "Old Pigweed" – 4:34

The following additional tracks are included in the limited edition bonus CD available in the UK and Canada:

1. "Why Aye Man" (live at Shepherds Bush Empire)
2. "Quality Shoe" (live at Shepherds Bush Empire)
3. "Sailing to Philadelphia" (live in Toronto)
4. "Brothers in Arms" (live in Toronto)
5. "Why Aye Man" (enhanced video)

Credits

Music

• Mark Knopfler – vocals, guitar
• Guy Fletcher – keyboards, backing vocals ("You Don't Know You're Born")
• Glenn Worf – bass
• Richard Bennett – guitar
• Jim Cox – piano, Hammond organ
• Chad Cromwell – drums

Production

• Chuck Ainlay – producer, engineer, mixing
• Jon Bailey – engineer
• Jake Jackson – engineer
• John Saylor – engineer
• Tony Cousins – mastering
• Ken Sharp – photography
• Stephen Walker – art direction
• Neil Kellerhouse – art direction, design
• Elliot Erwitt – cover photo

Charts and certifications

Album charts

Year	Chart	Position
2002	Norway Albums Chart	1
2002	Netherlands Albums Chart	2
2002	Spain Albums Chart	2
2002	Belgium Albums Chart	4
2002	France Albums Chart	4
2002	Germany Albums Chart	4
2002	Italy Albums Chart	5
2002	Sweden Albums Chart	5
2002	Switzerland Albums Chart	5
2002	Denmark Albums Chart	7
2002	Finland Albums Chart	7
2002	France Albums Chart	7
2002	UK Albums Chart	7
2002	New Zealand Albums Chart	8
2002	Portugal Albums Chart	8
2002	Austria Albums Chart	9
2002	Slovenia Albums Chart	12
2002	Poland Albums Chart	14
2002	Canada CRIA Albums Chart	18
2002	Iceland Albums Chart	22
2002	Billboard 200	38
2002	Hungary Albums Chart	41
2002	Australia ARIA Albums Chart	45
2002	Czech Republic Albums Chart	66

Certifications

Organisation	Level	Date
BPI – UK	Silver	11 Oct 2002
IFPI – Switzerland	Gold	2002
SNEP – France	Gold	11 Jun 2003

Why Aye Man (single)

"Why Aye Man"
Single by Mark Knopfler
from the album The Ragpicker's Dream
Released	16 September 2002
Format	2 CDs
Genre	Roots rock
Label	Mercury
Writer(s)	Mark Knopfler
Mark Knopfler singles chronology
"Silvertown Blues" (2001) "Why Aye Man" (2002) "Boom, Like That" (2004)

"Why Aye Man" was the first single from the album.

CD single

1. "Why Aye Man"
2. "Small Potatoes"
3. "So Far Away" (live)

Maxi CD single

1. "Why Aye Man"
2. "Small Potatoes"
3. "So Far Away" (live)
4. "Speedway At Nazareth" (live)