Synopsis

The UK version follows Johnny, a street musician performing old rock and roll songs in a pedestrian tunnel while passersby continue on their way. His busking is intercut with Dire Straits performing onstage, linking the anonymous musician's everyday struggle with the band's professional performance. The video gives visual form to the song's portrait of a player who turns nighttime into daytime through skill, dedication, and persistence.

Factoids & Trivia

• The video was made in 1985 to promote "Walk of Life," the third track on Dire Straits' album "Brothers in Arms."

• The tunnel sequences were filmed in the Tyne Cyclist and Pedestrian Tunnel in northeast England, rather than in the London Underground.

• The UK version closely follows the song's lyrics about Johnny singing in tunnels and trying to earn money as a busker.

• A separate version was prepared for the US market. It replaces the busker-centered concept with a montage of sports bloopers, including footage associated with baseball, football, and basketball.

• The busker is styled to resemble Mark Knopfler, including a similar shirt, creating a visual connection between the fictional street performer and the lead singer.

• "Walk of Life" was reportedly considered for use as a B-side before it was retained for "Brothers in Arms." The single later became one of Dire Straits' biggest hits, reaching number two in the UK and number seven in the United States.

• The contrasting videos reflect different approaches to the song: the UK edit emphasizes the working musician described in the lyrics, while the US edit treats the track as a soundtrack for comic physical mishaps.