Discover the story of the song > Sailing To Philadelphia – Mark Knopfler

The song is about two men, Jeremiah Dixon and Charlie Mason, who travel to America to measure and draw a boundary line called the Mason-Dixon Line. Dixon is a good surveyor, while Mason is a stargazer who dreams of being in the Royal Society. Despite some disagreements along the way, they eventually arrive in Philadelphia and successfully draw the line, marking a significant point in American history. The lyrics describe their journey and the challenges they face, but also celebrate the possibilities of new beginnings and the beauty of the natural world.