Lyrics:

GOING HOME - Theme from LOCAL HERO

In his review for AllMusic, William Ruhlmann gave the album four and a half out of five stars, noting that Knopfler's 'intricate, introspective finger-picked guitar stylings make a perfect musical complement to the wistful tone of Bill Forsyth's comedy film.'

Ruhlmann continued, 'The low-key music picks up traces of Celtic music, but most of it just sounds like Dire Straits doing instrumentals, especially the recurring theme, one of Knopfler's more memorable melodies.'

Rolling Stone magazine called Knopfler's film music debut an 'insinuating LP of charming, cosmopolitan soundtrack music—a record that can make movies in your mind.'

For his Local Hero soundtrack, Knopfler received a BAFTA award nomination for Best Score for a Film

Track Listing

All music and lyrics were written by Mark Knopfler

1. 'The Rocks and the Water' 3:30
2. 'Wild Theme' 3:38
3. 'Freeway Flyer' 1:47
4. 'Boomtown (variation Louis' Favourite)' 4:06
5. 'The Way It Always Starts' (Featuring Gerry Rafferty) 4:00
6. 'The Rocks and the Thunder' 0:45
7. 'The Ceilidh and the Northern Lights' 3:57
8. 'The Mist Covered Mountains' (Traditional, arrangement by Mark Knopfler) 5:13
9. 'The Ceilidh: Louis' Favourite, Billy's Tune' 3:57
10. 'Whistle Theme' 0:51
11. 'Smooching' 4:58
12. 'Stargazer' 1:31
13. 'The Rocks and the Thunder' 0:40
14. 'Going Home: Theme of the Local Hero' 4:55

Total length: 43:48

The song was played at the end of Dire Straits concerts, after all of the encores, with the lights up, so fans knew it was time to go home.