Mark Knopfler has named the guitar solo he wrote for the 1983 film Local Hero as his favourite of his career, praising the restraint he showed while recording it. The Dire Straits frontman composed the film's soundtrack, including the track "Going Home", and has said its understated quality is what makes it stand out among his more famous, flashier work.

Local Hero tells the story of an American oil tycoon attempting to buy up land in a small Scottish town, a tale of community versus corporate ambition that Knopfler said shaped his approach to the score. Speaking to Spanish newspaper El Pais, he described using a "cheap guitar" and admitted he "did everything wrong" technically, yet felt the notes were perfect because he avoided over-playing and instead aimed to capture the mood of the film's landscape, people and setting. The song later became closely associated with Newcastle United, who use it as their matchday walk-out music.