What It Is Mark Knopfler

The drinking dens are spilling out, there's staggering in the square
There's lads and lasses falling about and a crackling in the air
Down around the dungeon doors, the shelters and the queues
Everybody's looking for somebody's arms to fall into

It's what it is
It's what it is now

There's frost on the graves and the monuments but the taverns are warm in town
People curse the government and shovel hot food down
Lights are out in the city hall, the castle and the keep
The moon shines down upon it all, the legless and the sleepless

Cold on the tollgate
With the wagons creeping through
Cold on the tollgate
God knows what I could do with you

It's what it is
It's what it is now

The Garison sleeps in the citadel with the ghost and the ancient stones
High on the parapet, a Scottish piper stands alone
High on the wind, the highland drums begin to roll
And something from the past just comes and stares into my soul

Cold on the tollgate
With the Caledonian blues
Cold on the tollgate
God knows what I could do with you

It's what it is
It's what it is now
What it is
It's what it is now

There's a chink of light, there's a burning wick, there's a lantern in the tower
Wee Willie Winkie with a candlestick still writing songs in the wee wee hours
On Charlotte Street, I take a walking stick from my hotel
The ghost of Dirty Dick is still in search of Little Nell

It's what it is
It's what it is now
Mh, it's what it is
What it is now, now, now