Sep. 4, 20001 viewer34K views
What It Is Lyrics
[Verse 1]
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
[Chorus]
That's what it is
It's what it is now
[Verse 2]
Yeah, 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 asleep
[Pre-Chorus]
And it's cold on the tollgate
With the wagons creeping through
Cold on the tollgate
God knows what I could do with you
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
[Chorus]
That's what it is
It's what it is now
[Verse 2]
Yeah, 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 asleep
[Pre-Chorus]
And it's cold on the tollgate
With the wagons creeping through
Cold on the tollgate
God knows what I could do with you
[Chorus]
That's what it is
It's what it is now
[Verse 3]
The garrison sleeps in the citadel
With the ghosts and the ancient stones
High on the parapet
A Scottish piper stands alone
And high on the wind
The highland drums begin to roll
And something from the past just comes
And stares into my soul
[Pre-Chorus]
And it's cold on the tollgate
With a Caledonian blues
Cold on the tollgate
God knows what I could do with you
[Chorus]
That's what it is
It's what it is now
What it is
It's what it is now
That's what it is
It's what it is now
[Verse 3]
The garrison sleeps in the citadel
With the ghosts and the ancient stones
High on the parapet
A Scottish piper stands alone
And high on the wind
The highland drums begin to roll
And something from the past just comes
And stares into my soul
[Pre-Chorus]
And it's cold on the tollgate
With a Caledonian blues
Cold on the tollgate
God knows what I could do with you
[Chorus]
That's what it is
It's what it is now
What it is
It's what it is now
[Guitar Solo]
[Verse 4]
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 for my hotel
The ghost of Dirty Dick
Is still in search of Little Nell
[Chorus]
That's what it is
It's what it is now
It's what it is
What it is now
[Guitar Solo]
[Verse 4]
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 for my hotel
The ghost of Dirty Dick
Is still in search of Little Nell
[Chorus]
That's what it is
It's what it is now
It's what it is
What it is now
[Guitar Solo]
About
This song bio is unreviewed
Genius Annotation
As the lead single from Mark Knopfler’s second solo album Sailing to Philadelphia, What It Is can be considered the biggest hit on the album, and Knopfler’s biggest solo hit in general. It reached the charts in many countries, which was not common for his other solo work.
The song has multiple versions: an album version of 4:57 minutes, a shortened radio edit (3:33) and a Mexican version with an extra verse, lasting 5:36. The song’s lyrics are an homage to the city of Edinburgh, Scotland.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
- 1.What It Is
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- 8.El Macho
- 10.Wanderlust
- 12.Junkie Doll
- 13.Sands of Nevada
- 14.One More Matinee
Credits
Producers
Writer
Vocals
Keyboards
Guitar
Bass
Drums
Hammond Organ
Recording Engineer
Mixing Engineer
Assistant Engineer
Mastering Engineer
Assistant Mastering Engineer
Violin
Recorded At
Nashville
Released on
September 4, 2000
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