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 
And 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 
The lights are out in the city hall 
The castle and the keep 
The moon shines down upon it all 
The legless and asleep 

And it's cold on the tollgate 
With the wagons creeping through 
Cold on the tollgate 
God knows what I could do with you 
And it's what it is 
It's what it is now 

The garrison sleeps in the citadel 
With the ghosts and the ancient stones 

High up 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 

And it's cold on the tollgate 
With the Caledonian Blues 
Cold on the tollgate 
God knows what I could do with you 
And 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 
And it's what it is 
It's what it is now 
Oh what it is 
What it is now