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Mark Knopfler - What It Is (Parkinson, 22.09.2000)
Watch Mark Knopfler - What It Is (Parkinson, 22.09.2000) on YouTube

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Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS
Mark Knopfler
Mark Knopfler
Guitar
Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett
Guitar
Jim Cox
Jim Cox
Piano
Guy Fletcher
Guy Fletcher
Keyboards
Glenn Worf
Glenn Worf
Bass
Chad Cromwell
Chad Cromwell
Drums
Aubrey Haynie
Aubrey Haynie
Violin
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Mark Knopfler
Mark Knopfler
Songwriter
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Mark Knopfler
Mark Knopfler
Producer
Chuck Ainlay
Chuck Ainlay
Mixing Engineer
Mark Ralston
Mark Ralston
Assistant Recording Engineer
Jon Bailey
Jon Bailey
Assistant Recording Engineer
Graham Lewis
Graham Lewis
Assistant Mixing Engineer
Aaron Swihart
Aaron Swihart
Assistant Recording Engineer
Eric Conn
Eric Conn
Editing Engineer
Bob Ludwig
Bob Ludwig
Mastering Engineer

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
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
[Verse 2]
It's what it is
It's what it is now
[Verse 3]
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 sleepless
[Verse 4]
Cold on the tollgate
With the wagons creeping through
Cold on the tollgate
God knows what I could do with you
[Verse 5]
It's what it is
It's what it is now
[Verse 6]
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
[Verse 7]
Cold on the tollgate
With a Caledonian Blues
Cold on the tollgate
God knows what I could do with you
[Verse 8]
It's what it is
It's what it is now
What it is
It's what it is now
[Verse 9]
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
[Verse 10]
It's what it is
It's what it is now
It's what it is
What it is now, now, now
Written by: Mark Freuder Knopfler

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