What It Is

What it is - Mark Knopfler

From the album: Sailing to philadelphia

Didn`t find any decent chords for this excellent song, so I

decided to tab it myself. I capo it on the 2nd fret to suit my voice better,

but I think it`s most accurate to the original without a capo.

Chords by Rune T. from Norway.

(A) = Play quick, one strum

Intro:

F#m (A) D A

F#m (A) D E

VERSE:

F#m A

The drinking dens are spilling out and staggering in the square

D A E

There`s lads and lassies falling about and a crackling in the air

F#m A

Down around the dungeon doors, the shelters and the keeps

D A E (F#m)

Everybody`s looking for somebody`s arms to fall into this way

That`s what it is now...

(Riff: Sorry, I stole this one..)

fast (1/2) bend

E|---------------------------------------------------------|

H|---------------------5/7~--5h7p5----6BU7-7---------------|

G|---2h4BU6BD4p2------6---------------------6--------------|

D|--4----------------7-----------------------7----6--------|

A|-----------------------------------------------9BUBD7----|

E|---------------------------------------------------------|

or: F#m (A) D E

Chorus:

F#m (A) D A

It`s (that`s) what it is

F#m (A) D E

It`s what it is now

VERSE 2:

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 city hall ,the castle and the keep

Moon shines down upon it all the legless and asleep

PRE-Chrorus:

D A

Cold on the tollgate where the wagons creeping through

D A E

Cold on the tollgate God knows what I can do with you

(Chorus)

VERSE 3:

The garnison sleeps in the citadel with the ghosts and the ancient stones

High on the parapet the scottish pipers stands alone

High on the wind the highland drums begin to roll

And something from the past just comes and stares into my soul

PRE-CHORUS:

D A

Cold on the tollgate where the caledonian blues

D A E

Cold on the tollgate god knows what I can do with you

(Chorus)

VERSE 4:

There’s a chink of light as a burning wick, there’s a lantern in the tower

Wee Willie Winkie with the candle sticks still writing songs in the wee Wee hours

On charlotte street they take a walking stick from my hotel

The ghost of Dirty Dick is still in search of little nell

(Chorus)