Dire Straits - What it is

The ^Emdrinking dens are spilling out and s^Gtaggering in the square, There's ^Clads and lasses falling about and a ^Gcrackelling in the ^Dair ^Em Then around the dungeon doors there's ^Gshelters in the queues, ^C Everybody's looking for some^Gbody's arms to ^Dfall into

It's ^Emwhat it is ^{G C D} That's ^Emwhat it is man^{C D}

^Em Here's frost on the graves and the monuments but the ^Gtaverns are warm in town ^C People curse the government and ^Gshovel hot food ^Ddown ^Em Lights are out in cityhall, the ^Gcastle and the keep ^C Moon shines down upon it all, the ^Glegless and the ^Dsleepless ^C Cold on a tollgate where the ^Gwagons creeping through ^C Cold on a tollgate ^GGod knows what ^DI can do

It's ^Emwhat it is ^{G C D} That's ^Emwhat it is man^{C D}

^Em The garrison sleeps and the citadel with the ^Gghosts and the ancient stones ^C High on the parapet the ^GScottish pipers stands ^Dalone ^Em High on the wind the ^Ghowling runes speak of the rule ^C And something from the past just comes and ^Gstares in^Dto my soul ^C Cold on a tollgate where the ^GCaledonian moves ^C Cold on a tollgate ^GGod knows what ^DI can do with you

It's ^Emwhat it is ^{G C D} That's ^Emwhat it is man^{C D}

^EmWhat it is ^{C D} That's ^Emwhat it is man^{C D}

^Em There's a chink of light as a burning wick There's a ^Glantern in the tower ^CWee Willie Winkie with the candle sticks still ^Gwriting songs in the ^Dmean wee hours On ^EmCharlotte Street they take a walking ^Gstick from my hotel ^C The ghost of Dirty Dick is ^Dstill in search of little Nell

^EmThat's what it is^{C D} It's ^Emwhat it is now ^{C D} That's ^Emwhat it is ^{C D} It's ^Emwhat it is now,^C now,^D now...