What It Is chords by Mark Knopfler

Standard Tuning EADGBe


No Capo


Verse riff:

E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-10--------------10--------------------10--------------10--------------------------|
G|-9h11-11-11p9----9h11-9----9-11~--9~---9h11-11-11p9----9h11-9----9-11~-------------|
D|--------------11--------11--------------------------11--------11-------11-9-7~-9~--|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------| (x2)

Chorus riff:

E|--------------------------------------------------|
H|------------------5h7~--5h7p5----6/7-7------------|
G|---2h4/6/4p2-----6--------------------6-----------|
D|-4--------------7----------------------7----------|
A|--------------------------------------------9brp7-|
E|--------------------------------------------------|


Intro:

F#m  D A
F#m  D E


Verse 1:

  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 queues
D              A        E
Everybody's looking for somebody's arms to fall into this way...


Chorus 1:
        F#m  D  A
It's what it is
        F#m  D  E
It's what it is now


Verse 2:

    F#m                      A
There's frost on the graves and the monuments but the taverns are warm in town
D                A        E
People curse the government and shovel hot food down
F#m               A
Lights are out in city hall, the castle and the keep
F#m               A      E
Moon shines down upon it all the legless and asleep


Pre-Chorus 1:

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, its what it is...


Chorus 2:
        F#m  D  A
It's what it is
        F#m  D  E
It's what it is now


Verse 3:

F#m                     A
The garnison sleeps in the citadel with the ghosts and the ancient stones
F#m                A    E
High on the parapet the scottish pipers stands alone
F#m               A
High on the wind the highland drums begin to roll
F#m               A        E
And something from the past just comes and stares into my soul


Pre-Chorus 2:

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, its what it is


Chorus 3:
        F#m  D  A
It's what it is
        F#m  D  E
It's what it is now
        F#m  D  A
It's what it is
        F#m  D  E
It's what it is now


Instrumental break, verse and chorus:


Verse 4:
     F#m                     A
There’s a chink of light as a burning wick, there’s a lantern in the tower
F#m                       A         E
Wee Willie Winkie with the candle sticks still writing songs in the wee wee hours
  F#m                 A
On Charlotte Street they take a walking stick from my hotel
F#m                 A        E
The ghost of Dirty Dick is still in search of Little Nell, its what it is...


Chorus 4:
        F#m  D  A
It's what it is
        F#m  D  E
It's what it is now
        F#m  D  A
It's what it is
        F#m  D  E
It's what it is now...