Since Dire Straits disbanded in 1995, Knopfler has recorded and produced nine solo albums and, as with his previous band, produced many hit songs. He has composed and produced film scores for nine films, including Local Hero (1983), Cal (1984), The Princess Bride (1987), Wag the Dog (1997) and Altamira (2016).
In addition to his work with Dire Straits, Knopfler has, as a solo artist, recorded and performed with many prominent musicians, including B.B. King, Chet Atkins, Chris Botti, John Anderson, the Chieftains, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Elton John, Bryan Ferry, George Jones, Phil Lynott, Donal Lunny, Van Morrison, Steely Dan, Sting, Emmylou Harris , James Taylor and Sonny Landreth , sometimes working as a session musician. He has produced albums for Tina Turner, Bob Dylan, and Randy Newman.
Knopfler is a fingerstyle guitarist and was ranked 27th on Rolling Stone's list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. Knopfler and Dire Straits have sold in excess of 120 million records to date. A four-time Grammy Award winner, Knopfler is the recipient of the Edison Award, the Steiger Award and the Ivor Novello Award, as well as holding three honorary doctorate degrees in music from universities in the United Kingdom. Knopfler was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Dire Straits in 2018.
What It Is
Mark Knopfler Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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 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, it's what it is
What it is now
The song "What It Is" by Mark Knopfler talks about the various scenes in a town at night. The first verse describes the pubs and bars brimming with people who are drunkenly stumbling around, looking for someone to hold onto. The second verse paints a picture of the city in darkness, where warmth and light can be found only in the pubs and restaurants. People are cursing the government and devouring food to keep themselves warm. The third verse takes this scene to a castle where a Scottish piper is playing on the parapet, and the sound of the highland drums echoes through the empty streets, giving the singer a sense of nostalgia.
The chorus of the song, "It's what it is now," implies an acceptance of the current state of affairs. It's almost like Mark Knopfler is implying that this is how things are, and there is not much we can do about it.
Overall, the song captures the essence of a quiet and cold night, where people are struggling to find warmth and companionship, and the only source of joy and happiness is music and booze.
Line by Line Meaning
The drinking dens are spilling out
Bars are closing and people are leaving after a night of drinking
There's staggering in the square
People are stumbling and swaying in the town square
There's lads and lasses falling about
Young men and women are collapsing and stumbling around
And a crackling in the air
There is a feeling of excitement and energy in the atmosphere
Down around the dungeon doors
In the dark alleys and shady places
The shelters and the queues
Homeless shelters and lines for food and services
Everybody's looking for
All people are searching for
Somebody's arms to fall into
Someone to provide comfort and support
And it's what it is
The situation is as it appears
It's what it is now
This is the current state of things
There's frost on the graves and the monuments
The burial sites and memorials are cold and lonely
But the taverns are warm in town
The bars are welcoming and provide comfort
People curse the government
The citizens express frustration and anger towards political leaders
And shovel hot food down
And they eat heartily to fill their stomachs
The lights are out in city hall
The government offices are closed
The castle and the keep
The historical landmarks are empty and quiet
The moon shines down upon it all
The only light comes from the moon illuminating everything
The legless and asleep
The homeless and intoxicated people lying on the streets
And it's cold on the tollgate
It is chilly and unpleasant at the checkpoint
With the wagons creeping through
With the slow-moving carts passing by
God knows what I could do with you
An expression of frustration and confusion
The garrison sleeps in the citadel
The military personnel rest in the fortress
With the ghosts and the ancient stones
In the presence of ghostly and historical elements
High up on the parapet
Positioned high up on a wall
A Scottish piper stands alone
A traditional Scottish musician plays a solo
And high on the wind
In the gusts of wind
The highland drums begin to roll
The traditional Scottish drums start playing
And something from the past just comes
A feeling of nostalgia arises
And stares into my soul
And deeply affects my emotional state
With the Caledonian blues
Depressed and melancholy feelings
There's a chink of light, there's a burning wick
A small flicker of light from a candle
There's a lantern in the tower
A lantern is lit in a tower
Wee willie winkie with a candlestick
A reference to a children's rhyme character holding a candlestick
Still writing songs in the wee wee hours
Continues to write music late at night
On Charlotte Street
On a specific street in a city
I take A walking stick from my hotel
I grab a cane from the hotel where I'm staying
The ghost of Dirty Dick
The spirit of a notorious person
Is still in search of little nell
Still looking for something or someone
Oh, it's what it is
This is the reality of the situation
What it is now
This is the current state of things
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MARK KNOPFLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind