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]
(same chords)
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-Chorus]
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]
(same chords)
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]
(same chords)
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]
************************************
| h Hammer-on
| p Pull-off
| / Slide up
| ~ Vibrato
| BD bend down
| BU bend up
************************************
Tabs