Mark Knopfler

What it is
The drinking dens are spilling out
Theres staggering in the square
Theres lads and lasses falling about
And a crackling in the air
Down around the dungeon doors
The shelters in the queues
Everybodys looking for
Somebodys arms to fall into
And its what it is
Its what it is now
Theres 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 its cold on a tollgate
With the wagons creeping through
Cold on a tollgate
God knows what I could do with you
And its what it is
Its what it is now
The garrison sleeps and the citadel
With the ghosts and the ancient stones
High on a parapet (just take the "up" out of this