What It Is (Palais Omnisport de Paris Bercy, 09.06.10)
The drinking dens are spilling out and staggering in the square, there's lads and lasses falling about and a crackelling in the air then around the dungeon doors there's shelters in the queues, everybody's looking for somebody's arms to fall into
It's what it is. That's what it is man
Here'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 cityhall, the castle and the keep moon shines down upon it all, the legless and the sleepless
Cold on a tollgate where the wagons creeping through Cold on a tollgate God knows what I can do
Hmm that's what it is, it's what it is now
The garrison sleeps and the citadel with the ghosts and the ancient stones High on the parapet the Scottish pipers stands alone High on the wind the howling runes speak of the rule And something from the past just comes and stares into my soul
Cold on a tollgate where the Caledonian moves Cold on a tollgate God knows what I can do with you
That's what it is, it's what it is now What it is, it's what it is now now now
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 mean 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
That's what it is, it's what it is now What it is, it's what it is now now now