The drinking dens are spilling out

There's staggering in the square

There are the 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 the frost on the graves and the monuments

But the tavern is in worm in town

People curse the government

And shovel the 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 creping 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

And it's 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 Neil

And it's what it is

It's what it is now

Oh it's what it is

It's what it is now