What It Is (Mark Knopfler song)

"What It Is"
Single by Mark Knopfler
from the album Sailing to Philadelphia
Released	4 September 2000 (2000-09-04)
Genre	Roots rock
Length	4:57 (Album version) 3:33 (Radio edit) 5:36 (Mexican version)
Songwriter(s)	Mark Knopfler
Producer(s)	Mark Knopfler
Mark Knopfler singles chronology
"Rüdiger" (1996) "What It Is" (2000) "Sailing To Philadelphia" (2000)

"What It Is" is a song written and recorded by the British rock musician Mark Knopfler. It was released on 4 September 2000 as the lead single from his second solo studio album, Sailing to Philadelphia (2000).

An extended version of the song released in Mexico contains an additional verse:

And the highwayman stands blowing on his fingers by the green

I've walked inside his shoes before so I always buy his magazine

He's with a local mystery with blood stains on her hands

I like the way she winks at me but I leave her with the highwayman

The song's lyrics pay homage to the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, making reference to Edinburgh Castle, the Stone of Scone and Canongate Tolbooth.

Track listing

No.	Title	Length
1.	"What It Is" (Radio edit)	3:33
2.	"The Long Highway"	3:46
3.	"Let's See You"	4:21
4.	"Camerado"	2:58
Total length:		14:38

Charts

Chart (2000–01)	Peak position
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders) [1]	11
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia) [2]	15
France (SNEP) [3]	56
Germany (GfK) [4]	81
Italy (FIMI) [5]	3
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [6]	38
Norway (VG-lista) [7]	10
Poland ( Music & Media ) [8]	10
Poland (Polish Airplay Charts) [9]	6
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [10]	4
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) [11]	38
US Adult Alternative Songs ( Billboard ) [12]	3

References

1. "Mark Knopfler – What It Is" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
2. "Mark Knopfler – What It Is" (in French). Ultratip.
3. "Mark Knopfler – What It Is" (in French). Le classement de singles.
4. "Mark Knopfler – What It Is" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
5. "Mark Knopfler – What It Is". Top Digital Download.
6. "Mark Knopfler – What It Is" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
7. "Mark Knopfler – What It Is". VG-lista.
8. "Major Market Airplay – Week 34/2000" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17, no. 34. 19 August 2000. p. 35. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
9. "Polish Airplay Charts – Lista krajowa 36/2000" (in Polish). PiF PaF Production. Archived from the original on 4 March 2001. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
10. "Mark Knopfler – What It Is" Canciones Top 50.
11. "Mark Knopfler – What It Is". Swiss Singles Chart.
12. "Mark Knopfler Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 11, 2020.