‘The Way It Is’ is a song by American rock group Bruce Hornsby and the Range. It was released in the United States in September 1986 as the second single from their debut album, The Way It Is. The song topped the charts in the US, Canada and the Netherlands in 1986, and peaked inside the top twenty in such countries as Australia, Ireland, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
Written by Bruce Hornsby, it made explicit reference to the Economic Opportunity Act, also known as the 1964 Poverty Act, as well as the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Musically, the song is characterized by two long piano solos. The song has been sampled by various rappers such as E-40 for his song "Things'll Never Change", by Tupac for "Changes", by DJ Don Diablo for his song "Never Change", and Polo G for "Wishing for a Hero" in 2020.
The opening verse recounts a story taking place at a line for welfare that illustrates a divide between the rich and poor; the second verse recounts ongoing social issues from the voice of someone supporting racial segregation. The final verse recounts the passage of the Economic Opportunity Act in 1964 "to give those who ain't got a little more", and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as a victory in the civil rights movement against job discrimination, but insists that more is needed.
Hornsby's brother John said, "The song is mainly about compassion, about understanding racial and social types, and beliefs and practices that are different from your own. It's about a status quo that's so complacent in its narrow-mindedness and bigotry that it seems it'll never change. That's why the line 'Ah, but don’t you believe them' is so important." ‘The Way It Is’ evokes people to give to the poor and to protest against racial segregation, white supremacy and economic value.
This is a very unusual hit, lacking a big chorus, shifts in momentum, catchy hooks and most other elements of typical chart-toppers. With a consistent tempo and a jazz-inflected sound, it appealed to a more adult audience and added a welcome diversity to Top 40 playlists that were dominated by uptempo, synth-driven songs. It was a song grown-ups loved and their kids could tolerate, reaching the top of both the Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts.
Label – RCA
Songwriter – Bruce Hornsby
Producers – Bruce Hornsby, Elliot Scheiner
SONG LYRICS
[Instrumental Intro 00:00-00:50][Verse 1]
Standing in line, marking time
Waiting for the welfare dime
'Cause they can't buy a job
The man in the silk suit hurries by
As he catches the poor old lady's eyes
Just for fun, he says, “Get a job”
[Chorus]
That's just the way it is
Some things'll never change
That's just the way it is
Ha, but don't you believe them
[Verse 2]
Said, “Hey, little boy, you can't go where the others go
'Cause you don't look like they do”
Said, “Hey old man, how can you stand to think that way?
Did you really think about it before you made the rules?”
He said “Son”
[Chorus]
That's just the way it is
Some things'll never change
That's just the way it is
Ha, but don't you believe them
Yeah
[Instrumental Break 02:15-03:02]
[Piano Solo]
[Bridge]
That's just the way it is
That's just the way it is
[Verse 3]
Well, they passed a law in '64
To give those who ain't got a little more
But it only goes so far
'Cause the law don't change another's mind
When all it sees at the hiring time
Is the line on the color bar, no
[Chorus]
That's just the way it is
Some things'll never change
That's just the way it is
That's just the way it is, it is, it is, it is
[Instrumental Outro]
[Piano Solo]