Pop Song 314 of 500 'The Way it is' Bruce Hornsby and the Range 1986

Pop Song 314 of 500 'The Way it is' Bruce Hornsby and the Range 1986

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."

Standing 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"
That's just the way it is
Some things will never change
That's just the way it is
Ah, but don't you believe them
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 that's just the way it is"
Some things will never change
That's just the way it is
Ha, but don't you believe them
Ooo, yeah
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
But who knows
That's just the way it is
Some things'll never change
That's just the way it is
Oh Don't you believe