The Way It Is
Bruce Hornsby & the Range, Bruce Hornsby
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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 ladies' 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 Ah, but don't you believe them" Oh yeah (That's just the way it is) (That's just the way it is) well, they passed a law in '64 To give those who ain't got a little more But it only goes so far Because the law don't change another's mind When all it sees at the hiring time Is the line on the color bar, no, no That's just the way it is And some things will never change That's just the way it is That's just the way it is, it is, it is, it is
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11 facts about this song
Release Date"The Way It Is" by Bruce Hornsby was released in 1986, serving as the title track from his debut album with his band, The Range.
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Chart PerformanceThe track reached the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States. This mark of success defined the song as Bruce Hornsby's signature song.
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GenreThe song belongs to the classic pop-rock genre, with elements of bluegrass woven into it - a significant characteristic of Hornsby's music style.
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Theme"The Way It Is" has lyrics that address social issues, specifically focusing on the American Civil Rights movement and economic disparity.
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Use in Other WorksThe song has been sampled and covered by numerous artists in various genres, including rap group Tupac Shakur's "Changes" and E-40's "Things'll Never Change."
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InstrumentationKnown for his skills on the piano, Bruce Hornsby's smooth, intricate piano playing is a notable feature of "The Way It Is." The song begins with a solo piano intro and continues with a unique percussive piano style throughout.
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AwardsThe song won Bruce Hornsby and the Range the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1987, solidifying their place in the music industry.
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Live PerformancesBruce Hornsby, a one-time member of The Grateful Dead, often plays this song at his concerts, sometimes providing unique variations and improvisations.
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Music VideoThe music video for "The Way It Is" used a unique storytelling style: portraying scenes like a moving painting, adding to the narrative and reflective nature of the song.
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SongwritingBruce Hornsby wrote the song. His lyric-writing for "The Way It Is" is influenced by his observations of life in Virginia, combined with stories of the Civil Rights Movement that he heard while growing up.
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Musical StructureThe song is characterized by its memorable repeating piano riff, a classic verse-chorus structure, and a powerful piano solo bridge that shows off Hornsby's skill at the instrument.
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Citation
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"The Way It Is Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 8 Jun 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/35596572/Bruce+Hornsby/The+Way+It+Is>.
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