Stella Reddy's Story

“The Way It Is” by Bruce Hornsby and the Range from their 1986 album The Way It Is.

This is an awesome song that I spent my teens listening to. I love the piano! It offers a fantastic message to not believe people when they say, “That’s just the way it is,” as it implies that change isn’t possible. I never believed that growing up, I still don’t. We change in small ways every day, and some choose to change in many big ways!

I hope you enjoy this song and find meaning in it for your own life, as I do mine. The lyrics are shared below!

[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 ladies’ eyes
Just for fun, he says, “Get a job”

[Chorus]
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

[Verse 2]
They say, “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 will never change
That’s just the way it is”
Ha, but don’t you believe them
Mmm, yeah

[Instrumental Break]

[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, ooh, no

[Chorus]
That’s just the way it is
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

[Instrumental Outro]