The Way It Is
Bruce Hornsby & Bruce Hornsby & The Range Lyrics
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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
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
The lyrics of Bruce Hornsby's "Just The Way It Is" touch on important social themes, particularly on the issue of inequality and prejudice. The song voices out the perspective of the marginalized in the society who struggle to make ends meet and are treated unfairly by those in power. The opening lines, "Standing in line, marking time, waiting for the welfare dime, 'Cause they can't buy a job," describe the plight of the people who are unable to find a source of livelihood and therefore rely on a welfare program that provides them with money to survive. The song then speaks of the contrast between the wealthy and the poor, as the man in the silk suit who passes by in a hurry mocks the old lady who is also in line, and tells her to "Get a job."
The following verse highlights the issue of discrimination that pervades our society, as the boy is told he cannot go where the others do because of how he looks, while the old man is questioned about the rules he made that restrict others because of their race. The song draws attention to the fact that such discrimination has been institutionalized, has become part of the societal order, and is rooted to the point of being relatively immutable. This is shown in the final verse, which implies that despite the legal safeguards in place to protect the oppressed, the law does not guarantee equal opportunities to all. The message of the song is that these problems deserve attention and that people ought to question the status quo and not be complacent about what ails the society.
Line by Line Meaning
Standing in line, marking time
People wait around aimlessly for something to happen in their lives.
Waiting for the welfare dime
People are reliant on welfare for basic needs because they cannot find work.
'Cause they can't buy a job
People who cannot afford an education and training struggle to find employment.
The man in the silk suit hurries by
The wealthy are indifferent to the struggles of those less fortunate.
As he catches the poor old ladies' eyes
The wealthy do not empathize with the less fortunate, even when they are aware of their struggles.
Just for fun he says, "get a job"
The wealthy belittle those less fortunate for kicks.
That's just the way it is
Society is the way it is because it works for those in power.
Some things will never change
The imbalance of power and struggling of the less fortunate will always exist in society.
Ah, but don't you believe them
Do not be fooled into thinking that the status quo is right or just.
Said, hey little boy you can't go where the others go
People may be discriminated against based on their appearance or background.
'Cause you don't look like they do
People may be excluded from opportunities because they do not fit into a societal norm.
Said, hey old man how can you stand
To think that way
Did you really think about it
Before you made the rules?
Older generations may have created and upheld societal norms that are discriminatory against certain groups, and younger generations need to question these norms.
He said, "son
That's just the way it is
The old man believes that societal norms should not be questioned and will never change.
Oh yeah
Acknowledgment of the harsh reality of societal inequality.
They passed a law in '64
To give those who ain't got a little more
New laws and policies may alleviate societal inequality, but they do not solve the underlying problem.
But it only goes so far
Policies may not go far enough to actually effect societal change.
Because the law don't change another's mind
Laws and policies cannot change individual people's discriminatory beliefs or actions.
When all it sees at the hiring time
Is the line on the color bar, no, no
Discrimination in hiring practices may still occur despite anti-discrimination laws or policies.
That's just the way it is
Society is the way it is because it works for those in power.
And some things will never change
The imbalance of power and struggling of the less fortunate will always exist in society.
That's just the way it is
That's just the way it is, it is, it is, it is
Repeated assertion that society will remain unequal and unjust, emphasizing resignation to this state of affairs.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bruce Hornsby
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Digman77
Anybody listening in 2024
@robertlinear2698
Yesss always! This NEVER goes out of style ❤
@robertlinear2698
He killed those 88s!
@mikamydog
Bought a $55 concert ticket for September. Excited to see him perform
@Digman77
@@mikamydog that’s awesome!!
@mikamydog
@@Digman77Can't believe he's only charging that much as opposed to current acts less talented than he is.
@user-qn3eo4hx7z
I'm black and my 25 year old son asked me why I was listening to this. I said its great music and the base of alot of the hip-hop you are listening to. He told me I was old and crazy.
I then played Tupac's changes. And asked him how crazy am I. 🤣
@wutang6020
Try Pete and bas 😉 everything you just said there in a nut shell 👌😊
@karensweeden5038
Music is color blind,just the way it is,God bless you
@HitsFromThePast
@@karensweeden5038 Not to MTV in the early 1980s but that was the way it was.