That's the Way Love Is
Gladys Knight & The Pips Lyrics


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As the bitter tears fall from your eyes
a thousand times you ask yourself why
the one guy you love has departed
and you're left alone and broken hearted.
Love just comes and it goes.
How long it's gonna last, say, nobody knows.

That's The Way Love Is, baby,
(That's The Way Love Is, sure enough how it is.)
That's The Way Love Is, sugar,
(That's The Way Love Is, sure enough how it is.)

I know you're walkin' down a lonesome road
and your heart is carryin' a heavy load.
I know you feel like you ain't got a friend
and your whole world is cavin' in.
Now's the time to be strong,
you gotta forget him now that he's gone,
and remember.

That's The Way Love Is, baby,
(That's The Way Love Is, sure enough how it is.)
That's The Way Love Is, sugar,
(That's The Way Love Is, sure enough how it is.)

The road of love gets rough some times don't let it get the best of you.
Said I've been hurt by love so many times,
so I know just what you're goin' through.
You wish that you were never born, you gotta forget him now that he's gone,
just Remember.

That's The Way Love Is, baby,
(That's The Way Love Is, sure enough how it is.)
That's The Way Love Is, sugar,
(That's The Way Love Is, sure enough how it is.)

Love is here today and gone tomorrow,
(That's The Way Love Is, sure enough how it is.)
All of your joys turn to sorrow,
(That's The Way Love Is, sure enough how it is.)
One day gladness next day sadness,
(That's The Way Love Is, sure enough how it is.)

Love is here today and gone tomorrow,
(That's The Way Love Is, sure enough how it is.)
All of your joys turn to sorrow,
(That's The Way Love Is, sure enough how it is.)




One day gladness next day sadness,
(That's The Way Love Is, sure enough how it is.)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Gladys Knight & The Pips's song That's The Way Love Is are a poignant depiction of heartbreak and the unpredictability of love. It begins with the image of tears falling from the eyes of the singer, who is asking themselves why the person they love has left them alone and broken-hearted. The lyrics suggest that love is fickle, coming and going with no predictability regarding how long it will last. The chorus, repeated throughout the song, emphasizes this idea that "that's the way love is," regardless of how painful it may be.


The singer notes that the person listening to the song is walking down a "lonesome road" and carrying a "heavy load" in their heart. They feel as though they have no friends and that their whole world is "cavin' in." But the singer is trying to encourage them to be strong, forget the person who has left them, and remember that this kind of heartbreak is just "the way love is." In a way, the song is trying to offer comfort in the idea that the pain of love is universal, and that others have gone through it too.


The final lines of the song repeat the idea that love is fleeting, with joys turning to sorrows and gladness quickly giving way to sadness. The refrain continues to emphasize the idea that regardless of how painful love can be, "that's the way love is."


Overall, the song is a melancholy reminder of the reality of love and heartbreak. It is a sad but beautiful depiction of the emotional rollercoaster that many people experience when they fall in love and then lose the one they love.


Line by Line Meaning

As the bitter tears fall from your eyes
You are crying and feeling sad.


a thousand times you ask yourself why
You keep wondering why your loved one left.


the one guy you love has departed
The person you love has left you.


and you're left alone and broken hearted.
You are alone and sad because of the breakup.


Love just comes and it goes.
Love is unpredictable and can end suddenly.


How long it's gonna last, say, nobody knows.
No one can predict how long love will last.


That's The Way Love Is, baby,
This is just how love is.


(That's The Way Love Is, sure enough how it is.)
This is the truth about love.


I know you're walkin' down a lonesome road
You feel lonely and sad.


and your heart is carryin' a heavy load.
You have a heavy emotional burden.


I know you feel like you ain't got a friend
You feel like you don't have anyone to support you.


and your whole world is cavin' in.
You feel like your life is falling apart.


Now's the time to be strong,
It's time to be strong and move on.


you gotta forget him now that he's gone,
You need to forget about him now that he's gone.


and remember.
And focus on what's ahead.


The road of love gets rough some times
Love can be difficult at times.


don't let it get the best of you.
Don't let love bring you down.


Said I've been hurt by love so many times,
I know how it feels to be hurt by love.


so I know just what you're goin' through.
I understand what you are going through.


You wish that you were never born,
You feel like you don't want to be alive anymore.


just Remember.
But you need to focus on moving forward.


Love is here today and gone tomorrow,
Love can disappear quickly.


(That's The Way Love Is, sure enough how it is.)
This is the harsh reality of love.


All of your joys turn to sorrow,
Your happy moments can turn into sad ones quickly.


One day gladness next day sadness,
Your emotions can change rapidly.


That's The Way Love Is, baby,
This is just how love works.


(That's The Way Love Is, sure enough how it is.)
This is the truth about love.




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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