{title: The way it is}
{artist: Bruce Hornsby}
{time: 4/4}
{tempo: 111}
{key: G}
{duration: 4:57}
{meta: author Frans-Willem Post, 2026-05-06}
{start_of_part: Intro}
[Am7] [Em7] [D] [C] [G] [D] [Cadd9]
[Am7] [Em7] [D] [C] [G] [D] [Cadd9]
(drums)
[Am7] [Em7] [D] [C] [G] [D] [Cadd9]
[Am7] [Em7] [D] [C] [G] [D] [Cadd9]
{end_of_part}
{start_of_verse: Verse 1}
[Am7]Standing in line, [Em7]marking time, [D]waiting for the [C]welfare dime
[G] 'Cause [D]they can't buy a [Cadd9]job
The [Am7]man in the silk suit [Em7]hurries by, as he [D]catches the poor old [C]lady's eyes
[G] Just for [D]fun he says: "[Cadd9]Get a job"
{end_of_verse}
{start_of_chorus: Chorus 1}
[Gadd2] [FM9] [C] That's just the way it is
[Gadd2] [FM9] [C] Some things will never change
[Gadd2] [FM9] [C] That's just the way it is
[Gadd2] [FM9] [C] Ah, but don't you believe them
{end_of_chorus}
{start_of_part: Theme}
[Am7] [Em7] [D] [C] [G] [D] [Cadd9]
{end_of_part}
{start_of_verse: Verse 2}
Said [Am7]hey, little boy, [Em7]you can't go where the [D]others go [C]
[G] 'Cause you don't [D]look like [Cadd9]they do
Said [Am7]hey, old man, [Em7]how can you stand to [D]think that way? [C]
And did you [G]really think a[D]bout it before you [Cadd9]made the rules?
He said, son
{end_of_verse}
{chorus: Chorus 2}
{start_of_part: Theme}
[Am7] [Em7] [D] [C] [G] [D] [Cadd9]
{end_of_part}
{start_of_part: Solo}
[Am7] [Em7] [D] [C] [G] [D] [Cadd9]
[Am7] [Em7] [D] [C] [G] [D] [Cadd9]
[Am7] [Em7] [D] [C] [G] [D] [Cadd9]
[Am7] [Em7] [D] [C] [G] [D] [Cadd9]
{end_of_part}
{start_of_chorus: Chorus 3}
[Gadd2] [FM9] [C] That's just the way it is
[Gadd2] [FM9] [C] That's just the way it is
{end_of_chorus}
{start_of_verse: Verse 3}
Well, they [Am7]passed a law in [Em7]'64, to [D]give those who ain't got a [C]little more
[G] But it [D]only goes [Cadd9]so far
'Cause the [Am7]law don't change an[Em7]other's mind, when [D]all it sees at the [C]hiring time
[G] Is the [D]light on the [Cadd9]color bar, no
{end_of_verse}
{start_of_chorus: Chorus 4}
[Gadd2] [FM9] [C] That's just the way it is
[Gadd2] [FM9] [C] Some things will never change
[Gadd2] [FM9] [C] That's just the way it is
[Gadd2] [FM9] [C] That's just the way it is
{end_of_chorus}