The way it isBruce Hornsby The Range
Standing in line marking time
Waiting for the welfare1 dime
'Cause they can't buy a job
The man in the silk suit hurries by
As he catches the poor 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
But don't you believe them
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
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 hiring2 time
Is the line on the color-bar

生活就是如此布鲁斯宏斯比 方位合唱团
站在停滞不前的队伍中
等着领取救济金
由于他们都找不到工作
一位身穿丝质西服的男性匆匆走过
当他和贫穷妇人四目相望
他开玩笑的说:「去找个工作吧!」
生活就是如此
有的事情从来不会改变
生活就是如此
难道你不相信
他们说:小孩子,你不可以和其他人一块去
由于你和他们不同
难道说你真的可以忍受那样的想法
你真的好好想过吗?
在你们制定标准以前
他说:孩子........
他们在 1964 年通过了法案
以帮助那些收入不多的大家
但也只能做到如此
由于法律改变不了大家的心中的想法
在决定雇用与否的时候特别明显:
由于肤色差异所产生的那条界线

布鲁斯宏斯比精采的钢琴演奏贯穿整首曲子,是The way it is 的聆听重点,另外则是歌词中描写美国社会常见存在的歧视现象。词中提到1964年通过的法令,是指民权法案,其第六章中明文规定公共场所、政府机关和职业场合等,不能有任何种族、肤色与国籍的歧视。