The Way It Is chords

by Bruce Hornsby

Song Key: G Major

Time Signature: 4/4

Tempo: 111 bpm


Guitar Tuning: Standard (E A D G B e)

Skill Level: Beginner 🟢

Chords: Am7, Em7, D, Cadd9, G, Fmaj7, C

Arrangement Song Details
R-H Chord Charts Chord Chart Legend
Am7 Em7 D Major C Major Cadd9 G Major Fmaj7
L-H Chord Charts Lefties Chord Chart Legend
Am7-LH Em7-LH D Major-LH C Major-LH Cadd9-LH G Major-LH Fmaj7-LH
Performance Video
Speed: x0.1

The Way It Is

Song Key is highlighted - Transpose to any other key 
              Am7    Em7     D       C     G    D       C
Intro: 4/4 ‖:      -      |      -      |    -    |         :‖
 
           ‖    Drums     |    Drums    |  Drums  |   Drums  ‖

              Am7    Em7     D       C     G    D     Cadd9
           ‖:     -       |      -      |    -    |         :‖
 
   Am7                Em7
1. Stand-ing in line, mark-ing time
   D                C  
   Wait-ing for the wel-fare dime
  G       D                C
   'Cause they can't buy a job
     Am7                  Em7  
   A man in the silk suit hur-ries by
         D                     C 
   As he cat-ches the poor old la-dy's eye
 G          D            C
   Just for fun he says    "Get a job."


           G    Fmaj7    C
 Chorus: |    -        |   That's just the way it is  |
           G    Fmaj7    C
         |    -        |   Some things will ne-ver change  |
           G    Fmaj9    C
         |    -        |   That's just the way it is  |
           G    Fmaj9    C                      Am7       Em7
         |    -        |   Ah, but don't you be-lieve them
                         D     C    G     D    Cadd9
                       |    -     |    -    |         |

        Am7                   Em7                D         C
2. Said hey, lit-tle boy, you can't go where the o-thers go
 G                 D         C
  'Cause you don't look like they do
        Am7           Em7                  D          C
   Said hey, old man, how can you stand to think that way?
           G               D                   C
   Did you real-ly think a-bout it be-fore you made the rules?

   He said, son
   

           G     Fmaj7   C
 Chorus: |(son)-       |   That's just the way it is |
           G    Fmaj7    C
         |    -        |   Some things will ne-ver change |
           G    Fmaj7    C
         |    -        |   That's just the way it is |
           G    Fmaj7    C                    | 
         |    -        |   Ah, but don't you be-(lieve them)...


            Am7      Em7    D     C   G     D    C
Instr: |(be-lieve them)   |    -    |    -    |     mm|...yeah

            Am7    Em7    D    C   G     D     Cadd9
       ||:      -      |    -    |    -    |         :|| x5

           G    Fmaj7   C
Bridge: |     -       |   That's just the way it is |
           G    Fmaj7   C
        |     -       |   That's just the way it is |

              Am7             Em7         
3. Well, they passed a law in '64
      D                     C
   To give those who ain't  got  a lit-tle more
 G        D           C
   But it on-ly goes  so   far
             Am7                Em7  
  'Cause the law don't change a-no-ther's mind
        D                  C
   When all it sees at the hir-ing time
 G        D           C
   Is the line on the co-lor bar, oh no


           G    Fmaj7   C
Chorus: |    -        |  That's just the way it is |
           G    Fmaj7   C
        |    -        |  Some things will never change |
           G    Fmaj7   C
        |    -        |  That's just the way it is |
           G    Fmaj7                      C
        |    -        |  That's just the | way it is... | 
     

         Am7    Em7     D     C    G     D    Cadd9 
Outro: ‖      -      |     -     |    -    |        ‖... Repeat to Fade

Arrangement Details:

  • Key Signature: G Major - 1 sharp (F#)
  • Time Signature: 4/4 - Four quarter-note beats per measure
  • Tempo: Moderately (with a groove)
  • Metronome: ♩ = 111
  • Voice Range: D3 - A4
  • Chord Types in This Arrangement:

Song Details:

Album Cover
Album Cover
  • Songwriter: Bruce Hornsby
  • Lyrics Begin: Standing in line, marking time, waiting for the welfare dime...
  • Genre: Soft Rock, Pop
  • Featured Artist: Bruce Hornsby
  • Album: The Way It Is
    Recorded: 1985–1986
    Released: April 24, 1986
  • Single:
    Released: September 1986 (US)
    B-side: The Wild Frontier
Song / Artist Capo Key Core Chords
Against The Wind - Bob Seger - G G, Bm, C, D, Em, Am
Dust In The Wind- Kansas - C C, Cmaj7, Cadd9, D, Dm7, F, F6, G, Asus2, Asus4, Am
Fast Car - Tracy Chapman +2 G G, C, D, Em, Cmaj7, G5, Em, Dadd4
Walk On The Wild Side - Bruce Springstein - F F, Am, Bb, Bbsus2, C, Csus4, Dm
Ventura Highway - America - D Dmaj7, Em7, F#m7, G, G6
Walk On The Wild Side - Lou Reed - C C, F, F6, D
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