The Way It Is chords

by Bruce Hornsby
  • The Way It Is was written by Bruce Hornsby.
  • Recorded: Studio D, Sausalito, CA - 1985
  • Producers: Bruce Hornsby, Elliot Scheiner
  • Released: September, 1986 from the album of the same name
  • Band: Bruce Hornsby and The Range
  • Music: G Major in 4/4 time at 111 bpm (♩)
  • Chords: Am7, Em7, D, Cadd9, G, Fmaj7, C
Chart Legend
Numbered Circles: Fingers used to play chords   O: Optional Note
Barre Line: One finger holds down multiple strings   R: Root Note
Unmarked strings: Play open   X: Don't play string    B: Bass Note
Am7 Em7 D Major C Major Cadd9 G Major Fmaj7
Am7 Em7 D Major C Major Cadd9 G Major Fmaj7

The Way It Is

Song Key is highlighted - Transpose to any other key
               Am7    Em7    D    Cadd9    G    D     Cadd9
Intro: 4/4 ‖:      -      |    -        |    -    |         :‖
 
           ‖    Drums     |    Drums    |  Drums  |   Drums  ‖

               Am7    Em7    D    Cadd9    G    D     Cadd9
           ‖:      -      |    -        |    -    |         :‖ 

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

 Chorus:
  G    Fmaj7    C
|    -        |   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     Cadd9     G   D     Cadd9   
              |    -         |    -    |         |            

        Am7                   Em7                D         Cadd9
2. Said hey, lit-tle boy, you can't go where the o-thers go
 G                 D         Cadd9
  'Cause you don't look like they do
        Am7           Em7                  D          Cadd9  
   Said hey, old man, how can you stand to think that way?
           G               D                   Cadd9
   Did you real-ly think a-bout it be-fore you made the rules?

   He said, son

 Chorus:
  G     Fmaj7   C
|(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    Cadd9    G    D     Cadd9
Instr: |(be-lieve them)   |    -        |    -    |       mm|...yeah

           Am7    Em7    D    Cadd9    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                     Cadd9
   To give those who ain't  got  a lit-tle more
 G        D           Cadd9
   But it on-ly goes  so   far
             Am7                Em7  
  'Cause the law don't change a-no-ther's mind
        D                  Cadd9
   When all it sees at the hir-ing time
 G        D           Cadd9
   Is the line on the co-lor bar, oh no

Chorus:
  G    Fmaj7   C
|    -        |  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... | 
     
Outro:
         Am7    Em7    D    Cadd9    G    D     Cadd9 
      ‖      -      |    -        |    -    |          ‖... Repeat to Fade

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