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 (♩)
- Song 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
Barre Line: One finger holds down multiple strings R: Root Note
Unmarked strings: Play open X: Don't play string B: Bass Note














The Way It Is
Song Key is highlighted - Transpose to any other keyAm7 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