The Way It Is

Standing in line, marking time
Waiting for the welfare dime
'Cause they can't buy a job
The man in a silk suit hurries by
As he catches a poor old lady's 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
Ah, but don't you believe them

Said hey little boy
you can't go where the others go
'Cuz you don't look like they do
Said hey old man
How can you stand to think that way
And did you really think about it
before you made the rules

He said, son

That's just the way it is
Some things will never change
That's just the way it is
Ah, but don't you believe them

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 hiring time
Is the line on the color bar

That's just the way it is
Some things will never change
That's just the way it is
That's just the way it is
it is, it is, it is...


Lyrics submitted by Ara Raven, edited by phantom309

The Way It Is song meanings
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  • +4
    General Comment

    "Because the law don't change another's mind When all it sees at the hiring time Is the line on the color bar"

    I always took this to literally mean what is in the line Race (in the past seen as 'Color') blank on a Job Application. Line=Bar.

    Mickyfinnon September 12, 2008   Link

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