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The Way It Is

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90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

1/19

Tempo 80 BPMVol

Sound:

Position

Step 1 / 19Position: 5

1 index2 middle3 ring4 pinkyO openSpace = play/pause

e|---5-7-8-8-7--5-5-7-----5-7-8-7-5-------------------------------------|
B|---------------8---8-5-3---------8-8----------------------------------|
G|----------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|----------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|----------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------------------------------------|
|  Am7    Em7|  D   Cadd9|   G     D|   Cadd9|
|  Am7    Em7|  D   Cadd9|   G     D|   Cadd9| % |
Add drums:
| Cadd9| % | % | % |
|  Am7    Em7|  D   Cadd9|   G     D|   Cadd9|
|  Am7    Em7|  D   Cadd9|   G     D|   Cadd9|
[Verse 1]
Am7Standing in line Em7marking time
DWaiting for the Cadd9welfare dime
  G'Cause Dthey can't buy a Cadd9job
The Am7man in the silk suit Em7hurries by
As he Dcatches the poor old Cadd9ladies' eyes
  GJust for Dfun he says Cadd9"get a job"
[Chorus]
    G         Fmaj7    CThat's just the Cadd9way it is
    G         Fmaj7    CSome things will Cadd9never change
    G         Fmaj7    CThat's just the Cadd9way it is
    G         Fmaj7    CAh, but Cadd9don't you believe them
|  Am7    Em7|  D   Cadd9|   G     D|Cadd9  
[Verse 2]
They say Am7hey, little boy you Em7can't go where the Dothers goCadd9  
  G'Cause you don't Dlook like they Cadd9do
Said Am7hey, old man Em7how can you stand to Dthink that wayCadd9  
Did you Greally think about Dit before you Cadd9made the rules, he said, son
[Chorus]
    G         Fmaj7    CThat's just the Cadd9way it is
    G         Fmaj7    CSome things will Cadd9never change
    G         Fmaj7    CThat's just the Cadd9way it is
    G         Fmaj7    CAh, but Cadd9don't you believe them
|  Am7    Em7|  D   Cadd9|   G     D|   Cadd9|
                                   Ooh ya
[Solo]
|  Am7    Em7|  D   Cadd9|   G     D|   Cadd9|
|  Am7    Em7|  D   Cadd9|   G     D|   Cadd9|
|  Am7    Em7|  D   Cadd9|   G     D|   Cadd9|
|  Am7    Em7|  D   Cadd9|   G     D|   Cadd9|
|  Am7    Em7|  D   Cadd9|   G     D|   Cadd9|
    G         Fmaj7    CThat's just the Cadd9way it is
    G         Fmaj7    CThat's just the Cadd9way it is
[Verse 3]
Well, they Am7passed a law in 'Em764 to Dgive those who ain't Cadd9got a little more
  GBut it Donly goes Cadd9so far
Because the Am7law don't change aEm7nother's mind
When Dall it sees at the Cadd9hiring time Gis the Dline on the coCadd9lor bar
[Chorus]
    G         Fmaj7    CThat's just the Cadd9way it is
    G         Fmaj7    CSome things will Cadd9never change
    G         Fmaj7    CThat's just the Cadd9way it is
    G        Fmaj7That's just the Cway it is, it Cadd9is, it is, it is
[Solo]
|  Am7    Em7|  D   Cadd9|   G     D|   Cadd9|
|  Am7    Em7|  D   Cadd9|   G     D|   Cadd9|
|  Am7    Em7|  D   Cadd9|   G     D|   Cadd9|
|  Am7    Em7|  D   Cadd9|   G     D|   Cadd9|
[Outro]
   G    Fmaj7     C     Cadd9x8
(Repeat and fade out)

All chords in this song (7)

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The Way It Is

by Bruce Hornsby

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Am7

Em7

Cadd9

Fmaj7

e|---5-7-8-8-7--5-5-7-----5-7-8-7-5-------------------------------------|

B|---------------8---8-5-3---------8-8----------------------------------|

G|----------------------------------------------------------------------|

D|----------------------------------------------------------------------|

A|----------------------------------------------------------------------|

E|----------------------------------------------------------------------|

Am7 Em7 D Cadd9 G D Cadd9

| | | | |

Am7 Em7 D Cadd9 G D Cadd9

| | | | | % |

Add drums:

Cadd9

| | % | % | % |

Am7 Em7 D Cadd9 G D Cadd9

| | | | |

Am7 Em7 D Cadd9 G D Cadd9

| | | | |

[Verse 1]

Am7 Em7

Standing in line marking time

D Cadd9

Waiting for the welfare dime

G D Cadd9

'Cause they can't buy a job

Am7 Em7

The man in the silk suit hurries by

D Cadd9

As he catches the poor old ladies' eyes

G D Cadd9

Just for fun he says "get a job"

[Chorus]

G Fmaj7 C Cadd9

That's just the way it is

G Fmaj7 C Cadd9

Some things will never change

G Fmaj7 C Cadd9

That's just the way it is

G Fmaj7 C Cadd9

Ah, but don't you believe them

Am7 Em7 D Cadd9 G D Cadd9

| | | |

[Verse 2]

Am7 Em7 D Cadd9

They say hey, little boy you can't go where the others 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 really think about it before you made the rules, he said, son

[Chorus]

G Fmaj7 C Cadd9

That's just the way it is

G Fmaj7 C Cadd9

Some things will never change

G Fmaj7 C Cadd9

That's just the way it is

G Fmaj7 C Cadd9

Ah, but don't you believe them

Am7 Em7 D Cadd9 G D Cadd9

| | | | |

Ooh ya

[Solo]

Am7 Em7 D Cadd9 G D Cadd9

| | | | |

Am7 Em7 D Cadd9 G D Cadd9

| | | | |

Am7 Em7 D Cadd9 G D Cadd9

| | | | |

Am7 Em7 D Cadd9 G D Cadd9

| | | | |

Am7 Em7 D Cadd9 G D Cadd9

| | | | |

G Fmaj7 C Cadd9

That's just the way it is

G Fmaj7 C Cadd9

That's just the way it is

[Verse 3]

Am7 Em7 D Cadd9

Well, they passed a law in '64 to give those who ain't got a little more

G D Cadd9

But it only goes so far

Am7 Em7

Because the law don't change another's mind

D Cadd9 G D Cadd9

When all it sees at the hiring time is the line on the color bar

[Chorus]

G Fmaj7 C Cadd9

That's just the way it is

G Fmaj7 C Cadd9

Some things will never change

G Fmaj7 C Cadd9

That's just the way it is

G Fmaj7 C Cadd9

That's just the way it is, it is, it is, it is

[Solo]

Am7 Em7 D Cadd9 G D Cadd9

| | | | |

Am7 Em7 D Cadd9 G D Cadd9

| | | | |

Am7 Em7 D Cadd9 G D Cadd9

| | | | |

Am7 Em7 D Cadd9 G D Cadd9

| | | | |

[Outro]

G Fmaj7 C Cadd9

(Repeat and fade out)

About The Way It Is Chords by Bruce Hornsby

Learn how to play The Way It Is by Bruce Hornsby with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “The Way It Is chords”, “The Way It Is guitar chords”, or “Bruce Hornsby The Way It Is chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy The Way It Is chords and for experienced players who want accurate The Way It Is lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include B, G, D, A, E, Am7.

FAQ — The Way It Is by Bruce Hornsby

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What key is "The Way It Is" in?

The chords for "The Way It Is" show the original chord names (including B, G, D, A, E, Am7). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.