31:
300:
Hornsby's brother John said, "The song is mainly about compassion, about understanding racial and social types, and beliefs and practices that are different from your own. It's about a status quo that's so complacent in its narrow-mindedness and bigotry that it seems it'll never change. That's why
1385:
1289:
971:
301:
the line 'Ah, but don’t you believe them' is so important." "The Way It Is" evokes people to give to the poor and to protest against racial segregation, white supremacy and economic value.
230:. The song topped the charts in the US, Canada and the Netherlands in 1986, and peaked inside the top twenty in such countries as Australia, Ireland, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
1729:
1828:
828:
1848:
1858:
1606:
1863:
1838:
797:
762:
1568:
954:
286:
1011:
677:
1129:
1045:
434:
1641:
1062:
1833:
1613:
1592:
226:
54:
1648:
1088:
938:
722:
1066:
1736:
1655:
1620:
1669:
815:
Bruce
Hornsby & The Range's "The Way It Is," the gentle and florid soft-rock jam, is unambiguously a song about racism...
1775:
30:
1429:
686:
1853:
1843:
1823:
1561:
1306:
981:
258:
245:. Musically, the song is characterized by two long piano solos. The song has been sampled by various rappers such as
1634:
499:
1792:
1599:
748:
250:
1676:
1251:
535:
374:
294:
290:
242:
238:
1518:
1743:
1149:
473:
1554:
1217:
1145:
926:
1818:
736:
731:
1335:
297:
as a victory in the civil rights movement against job discrimination, but insists that more is needed.
1750:
1662:
1167:
1049:
522:
504:
410:
1813:
1768:
1015:
386:
282:
1190:
1494:
1462:
1360:
270:
1701:
1528:
1084:
934:
517:
485:
422:
336:
187:
63:
1517:
1450:
996:
782:
469:
84:
743:) writes a school song entitled "The Way It Goes", an unwitting rip-off of "The Way It Is".
716:
An adapted version of "The Way It Is" was used in the United
Kingdom as the theme tune for
1722:
1133:
458:
446:
167:
160:
281:
The opening verse recounts a story taking place at a line for welfare that illustrates a
1294:
1162:
976:
361:
285:; the second verse recounts ongoing social issues from the voice of someone supporting
41:
1807:
1715:
1683:
1577:
1244:
833:
234:
221:
174:
45:
1104:
1627:
1339:
1032:
398:
135:
1264:
740:
140:
98:
1484:
1451:
1364:
886:
262:
148:
856:
802:
224:. It was released in July 1986 as the second single from their debut album,
110:
105:
90:
1028:
1425:
1268:
958:
908:
348:
1489:
1457:
717:
726:, a medical documentary television series which ran from 1998 to 2007.
266:
1245:
Offiziellecharts.de – Bruce
Hornsby and the Range – The Way It Is"
254:
1426:"British single certifications – Bruce Hornsby – The Way It Is"
798:"The Number Ones: Bruce Hornsby & The Range's "The Way It Is"
1546:
1012:
The Irish Charts – Search
Results – Bruce Hornsby and the Range"
246:
1550:
1414:. Vol. 99, no. 52. December 26, 1987. p. Y-22.
1324:. Vol. 3, no. 51/52. December 27, 1986. p. 29.
293:
in 1964 "to give those who ain't got a little more", and the
309:
1000:. Vol. 3, no. 38. September 27, 1986. p. 12.
1083:(in Spanish) (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE.
888:
E-40 - Things'll Never Change (Official Video) ft. Bo-Rock
746:
The song was used for many years in the United
Kingdom on
829:"Every No. 1 song of the 1980s ranked from worst to best"
1410:"1987 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles".
702:
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
241:, also known as the 1964 Poverty Act, as well as the
857:"Against the Grain: An Interview with Bruce Hornsby"
614:
1987 year-end chart performance for "The Way It Is"
555:
1986 year-end chart performance for "The Way It Is"
1785:
1760:
1693:
1584:
1485:"City Hospital Opening Sequence 2nd September 2004"
1146:"Bruce Hornsby And The Range: Artist Chart History"
173:
158:
146:
134:
118:
97:
83:
73:
61:
51:
40:
23:
1216:
289:. The final verse recounts the passage of the
1562:
320:Weekly chart performance for "The Way It Is"
8:
1130:Bruce Hornsby And The Range – The Way It Is"
1063:Bruce Hornsby And The Range – The Way It Is"
1046:Bruce Hornsby And The Range – The Way It Is"
955:Bruce Hornsby and the Range – The Way It Is"
1569:
1555:
1547:
664:
612:
553:
318:
29:
20:
16:1986 single by Bruce Hornsby and the Range
933:. Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W.
1399:– via Library and Archives Canada.
763:Civil rights movement in popular culture
1452:"City Hospital Credits BBC1 29/10/1999"
774:
698:
50:
39:
1497:from the original on December 13, 2021
1465:from the original on December 13, 2021
1079:Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005).
7:
1829:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles
237:, it made explicit reference to the
666:Certifications for "The Way It Is"
220:" is a song by American rock group
1849:RPM Top Singles number-one singles
1029:Nederlandse Top 40 – week 38, 1986
588:Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)
14:
1859:Songs about racism and xenophobia
1081:Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002
796:Breihan, Tom (January 22, 2021).
265:for his song "Never Change", and
35:UK & European picture sleeves
1656:Ricky Skaggs & Bruce Hornsby
1516:Evans, Bradford (May 15, 2014).
1336:"Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1986"
283:divide between the rich and poor
1864:Songs based on American history
1839:Dutch Top 40 number-one singles
1361:"Jaaroverzichten – Single 1986"
931:Australian Chart Book 1970–1992
855:Metzger, John (November 2000).
827:Smith, Troy L. (May 13, 2021).
739:", Pierce Hawthorne (played by
568:Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)
1105:"SA Charts 1965 – 1989 Acts H"
1052:. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
1018:. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
1:
1430:British Phonographic Industry
752:in the league tables segment.
604:Netherlands (Single Top 100)
1320:"Hot 100 of the Year 1986".
994:"European Hot 100 Singles".
645:
633:
606:
598:
590:
582:
570:
528:
510:
492:
451:
439:
379:
341:
1307:Library and Archives Canada
982:Library and Archives Canada
972:Top RPM Singles: Issue 0759
596:Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)
222:Bruce Hornsby and the Range
175:Bruce Hornsby and the Range
46:Bruce Hornsby and the Range
1880:
1834:Cashbox number-one singles
1635:Here Come The Noise Makers
1523:Jokes You May Have Missed"
909:"The Way It Is wiki entry"
79:September 1986 (worldwide)
1776:Intersections (1985–2005)
1600:Scenes from the Southside
1218:"Mainstream Rock Airplay"
699:
684:
676:
673:
670:
638:
626:
603:
595:
587:
575:
567:
533:
515:
497:
483:
468:
456:
444:
432:
420:
408:
396:
384:
372:
358:
346:
334:
204:"On the Western Skyline"
181:
28:
1737:The End of the Innocence
1677:Bride of the Noisemakers
1386:"Top 100 Singles of '87"
1290:"Top 100 Singles of '86"
1252:GfK Entertainment charts
375:European Hot 100 Singles
295:Civil Rights Act of 1964
291:Economic Opportunity Act
243:Civil Rights Act of 1964
239:Economic Opportunity Act
1150:Official Charts Company
1265:"Jaaroverzichten 1986"
536:Official German Charts
251:Things'll Never Change
737:Advanced Criminal Law
1191:"Adult Contemporary"
627:Canada Top Singles (
576:Canada Top Singles (
359:Canada Top Singles (
1854:Songs about poverty
1844:RCA Records singles
1824:Bruce Hornsby songs
1769:Greatest Radio Hits
1607:A Night on the Town
1171:. December 13, 1986
1134:Swiss Singles Chart
1016:Irish Singles Chart
667:
615:
556:
459:Schweizer Hitparade
321:
69:"The Wild Frontier"
1761:Compilation albums
1225:. November 8, 1986
1197:. December 6, 1986
1163:"Billboard Hot 10"
711:In popular culture
665:
613:
554:
500:Adult Contemporary
325:Chart (1986–1987)
319:
287:racial segregation
271:Wishing for a Hero
177:singles chronology
1801:
1800:
1702:Every Little Kiss
1322:Music & Media
997:Music & Media
708:
707:
703:
657:
656:
650:
649:
611:
610:
545:
544:
518:Album Rock Tracks
423:Recorded Music NZ
337:Kent Music Report
214:
213:
210:
209:
188:Every Little Kiss
1871:
1786:Related articles
1744:Across the River
1571:
1564:
1557:
1548:
1541:
1540:
1538:
1536:
1525:
1513:
1507:
1506:
1504:
1502:
1481:
1475:
1474:
1472:
1470:
1454:
1447:
1441:
1440:
1438:
1436:
1422:
1416:
1415:
1407:
1401:
1400:
1398:
1396:
1382:
1376:
1375:
1373:
1371:
1357:
1351:
1350:
1348:
1346:
1332:
1326:
1325:
1317:
1311:
1310:
1304:
1302:
1286:
1280:
1279:
1277:
1275:
1261:
1255:
1249:
1241:
1235:
1234:
1232:
1230:
1220:
1213:
1207:
1206:
1204:
1202:
1187:
1181:
1180:
1178:
1176:
1159:
1153:
1143:
1137:
1126:
1120:
1119:
1117:
1115:
1101:
1095:
1094:
1076:
1070:
1059:
1053:
1042:
1036:
1025:
1019:
1008:
1002:
1001:
991:
985:
968:
962:
951:
945:
944:
923:
917:
916:
905:
899:
898:
897:
895:
883:
877:
876:
874:
872:
852:
846:
845:
843:
841:
824:
818:
817:
812:
810:
793:
787:
786:
779:
701:
685:United Kingdom (
668:
616:
557:
322:
310:
183:
182:
163:
151:
130:
129:
125:
66:
33:
21:
1879:
1878:
1874:
1873:
1872:
1870:
1869:
1868:
1804:
1803:
1802:
1797:
1781:
1756:
1723:The Valley Road
1689:
1580:
1575:
1545:
1544:
1534:
1532:
1515:
1514:
1510:
1500:
1498:
1483:
1482:
1478:
1468:
1466:
1449:
1448:
1444:
1434:
1432:
1424:
1423:
1419:
1409:
1408:
1404:
1394:
1392:
1384:
1383:
1379:
1369:
1367:
1359:
1358:
1354:
1344:
1342:
1334:
1333:
1329:
1319:
1318:
1314:
1300:
1298:
1288:
1287:
1283:
1273:
1271:
1263:
1262:
1258:
1247:
1242:
1238:
1228:
1226:
1215:
1214:
1210:
1200:
1198:
1189:
1188:
1184:
1174:
1172:
1161:
1160:
1156:
1144:
1140:
1127:
1123:
1113:
1111:
1103:
1102:
1098:
1091:
1078:
1077:
1073:
1060:
1056:
1043:
1039:
1026:
1022:
1009:
1005:
993:
992:
988:
969:
965:
952:
948:
941:
925:
924:
920:
907:
906:
902:
893:
891:
885:
884:
880:
870:
868:
854:
853:
849:
839:
837:
826:
825:
821:
808:
806:
795:
794:
790:
781:
780:
776:
771:
759:
713:
678:Certified units
663:
658:
552:
550:Year end charts
447:Springbok Radio
329:
317:
307:
279:
205:
200:
191:
168:Elliot Scheiner
166:Bruce Hornsby,
159:
147:
127:
123:
122:
78:
62:
52:from the album
36:
24:"The Way It Is"
17:
12:
11:
5:
1877:
1875:
1867:
1866:
1861:
1856:
1851:
1846:
1841:
1836:
1831:
1826:
1821:
1816:
1806:
1805:
1799:
1798:
1796:
1795:
1789:
1787:
1783:
1782:
1780:
1779:
1772:
1764:
1762:
1758:
1757:
1755:
1754:
1747:
1740:
1733:
1730:Jacob's Ladder
1726:
1719:
1712:
1705:
1697:
1695:
1691:
1690:
1688:
1687:
1680:
1673:
1666:
1659:
1652:
1645:
1642:Big Swing Face
1638:
1631:
1624:
1617:
1610:
1603:
1596:
1588:
1586:
1582:
1581:
1576:
1574:
1573:
1566:
1559:
1551:
1543:
1542:
1508:
1476:
1442:
1417:
1402:
1377:
1352:
1327:
1312:
1281:
1256:
1236:
1208:
1182:
1154:
1138:
1121:
1096:
1089:
1071:
1067:Top 40 Singles
1054:
1050:Single Top 100
1037:
1031:" (in Dutch).
1020:
1003:
986:
963:
946:
939:
918:
900:
878:
847:
819:
788:
773:
772:
770:
767:
766:
765:
758:
755:
754:
753:
744:
727:
712:
709:
706:
705:
697:
696:
693:
690:
682:
681:
675:
672:
662:
661:Certifications
659:
655:
654:
648:
647:
644:
636:
635:
632:
624:
623:
620:
609:
608:
605:
601:
600:
597:
593:
592:
589:
585:
584:
581:
573:
572:
569:
565:
564:
561:
551:
548:
546:
543:
542:
539:
534:West Germany (
531:
530:
527:
513:
512:
509:
495:
494:
491:
481:
480:
477:
466:
465:
462:
454:
453:
450:
445:South Africa (
442:
441:
438:
430:
429:
426:
418:
417:
414:
411:Single Top 100
406:
405:
402:
394:
393:
390:
382:
381:
378:
370:
369:
366:
356:
355:
352:
344:
343:
340:
332:
331:
326:
316:
313:
308:
306:
303:
278:
275:
249:for his song "
212:
211:
208:
207:
202:
193:
179:
178:
171:
170:
164:
156:
155:
152:
144:
143:
138:
132:
131:
120:
116:
115:
114:
113:
108:
101:
95:
94:
87:
81:
80:
77:July 1986 (UK)
75:
71:
70:
67:
59:
58:
49:
48:
38:
37:
34:
26:
25:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1876:
1865:
1862:
1860:
1857:
1855:
1852:
1850:
1847:
1845:
1842:
1840:
1837:
1835:
1832:
1830:
1827:
1825:
1822:
1820:
1817:
1815:
1812:
1811:
1809:
1794:
1791:
1790:
1788:
1784:
1778:
1777:
1773:
1771:
1770:
1766:
1765:
1763:
1759:
1752:
1751:Barren Ground
1748:
1745:
1741:
1738:
1734:
1731:
1727:
1724:
1720:
1717:
1716:Mandolin Rain
1713:
1710:
1709:The Way It Is
1706:
1703:
1699:
1698:
1696:
1692:
1686:
1685:
1684:Rehab Reunion
1681:
1679:
1678:
1674:
1672:
1671:
1667:
1665:
1664:
1660:
1658:
1657:
1653:
1651:
1650:
1646:
1644:
1643:
1639:
1637:
1636:
1632:
1630:
1629:
1625:
1623:
1622:
1618:
1616:
1615:
1614:Harbor Lights
1611:
1609:
1608:
1604:
1602:
1601:
1597:
1595:
1594:
1593:The Way It Is
1590:
1589:
1587:
1583:
1579:
1578:Bruce Hornsby
1572:
1567:
1565:
1560:
1558:
1553:
1552:
1549:
1531:
1530:
1524:
1522:
1512:
1509:
1496:
1492:
1491:
1486:
1480:
1477:
1464:
1460:
1459:
1453:
1446:
1443:
1431:
1427:
1421:
1418:
1413:
1406:
1403:
1391:
1387:
1381:
1378:
1366:
1362:
1356:
1353:
1341:
1337:
1331:
1328:
1323:
1316:
1313:
1308:
1297:
1296:
1291:
1285:
1282:
1270:
1266:
1260:
1257:
1253:
1246:
1240:
1237:
1224:
1219:
1212:
1209:
1196:
1192:
1186:
1183:
1170:
1169:
1164:
1158:
1155:
1151:
1147:
1142:
1139:
1135:
1131:
1125:
1122:
1110:
1106:
1100:
1097:
1092:
1090:84-8048-639-2
1086:
1082:
1075:
1072:
1068:
1064:
1058:
1055:
1051:
1047:
1041:
1038:
1034:
1030:
1024:
1021:
1017:
1013:
1007:
1004:
999:
998:
990:
987:
983:
979:
978:
973:
967:
964:
960:
956:
950:
947:
942:
940:0-646-11917-6
936:
932:
928:
922:
919:
914:
910:
904:
901:
890:
889:
882:
879:
866:
862:
861:The Music Box
858:
851:
848:
836:
835:
834:Cleveland.com
830:
823:
820:
816:
809:September 30,
805:
804:
799:
792:
789:
784:
778:
775:
768:
764:
761:
760:
756:
751:
750:
745:
742:
738:
734:
733:
728:
725:
724:
723:City Hospital
719:
715:
714:
710:
704:
694:
691:
688:
683:
679:
674:Certification
669:
660:
653:
642:
637:
630:
625:
621:
619:Chart (1987)
618:
617:
602:
594:
586:
579:
574:
566:
562:
560:Chart (1986)
559:
558:
549:
547:
540:
537:
532:
525:
524:
519:
514:
507:
506:
501:
496:
490:
488:
482:
478:
475:
471:
467:
463:
460:
457:Switzerland (
455:
448:
443:
436:
431:
427:
424:
421:New Zealand (
419:
415:
412:
409:Netherlands (
407:
403:
400:
397:Netherlands (
395:
391:
388:
383:
376:
371:
367:
364:
363:
357:
353:
350:
345:
338:
333:
327:
324:
323:
315:Weekly charts
314:
312:
311:
304:
302:
298:
296:
292:
288:
284:
276:
274:
272:
268:
264:
260:
256:
252:
248:
244:
240:
236:
235:Bruce Hornsby
231:
229:
228:
227:The Way It Is
223:
219:
218:The Way It Is
203:
198:
197:The Way It Is
194:
189:
185:
184:
180:
176:
172:
169:
165:
162:
157:
154:Bruce Hornsby
153:
150:
149:Songwriter(s)
145:
142:
139:
137:
133:
121:
117:
112:
109:
107:
104:
103:
102:
100:
96:
93:, California)
92:
88:
86:
82:
76:
72:
68:
65:
60:
57:
56:
55:The Way It Is
47:
43:
32:
27:
22:
19:
1819:1986 singles
1774:
1767:
1708:
1682:
1675:
1668:
1663:Camp Meeting
1661:
1654:
1649:Halcyon Days
1647:
1640:
1633:
1628:Spirit Trail
1626:
1619:
1612:
1605:
1598:
1591:
1533:. Retrieved
1527:
1520:
1511:
1499:. Retrieved
1488:
1479:
1467:. Retrieved
1456:
1445:
1433:. Retrieved
1420:
1411:
1405:
1393:. Retrieved
1389:
1380:
1368:. Retrieved
1363:(in Dutch).
1355:
1343:. Retrieved
1340:Dutch Top 40
1338:(in Dutch).
1330:
1321:
1315:
1305:– via
1299:. Retrieved
1293:
1284:
1272:. Retrieved
1267:(in Dutch).
1259:
1239:
1229:November 14,
1227:. Retrieved
1222:
1211:
1201:November 14,
1199:. Retrieved
1194:
1185:
1175:November 14,
1173:. Retrieved
1166:
1157:
1141:
1124:
1112:. Retrieved
1108:
1099:
1080:
1074:
1057:
1048:(in Dutch).
1040:
1033:Dutch Top 40
1023:
1006:
995:
989:
975:
966:
957:(in Dutch).
949:
930:
921:
912:
903:
894:December 20,
892:, retrieved
887:
881:
869:. Retrieved
864:
860:
850:
838:. Retrieved
832:
822:
814:
807:. Retrieved
801:
791:
777:
747:
730:
721:
700:
651:
640:
628:
577:
521:
503:
486:
399:Dutch Top 40
360:
299:
280:
232:
225:
217:
215:
196:
53:
18:
1793:Discography
1395:October 20,
1370:October 20,
1345:October 20,
1301:October 20,
1274:October 20,
1248:(in German)
1114:October 20,
959:Ultratop 50
927:Kent, David
913:Bruuuce.com
840:January 30,
783:"UK charts"
741:Chevy Chase
349:Ultratop 50
335:Australia (
273:" in 2020.
233:Written by
161:Producer(s)
1814:1986 songs
1808:Categories
1365:MegaCharts
1109:rock.co.za
769:References
749:Grandstand
470:UK Singles
351:Flanders)
263:Don Diablo
89:Studio D (
1621:Hot House
1535:April 11,
1521:Community
1435:March 24,
1412:Billboard
1223:Billboard
1195:Billboard
1168:Billboard
803:Stereogum
735:episode "
732:Community
641:Billboard
622:Position
563:Position
523:Billboard
505:Billboard
487:Billboard
385:Ireland (
347:Belgium (
330:position
259:"Changes"
106:Soft rock
91:Sausalito
1670:Levitate
1495:Archived
1463:Archived
1269:Ultratop
929:(1993).
757:See also
695:400,000
643:Hot 100
373:Europe (
261:, by DJ
74:Released
1529:Vulture
1490:YouTube
1458:YouTube
729:In the
718:BBC One
680:/sales
671:Region
489:Hot 100
433:Spain (
277:Content
206:(1986)
201:(1986)
192:(1986)
1585:Albums
1501:May 7,
1469:May 7,
1087:
937:
871:May 4,
652:
305:Charts
267:Polo G
253:", by
119:Length
85:Studio
64:B-side
42:Single
1694:Songs
1254:.
692:Gold
435:AFYVE
269:for "
255:Tupac
136:Label
99:Genre
1537:2021
1519:"29
1503:2021
1471:2021
1437:2023
1397:2022
1372:2022
1347:2022
1303:2022
1276:2022
1231:2023
1203:2023
1177:2023
1116:2022
1085:ISBN
961:.
935:ISBN
896:2021
873:2007
867:(11)
842:2023
811:2023
387:IRMA
328:Peak
257:for
247:E-40
1390:RPM
1295:RPM
1152:.
1136:.
1069:.
1035:.
984:.
977:RPM
974:."
720:'s
687:BPI
639:US
634:56
629:RPM
607:23
599:27
591:99
583:74
578:RPM
571:77
541:16
516:US
498:US
484:US
479:15
474:OCC
464:15
452:13
428:23
380:13
362:RPM
342:12
141:RCA
111:pop
44:by
1810::
1526:.
1493:.
1487:.
1461:.
1455:.
1428:.
1388:.
1292:.
1250:.
1221:.
1193:.
1165:.
1148:.
1132:.
1107:.
1065:.
1014:.
980:.
911:.
863:.
859:.
831:.
813:.
800:.
689:)
646:8
631:)
580:)
538:)
529:3
526:)
511:1
508:)
493:1
476:)
461:)
449:)
440:6
437:)
425:)
416:2
413:)
404:1
401:)
392:8
389:)
377:)
368:1
365:)
354:3
339:)
199:"
190:"
128:58
1753:"
1749:"
1746:"
1742:"
1739:"
1735:"
1732:"
1728:"
1725:"
1721:"
1718:"
1714:"
1711:"
1707:"
1704:"
1700:"
1570:e
1563:t
1556:v
1539:.
1505:.
1473:.
1439:.
1374:.
1349:.
1309:.
1278:.
1243:"
1233:.
1205:.
1179:.
1128:"
1118:.
1093:.
1061:"
1044:"
1027:"
1010:"
970:"
953:"
943:.
915:.
875:.
865:7
844:.
785:.
520:(
502:(
472:(
216:"
195:"
186:"
126::
124:4
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
