The Way It Is (Bruce Hornsby song)

{{Infobox song

| name = The Way It Is

| cover = BruceHornsbyAndTheRangeTheWayItIs7InchSingleCover.jpg

| alt =

| caption = UK & European picture sleeves

| type = single

| artist = Bruce Hornsby and the Range

| album = The Way It Is

| B-side = The Wild Frontier

| released = September 1986

| recorded =

| studio = Studio D (Sausalito, California)

| genre =

Soft rock{{cite web|first= Tom |last= Breihan |title= The Number Ones: Bruce Hornsby & The Range's "The Way It Is|website= Stereogum |date= January 22, 2021|url= https://www.stereogum.com/2113715/the-number-ones-bruce-hornsby-the-ranges-the-way-it-is/columns/the-number-ones/|quote= Bruce Hornsby & The Range’s “The Way It Is,” the gentle and florid soft-rock jam, is unambiguously a song about racism...|accessdate= September 30, 2023}}
pop{{cite news|first= Troy L. |last= Smith |title= Every No. 1 song of the 1980s ranked from worst to best |website= Cleveland.com |date= 13 May 2021 |access-date= 30 January 2023|url= https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2021/05/every-no-1-song-of-the-1980s-ranked-from-mad-bogus-to-totally-bodacious.html}}

| length = 4:58

| label = RCA

| writer = Bruce Hornsby

| producer = Bruce Hornsby, Elliot Scheiner

| prev_title = Every Little Kiss

| prev_year = 1986

| next_title = On the Western Skyline

| next_year = 1986

}}

"The Way It Is" is a song by American rock group Bruce Hornsby and the Range. It was released in July 1986 as the second single from their debut album, The Way It Is. The song topped the charts in the US, Canada and the Netherlands in 1986,{{cite journal | last=Metzger | first=John | title=Against the Grain: An Interview with Bruce Hornsby | journal=The Music Box | volume=7 | issue=11 |date=November 2000 | url= http://www.musicbox-online.com/bh-int.html | accessdate=May 4, 2007}} and peaked inside the top twenty in such countries as Australia, Ireland, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Written by Bruce Hornsby, it made explicit reference to the Economic Opportunity Act, also known as the 1964 Poverty Act, as well as the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Creation

“The Way It Is” was on a solo demo recording, also including “Mandolin Rain” and “The Red Plains," made by Hornsby which led to him being signed by RCA in 1985.{{Cite web|url=https://www.routemagazine.us/stories/a-conversation-with-bruce-hornsby|title=A Conversation with Bruce Hornsby | ROUTE Magazine|website=www.routemagazine.us}}

Content

The opening verse recounts a story taking place at a line for welfare that illustrates a divide between the rich and poor; the second verse recounts ongoing social issues from the voice of someone supporting racial segregation. The final verse recounts the passage of the Economic Opportunity Act in 1964 "to give those who ain't got a little more", and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as a victory in the civil rights movement against job discrimination, but insists that more is needed.

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 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.bruuuce.com/wiki/the-way-it-is/|title=The Way It Is wiki entry|website=Bruuuce.com}}

Musically, the song is characterized by two long piano solos by Hornsby.

Sampling

The song has been sampled by various rappers such as E-40 for his song "Things'll Never Change",{{Citation |title=E-40 - Things'll Never Change (Official Video) ft. Bo-Rock |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_UBEBLRu-Y |access-date=2021-12-20 |language=en}} by Tupac for "Changes", by DJ Don Diablo for his song "Never Change", and Polo G for "Wishing for a Hero" in 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.16830/title.bruce-hornsby-talks-approving-2pacs-song-changes|title=Bruce Hornsby Talks Approving 2Pac's Song "Changes"|first=Omar|last=Burgess|date=September 12, 2011|website=HipHopDX}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/bruce-hornsby-interview-way-it-is-non-secure-connection-1036032/|title=Bruce Hornsby on the Hip-Hop Afterlife of 'The Way It Is' and His Posthumous Leon Russell Duet|first=David|last=Browne|date=August 3, 2020|work=Rolling Stone}}

Charts

=Weekly charts=

scope="row"\|Australia (Kent Music Report){{cite book \| title = Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 \| first = David \| last = Kent \| isbn = 0-646-11917-6 \| year = 1993 \| publisher = Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. \| author-link = David Kent (historian) \|page=142}} \|align="center"\|12
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" \|+Weekly chart performance for "The Way It Is" !Chart (1986–1987) !Peak position
{{single chart\|Flanders\|3\|artist=Bruce Hornsby and the Range\|song=The Way It Is\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Canadatopsingles\|1\|artist=Bruce Hornsby and the Range\|song=The Way It Is\|chartid=0759\|rowheader=true}}
scope="row"\|Europe (European Hot 100 Singles){{cite magazine\|title=European Hot 100 Singles\|magazine=Music & Media\|volume=3\|issue=38\|page=12\|date=September 27, 1986}} \|align="center"\|13
{{single chart\|Ireland2\|8\|artist=Bruce Hornsby and the Range\|rowheader=true\|access-date=January 15, 2021}}
{{single chart\|Dutch40\|1\|year=1986\|week=38\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Dutch100\|2\|artist=Bruce Hornsby And The Range\|song=The Way It Is\|rowheader=true\|access-date=October 20, 2022}}
{{single chart\|New Zealand\|23\|artist=Bruce Hornsby And The Range\|song=The Way It Is\|rowheader=true}}
scope="row"\|Spain (AFYVE){{cite book\|first= Fernando \|last= Salaverri \|title= Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 \|edition= 1st \|date= September 2005 \|publisher= Fundación Autor-SGAE \|location= Spain \|isbn= 84-8048-639-2 \|language= es}} \|align="center"\|6
scope="row"\|South Africa (Springbok Radio){{cite web\|url=http://rock.co.za/files/springbok_top_20_(H).html\|title=SA Charts 1965 – 1989 Acts H\|website=rock.co.za\|access-date=October 20, 2022}} \|align="center"\|13
{{single chart\|Switzerland\|15\|artist=Bruce Hornsby And The Range\|song=The Way It Is\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|UKsinglesbyname\|15\|artist=Bruce Hornsby And The Range\|artistid=23475\|rowheader=true}}
scope="row"\|US Billboard Hot 100{{cite magazine\|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1986-12-13/\|title=Billboard Hot 10\|magazine=Billboard\|date=December 13, 1986\|access-date=November 14, 2023}} \|align="center"\|1
scope="row"\|US Adult Contemporary (Billboard){{cite magazine\|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1986-12-06/\|title=Adult Contemporary\|magazine=Billboard\|date=December 6, 1986\|access-date=November 14, 2023}} \|align="center"\|1
scope="row"\|US Album Rock Tracks (Billboard){{cite magazine\|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-mainstream-rock-tracks/1986-11-08/\|title=Mainstream Rock Airplay\|magazine=Billboard\|date=November 8, 1986\|url-access=subscription\|access-date=November 14, 2023}} \|align="center"\|3
{{single chart\|West Germany\|16\|artist=Bruce Hornsby and the Range\|song=The Way It Is\|songid=1513\|rowheader=true}}

=Year end charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" \|+1986 year-end chart performance for "The Way It Is" !Chart (1986) !Position
scope="row"\|Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders){{cite web\|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=1986\|title=Jaaroverzichten 1986\|publisher=Ultratop\|language=nl\|access-date=October 20, 2022}} \|align="center"\|77
scope="row"\|Canada Top Singles (RPM){{cite magazine\|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.0760&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.0760.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.0760\|title=Top 100 Singles of '86\|magazine=RPM\|via=Library and Archives Canada\|access-date=October 20, 2022}} \|align="center"\|74
scope="row"\|Europe (European Hot 100 Singles){{cite magazine\|title=Hot 100 of the Year 1986\|magazine=Music & Media\|volume=3\|issue=51/52\|page=29\|date=December 27, 1986}} \|align="center"\|99
scope="row"\|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40){{cite web\|url=https://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/1986\|title=Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1986\|publisher=Dutch Top 40\|language=nl\|access-date=October 20, 2022}} \|align="center"\|27
scope="row"\|Netherlands (Single Top 100){{cite web\|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1986&cat=s\|title=Jaaroverzichten – Single 1986\|publisher=MegaCharts\|language=nl\|access-date=October 20, 2022}} \|align="center"\|23

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

|+1986 year-end chart performance for "The Way It Is"

!Chart (1986)

!Position

scope="row"|Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders){{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=1986|title=Jaaroverzichten 1986|publisher=Ultratop|language=nl|access-date=October 20, 2022}}

|align="center"|77

scope="row"|Canada Top Singles (RPM){{cite magazine|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.0760&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.0760.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.0760|title=Top 100 Singles of '86|magazine=RPM|via=Library and Archives Canada|access-date=October 20, 2022}}

|align="center"|74

scope="row"|Europe (European Hot 100 Singles){{cite magazine|title=Hot 100 of the Year 1986|magazine=Music & Media|volume=3|issue=51/52|page=29|date=December 27, 1986}}

|align="center"|99

scope="row"|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40){{cite web|url=https://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/1986|title=Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1986|publisher=Dutch Top 40|language=nl|access-date=October 20, 2022}}

|align="center"|27

scope="row"|Netherlands (Single Top 100){{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1986&cat=s|title=Jaaroverzichten – Single 1986|publisher=MegaCharts|language=nl|access-date=October 20, 2022}}

|align="center"|23

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" \|+1987 year-end chart performance for "The Way It Is" !Chart (1987) !Position
scope="row"\|Canada Top Singles (RPM){{cite magazine\|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.0920&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.0920.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.0920\|title=Top 100 Singles of '87\|magazine=RPM\|via=Library and Archives Canada\|access-date=October 20, 2022}} \|align="center"\|56
scope="row"\|US Billboard Hot 100{{cite magazine \|title=1987 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles \|magazine=Billboard \|volume=99 \|issue=52 \|page=Y-22 \|date=December 26, 1987}} \|align="center"\|8

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

|+1987 year-end chart performance for "The Way It Is"

!Chart (1987)

!Position

scope="row"|Canada Top Singles (RPM){{cite magazine|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.0920&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.0920.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.0920|title=Top 100 Singles of '87|magazine=RPM|via=Library and Archives Canada|access-date=October 20, 2022}}

|align="center"|56

scope="row"|US Billboard Hot 100{{cite magazine |title=1987 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles |magazine=Billboard |volume=99 |issue=52 |page=Y-22 |date=December 26, 1987}}

|align="center"|8

Certifications

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "The Way It Is"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Bruce Hornsby|title=The Way It Is|award=Gold|relyear=2004|certyear=2023|id=7480-717-1|access-date=March 24, 2023}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}

In popular culture

An adapted version of "The Way It Is" was used in the United Kingdom as the theme tune for BBC One's City Hospital, a medical documentary television series which ran from 1998 to 2007.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfMFVYftscM |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/XfMFVYftscM |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live|website=YouTube |title=City Hospital Credits BBC1 29/10/1999|url-access=limited |access-date=May 7, 2021}}{{cbignore}}{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1HOr7lScQE |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/i1HOr7lScQE |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live|website=YouTube |title=City Hospital Opening Sequence 2nd September 2004|access-date=May 7, 2021}}{{cbignore}}
In the Community episode "Advanced Criminal Law", Pierce Hawthorne (played by Chevy Chase) writes a school song entitled "The Way It Goes", an unwitting rip-off of "The Way It Is".{{cite web |url=https://www.vulture.com/2014/05/29-community-jokes-you-may-have-missed.html |title=29 Community Jokes You May Have Missed |last=Evans |first=Bradford |date=May 15, 2014 |website=Vulture |url-access=limited |access-date=April 11, 2021}}
The song was used for many years in the United Kingdom on Grandstand in the league tables segment.{{cn|date=April 2024}}