Standing in line marking time

Waiting for the welfare dime

'Cause they can't buy a job

The man in the silk suit hurries by

As he catches the poor ladies' 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

'Cause you don't look like they do

Said, hey old man how can you stand

To think that way, 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"

That's just the way it is

That's just the way it is

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, no, no, no

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