Standing in line marking time, waiting for the welfare dime
'Cause they can't buy a jo
The man in the silk suit hurries by
As he catches the poor old 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
But don't you believe them

They say 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
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
Thats just the way it is, it is, it is, it is