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 jo
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
that's just the way it is