The Way It Is

Recorded in 1985–1986 at Studio D in Sausalito, California, with Bruce Hornsby on lead vocals, acoustic piano and synthesizer, and John Molo on drums and percussion. Hornsby co-produced the recording with Elliot Scheiner, who also engineered the track, for the band's debut album. Released as a single in 1986, The Way It Is reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 in December and became Bruce Hornsby & The Range's signature breakthrough hit. Its distinctive piano melody accompanied lyrics addressing poverty, racial discrimination and the limitations of civil rights legislation, bringing explicit social commentary into mainstream American pop. The Way It Is has remained culturally influential through its enduring radio presence and prominent sampling, particularly in 2Pac's Changes, released in 1998, and Polo G's Wishing for a Hero in 2020. Its recognisable piano progression and message about social inequality have allowed the composition to resonate across generations, while the original recording remains Bruce Hornsby's best-known song.