This is a question about the lyrics to a 1980’s hit by Bruce Hornsby & the Range. In the song, “The Way It Is”, he sings a verse about a light on the cummerbund? What’s he really saying???
- Jinx
Lyrics from http://www.afn.org/~afn30091/songs/h/hornsby-way.txt:
The Way It Is - Bruce Hornsby & the Range
Standing in line marking time
Waiting for the welfare dime
‘Cause they can’t find a job
The man in the silk suit hurries by
As he catches the poor old ladies’ eyes
Just for fun he says “get a job”
CHORUS:
That’s just the way it is
Some things will never change
That’s just the way it is
Aw, 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
CHORUS
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
CHORUS
I think you’re mishearing it. According to the lyrics, the line 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
He’s referring, apparently, to people not being hired for jobs because of the color of their skin, despite the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
“Color bars,” by the way, are commonly associated with television test patterns. They’re used to calibrate the black level and color saturation on video monitors.
I used to write Bruce Hornsby off as a nothing more than a Kenny G-esque crooner of smarmy love songs until I heard his rendition of the Grateful Dead’s Terrapin Station. Very nice. Way to redeem yourself Bruce!
Hornsby was practically (but never officially) a member of the Dead during the 90’s. He still does a lot of their songs in concert–you should hear his rendition of “Wharf Rat”. His own stuff is quite cool as well.
Dr. J
Cripes, and here I thought he was singing “there’s a light on the columbine.”
Because that makes SO much more sense.
I can sleep at night now.
My goodness! I always equated Bruce Hornsby’s music with talent level and style of Huey Lewis. Then, I find out they worked together…which figured. I like most of their songs; they’re catchy, but it’s just fad-1980’s style rock.
Now, you’re telling Hornsby toured with the Dead? Good grief, Charlie Brown! What next?
- Jinx