It's Like That

The lyrics describe a world of unemployment, rising bills, low pay, war, and people struggling to get by. At first, the repeated line “that’s the way it is” sounds resigned, as if hardship is unavoidable. Later, the song becomes more encouraging: it urges listeners to learn, work toward success, seek meaning, and avoid prejudice. The mood shifts from frustration toward practical advice and a call for shared responsibility.

“Make ends meet” means having just enough money to pay for basic needs. The contrast between rising bills and lower pay shows why life feels difficult for many people. The image of someone eating from a garbage can suggests how poverty can change a person’s circumstances; the lyrics ask listeners to recognize that someone struggling may once have been close to them. “Glasses blurred” suggests seeing life unclearly, perhaps because of disappointment or feeling ignored.

The repeated refrain can be heard in two ways: as a realistic acceptance of problems that are hard to control, or as a criticism of people who treat those problems as simply normal. The advice to study and work hard offers hope, but it may also place responsibility on individuals facing wider economic difficulties. The final message that everyone is “on the same list” seems to stress common humanity, though the exact meaning of that list is left open.