Jamel, I’m so glad that you were able to focus in on the lyrics, and realize the meaning behind the song. I’ve seen others react to it, and immediately upon recognizing it from Tupac’s sampling, they lose focus because of their surprise. Not being critical, because I understand their initial reaction. But I’m glad you were able to go back and get the full meaning.
"That's just the way it is." It's the phrase that gets repeated over and over in the song. It's the catchiest part of the song for that reason. BUT, it's the last line in the chorus, "Ah, but don't you believe them" that is the key to everything that the song is about. Things are the way they are because people just accept that "That's the way it is". But Bruce is saying that you don't have to believe that. It DOESN'T have to be that way. The key is to find a way to change things. "That's just the way it is" fosters a never-ending cycle. "Don't you believe them." Break the cycle.
They say of the way he played piano, that it was surprising the piano survived to be played again. His finger strokes were so sharp and precise, he about cut the instrument to shreds !
Wow... that brings back memories. That was my dad's favorite song. He used to play that whole album in the car everywhere we went. Thanks for the memory. I will pull up the album on Spotify on my way to work tomorrow
Love this song! Jamel, have you ever reacted to any James Taylor? He is one of our greatest living songwriters and his songs are timeless stories. "Fire and Rain" is a great start if you're interested.
I like the racial justice theme of this song, and the environmental message of “Look Out Any Window”. But my favorite Bruce Hornsby in terms of atmospheric jams are, as usual for me, his deeper cuts. I love “The Wild Frontier”, “The Road Not Taken”, “The River Runs Low”, “Every Little Kiss”, “On the Western Skyline” and “Down the Road Tonight”. Those were among my traveling tunes back in the day, and are evocative of being young and free and romantic. For more truth to power messages by Bruce, try also “The Long Valley Road” and “Defenders of the Flag”, both of which speak to economic inequities and DOF in particular critical of the overmilitarization of society that sends young people to die while indulging their own excesses and cementing political power.
It took until about the 2 minute mark to click with the up tempo singing. I fell in love with the the up tempo jazzy feel of the actual music from the first note. This is a HUGE song that needs to be played more in this day and age. I am a year 2 Gen X'er (1968) and I cannot believe the tailspin that alot of white "Boomers" have gone into about racism. I love my dad, but he was raised hating everybody and as the Agent Orange and PTSD sank their hooks deeper and deeper into his psyche the racism came to the fore. I hate to say it, I was completely at peace with his passing, knowing his tortured soul no longer had to fight the losing fight against old age, Agent Orange and his PTSD. That's just the way it is, you know...
I just love watching Jamal's reaction posts. Unlike most reaction videos I get the feeling Jamal's appreciation of lyrics and musicianship are genuine and are heartfelt. You can tell he has a radiant spirit!
Surprised you didn't check him out earlier, since he was the Dead's keyboardist after Brent Mydland passed. Still an awesome version live! Pardon the vinyl joke--it wasn't an Epic recording, it was RCA...
This is why i love your reactions, you deep dive the meaning of lyrics, its powerful messages most people miss but need to be clearly heard :) Keep exploring , I will keep watching !
Finally!! I've been wanting to listen to this song, by the original artist, "WITH" you for such a long time, Jamel. The lyrics are so stark and honest. They are not just heard, they are also felt. The only reaction I wanted from you was the realization in your eyes that this song went to number 1 precisely because there are a lot of good humans out here who are WITH you. My reaction every time I hear it is to shake my head in bewilderment and join with the powerful LAMENT that there are still so many out here who have not, cannot, or will not see the light. Peace, Jamel. You ARE a good human!
Bob those States of Mind aren’t going to fixed never. I’m Spanish black male,I grew up in Cuba and I remember Castro in many times talked about how African Americans were living and discriminated here. He came to UN to speak in front of the others presidents about how black peoples living around the world. It was on 1979 I was 11 and those “ messages “ were well deep in my mind. For some years I was saying to myself that he was right. All the time the Communist media were showing how the Police were abusing against them. Until I started to meet some intelectual people and I started to see “ the light” . I started to educate myself reading here and reading there. That’s the key of the whole problem. Education, and sadly the whole African American population doesn’t wanna be educated. Only you have to see how the Immigrants come to this country and their life starts changing. I’m a example of that, I came here more than 20 years ago and I so proud how my life has changed just working. No robbery no delinquency no killing others people. Only they have to see the light, it’s not gonna be easy because they are a bunch of mastermind working hard behind the courtain to Keep the hate between the races alive.
Keep the faith Jamal were not all prejudice lots of love out there for all our fellow human beings and fellow travelers on planet earth and this is now our time to go around. 👍
Bruce Hornsby played with the Dead when Jerry was still alive and you can see his influence and the Dead's influence on him with his jam on the piano. Magical stuff right there!
Bruce Hornsby is a great talent this is one of my favorite songs of his along with "Mandolin Rain" they are both epic songs. Great reaction to a great song.
I love how you give equal weight to both the music and the lyrics. For an equally beautiful song with sobering, powerful lyrics, give a listen to “I Believe” by Blessid Union of Souls.
He’s such a great live show to go and see… He was clearly influenced by the Grateful Dead. It made so much sense, him playing with the Dead, back in the day, after Brent Mydlan passed away.
Saw him and The Range with Crowded House in 1986. Smallish venue. One of my favorite ever concert experiences: phenomenal musicians and songwriters in both bands! This song never fails to break my heart. Love you, Jamal, and all you do! ❤ (Crowded House's "Weather with You" is worth a visit, J!)
I prefer the original MTV video.It was slammimg.Bruces piano skills are electrifying.And that bass was killer. Tupac used the studio version.Bruce Hornsby and the Range did this song brilliantly.
I love 2Pac, but the song was re-imagined after his death. They used a lot more of the original song in the production after his death. Still a great song.
I wish Tupac lived a little longer so they could've played this live together at the Grammy's or somethin. Bruce talking about the civil rights, old school racism and oppression then Tupac coming in with the reminder that it's been 30-40 years since then and it's still the same way in the US "today" (the late 1990s). I feel like that would've been really powerful to see.
Jamel, the drummer John Molo is the drummer for Phil Lesh and Friends quite often. And Jerry Garcia did some lead guitar work on some of Hornsbys music. Peace from Southwest Michigan! 🎸🎼🎵🎶🧠🌌♾❤💀👍
Hornsby was the keyboardist for The Grateful Dead for a spell. Jerry Garcia and Hornsby were good friends. Jerry appeared on Hornsby's album later on a track called "Across The River." Bruce Hornsby wrote "Jacob's Ladder", a song that Huey Lewis and the News made into a major hit on the album 'Fore!'.
Yeah but many millions of people keep blinded and deaf ears. The song was # 1 but……. Nobody wanted follow those messages, those wake ups, for what reason?. When a bunch of people decided to change the lyrics, booomm the song was listened and heard s as nd loved for millions and millions of people. When the song was saying kill, smoking and destroy everything then…….. THAT’s THE WAY IT IS 🤬🤬 I don’t think so
Do you remember the Sugar Hill gang from 1979 rapper's delight?? If memory serves me correctly which it does that song musically came from a 1979 track titled good times by sheek.
Bruce Randall Hornsby wrote this song and had a hit with it in 1986. Tupac covered it later. Bruce Hornsby is the reason I learned piano and now play a keyboard. Nothing like the talent of Mr. Hornsby, but he was my inspiration.
The Civil Rights Law of 1964 did more than attempt to eliminate discrimination in hiring and in society, but it forever changed the political landscape in America. Before that the Republican party prided itself as being the party of Lincoln and abolition. Just before Johnson, Kennedy was the president that slowly began to push for civil rights laws in this country, and those in the Democratic party who supported Jim Crow laws and segregation, which were quite numerous, were not happy. When Johnson signed the law in 1964 almost overnight all of those segregationists left the Democratic party and joined the Republican party. Those in the south, known as "Dixie-crats" were among the first to leave.
Probably been mentioned as I did not read all of the comments. Bruce Hornsby played with the Grateful Dead in the early 90s. Thought you might like that bit of knowledge.
Music is music! I have no idea who those guys are. But if they can be better than the "holier"thy thing they are... Jamel, I ain't black, and these guys ain't nothing but glorified jazz-players. Don't be an idiot! Love music, don't mess that with truth!
Bruce Hornsby was neighbors and good friends with Alan Iverson. He was considered a musical for using “incorrect” chord structures in his music and making them work.
The vast majority of people want harmony and peace amongst one another. The “division” that we’re confronted with, is a myth. Of course, “hate” exists, but it represents a minuscule segment of our society. If we continue to love each other, the “rest” will segregate, and isolate themselves….Meanwhile, we’ll enjoy each other, and praise our unification!
This song always reminds me of when I learned there were people of different colors ,around 1960-61 In Detroit I was 3 or 4 ,( My Grandfather had a farm and the workers were often dirty when they came in, I grew up in the city ) My Mom and I were at a supermarket , and I looked at a black woman and asked my Mom " why is she dirty ?" Mom was horrified , as my Mom was so not raciest , (Believe Me !) The woman , smiled at me and said "no honey , thats the color of my skin" and took my hand and put it to her face, and showed me my fingers and said see.....at 64 years old now this was one of my first life's lessons that I hold dearly to the day, I wish I could hug that woman today.....
This is years after it came out as you can see how old he looks in this in comparison to the original video when he looks fairly young. Myself & Tupac were 15 when this was released. It played on radio constantly. Was crazy good!
Should hear him on the accordion. I'm not kidding, hey us white people are not proud of our history. Been trying to lose what I was told. But thats not allowed. Due to the color of my skin as Martin said not my character. When will the white race be forgiven for the sins of their ancestors? Trust me no one in my family was ever a slave owner if anything we may have been shipped from the poor house as indentured sevants till the debt was paid. I've no proof of that but it's a suspicion. No history prior to 1840 hmm. Anyway I hope us Americans can stop blaming and start anew as citizens of what should be the greatest nation . Sorry jamal just my rant. Peace ✌
Bruce always had deeper lyrics. The old joke was his two biggest hits were an upbeat song about racism (That's Just the Way It Is) and an upbeat song about abortion (The Valley Road). Valley Road is written more in old southern code almost, so it isn't quite as easy to pick up what is being said unless you are used to certain expressions popular down south.
Bruce Hornsby has a wide range of stuff you could sift through. just some of them off the top of my head. The Valley road. going to be some changes made. Mandalin rain. on the Western skyline. Watertown. There was also a duet he did with somebody I can't recall her name I can't make you love me I believe that's your name of it.
Tupac was so wise for such a young man. He sure listened to the man who was his "real" father and his mother, not his supermarket donor. I'm still sad about Tupac's death and it remaining unsolved. I believe California nor Nevada put their hearts into finding the killer(s) of Pac and Biggie. I believe it was because they were both strong black men. I can only imagine what Tupac would be thinking if the world in 2023. It hasn't changed all that much. I have my mother and father to thank for not letting me be ignorant to these injustices. They weren't good at co-parenting except for this issue.
I saw them perform this song live in 1986 when they opened up for Steve Winwood in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Powerful message with top notch musicianship.
I'm giving you a heads up your channels that I am subscribed to aren't the only ones I'm having this issue with so don't feel bad I don't always receive your material. So if I ask for things that you covered don't get too frustrated chances are I haven't received it are you would have gotten alive but thumbs up. If you don't chances all I haven't seen it. As I said I have other channels I am subscribed to and don't receive all of their material as well
being a white guy with a little black boy as a son I really can’t imagine him being in a world where he simply can’t go somewhere because of his skin color. but I do know that he will still face challenges in his life because of his skin color. we’re talking about 1964 in this song and we are in 2022 and some things are still this way. we still have work to do.
I'm an old fart that liked this song. When I heard Tupac had sampled it, I wondered what he would do with it. It's different but an awesome cover of this song .....my first rap thumbs up
Been a while, life happens , but you are looking well , video more recent than this , I love your family videos , your brother with a beard has a smile mom can't say no to and the other is like my brother aka smooth player !!! Your wife is honest , you did well !!!
