Beabadoobee
The Way Things Go

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The Way Things Go Lyrics

This delightful and playful song is giving me serious Paul McCartney vibes, so I’d best explain why the quirky alt-pop of ‘The Way Things Go’ has me stuck with this strange connection.

We’ll start musically, it’s a quick-step acoustic guitar and vocal for the opening. It definitely conjures some level of ‘Blackbird’, our first Beatles flicker. It grows throughout with orchestral additions thickening it all up. Strings and flutes add a richness that points a finger towards Sgt. Pepper. The song even starts with a refrain that is used as an anchor for the song, something Lennon/McCartney did many times.

We then move to the cover art, where Beabadoobee stands out in her clarinet-black tutu against the polished white of the other ballerinas. Alongside the highly arranged object-stuffed video, this certainly reflects the famous album cover (and the associated Paul is dead conspiracy).

Putting aside these parallels, which could be a complete coincidence for all I know, it’s fair to say this is a delightful song. The intricate music and highly personal lyrics combine to create a wonderful story.

Beabadoobee is heading out on tour in the US, so check the listings for dates near you.

Watch Beabadoobee – ‘The Way Things Go’.

The Way Things Go Lyrics

And there’s so much left to say
I guess I’m just the bigger guy
And there’s too much on my mind
That I don’t even want to try
Guess it’s not far from the ordinary
They do say love is blind
But I guess that’s the way things go

Can’t remember how to say your name
Let alone count all the freckles on your face
A distant memory I used to know
Oh, I guess that’s just the way things go
Oh, I guess that’s just the way things go

Can’t remember when you said you called
Miles away, and it was still my fault
The love you said you had, it sometimes showеd
Oh, I guess that’s just the way things go
Oh, I guess that’s just thе way things go

There’s so much left to say
I guess I’m just the bigger guy
And there’s too much on my mind
That I don’t even want to try
Guess it’s not far from the ordinary
They do say love is blind
But I guess that’s the way things go

Didn’t think you’d ever stoop so low
Getting with the only girl you know
A lousy route that only makes me say
“That’s pretty lame and that’s the way things go”
Oh, I guess that’s just the way things go

Passed your house when I was on a train
In my mind, you’ll always stay the same
I’m happy now, I ought to let you know
But I guess that’s just the way things go
Oh, I guess that’s just the way things go
And, I don’t mind that that’s the way things go

And I don’t mind, I don’t mind
I don’t mind, I don’t mind
I don’t mind, I don’t mind
Oh, I guess that’s just the way things go
Oh, I guess that’s the way things go

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Written by Fenton on 22nd July 2023

Steve Fenton writes in our music, words, and culture categories. He was Editor in Chief for The Mag and covered live music for DV8 Magazine and Spill Magazine. He was often found in venues throughout the UK alongside ace-photographer, Mark Holloway. Steve is also a technical writer and programmer and writes gothic fiction. Steve studied Psychology at OSC, and Anarchy in the UK: A History of Punk from 1976-1978 at the University of Reading.