Did Bruce Hornsby play the piano directly on Tupac Shakur's "Changes"?
No. The production team on "Changes" sampled the original 1986 master recording of "The Way It Is." However, Hornsby did personally play and sing on E-40’s 1996 track "Things'll Never Change," showing his direct support for West Coast hip-hop adaptations early on.
What specific historical events inspired the song's lyrics?
Hornsby drew direct inspiration from the civil rights struggles of the 1960s, specifically referencing the Civil Rights Act of 1964. He also wrote about the visual reality of local unemployment offices in Virginia and public debates surrounding welfare policy during the mid-1980s.
Who owns the publishing rights to "The Way It Is"?
Bruce Hornsby wrote the song as the sole credited composer, published through Zomba Music and currently administered under Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG). Because he maintained writing control, he captures the primary publisher’s share of performance and mechanical royalties from every authorized derivative work.
