Lady of the house used to tell me stories
Of my old man and his days of glory
One day he sent us away
And not a thing she could do
But to say it's okay

First she says that I'll change the world
Then she says that I'm getting too old
Lady, make up your mind
'Cause Jackie's waiting outside

And when the sun goes down
In the eyes of a smiling child
Old folks they'll tell you
That it's no surprise
And it's just a matter of time

I ain't got half of what I can take
Time is short and time won't wait
Time is slipping through
The hands of Jackie Faye

And then Jackie came running down the street
Then she banged on my window and then she said
"I wrote this song, I can't figure out its key
But I've named it The Way It's Gonna Be"

And when the sun goes down
In the eyes of a smiling child
Old folks they'll tell you
That it's no surprise
And it's just a matter of time

Until you're torn apart
And you wish you were back at the start
And you bet that she feels really proud
Now that she turned tables on you
And you bet that she feels really proud
Now that Cain took the stone
And he hit Abel

And so the children will sing
Let them sing now

And when the sun goes down
In the eyes of a smiling child
Old folks say that it's no surprise
And it's just a matter of time

Until you're torn apart
And you wish you were back at the start
And you bet that she feels really proud
Now that she turned tables on you
And you bet that she feels really proud
Now that Cain took the stone
And he killed Abel

And it's just a matter of time
And it's just a matter of time