"That's the Way of the World" is a song recorded by the band Earth, Wind & Fire, released as a single in June 1975 on Columbia Records. The song reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart and No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Overview

The song is the title track of Earth, Wind & Fire's 1975 album of the same name. The track was produced by bandleader Maurice White, who also wrote the song along with Charles Stepney and Verdine White.

Covers and samples

Soul artist Dwele covered of "That's the Way of the World" on the 2007 compilation album Interpretations: Celebrating the Music of Earth, Wind & Fire. With his rendition of the tune, Dwele earned a Grammy nomination in the category of Best Urban/Alternative Performance. As well the tune has been sampled by artists Nas, BeBe & CeCe Winans and Cam'ron.

Critical reception

Cash Box said that it was "clean, mindbending and soulful." George Chesterton of The Guardian noted that the song is "touched with the epic, which emerges as the scope of its message of hope and soulful majesty unfold." Alex Henderson of Allmusic called the song "unforgettable". Stephen Curwood of the Boston Globe wrote "The title cut comes into your consciousness the way a cool air-conditioned breeze rushes over your face when you've been out in the sticky heat. Sometimes the cool goes too dry for our taste, but then, that's a form of sophistication." Daryl Easlea of the BBC also said That's the Way of the World "remains irresistible: six minutes of ethereal, bossa nova-influenced soul."

Chart history

Accolades

(*) designates lists that are unordered.