That's the Way It Is is an original song featured in the final mission of the main storyline in Red Dead Redemption 2. It is the third track featured in "The Music of Red Dead Redemption 2: Original Soundtrack" album, and was written by Rocco Deluca and Daniel Lanois; the latter of which sang the lyrics of the song.
Description[]
The song, "That's the Way It is," occurs in the mission "Red Dead Redemption," which concludes the main segment of Redemption 2's story. The song begins after Arthur Morgan and Sadie Adler have saved Abigail Roberts from Van Horn Trading Post. After escaping the pursuing Pinkertons, the three stop riding. Arthur sends Abigail and Sadie to Copperhead Landing to re-unite with Jack and Tilly, while Arthur rides back to camp to confront Micah Bell, who he had just learned was a traitor.
As they part ways, the song intensifies. Arthur takes his iconic gambler hat from his satchel and puts it on, before setting his horse into motion and riding to Beaver Hollow. From hereon, the player is forced into cinematic mode, where they must press a button (or key) to ride their horse. As Arthur is riding, depending on his honor level, he will remember quotes from throughout the story. Along with this, the actual song itself is different depending on Arthur's honor. If the player has high honor while playing this mission, the song will sound more emotional and hopeful, but conversely, if the player has low honor, the sound will sound grittier and uneasy.
Lyrics[]
The many miles we walked
The many things we learned
The building of a shrine
Only just to burn
May the wind be at your back
Good fortune touch your hand
May the cards lay out a-straight
All from your command
That's the way it is
That's the way it is
That's the way it is
That's the way it is
Blue heron leaves the northern sky
It trusts the journey to new heights
What's the meaning of the scar
If we don't learn how to heal?
Should we ever be apart?
Then how does it feel?
That's the way it is
That's the way it is
That's the way it is
That's the way it is
Shine light into darkness
Shine light into darkness
That's the way it is
That's the way it is
(So many miles to walk)
That's the way it is
(So many things we've got to learn)
That's the way it is
(Ohhh ohhhh, that's the way it is)
That's the way it is
(Ohhh)
That's the way it is
Quotes[]
High Honor[]
| “ | There's a good man within you... but he is wrestling with a giant. | „ |
| —Mary Linton, in her goodbye letter to Arthur, at the end of "Goodbye, Dear Friend" |
| “ | Be grateful that for the first time, you see your life clearly. | „ |
| —Sister Calderón to Arthur, during their last conversation, in "The Fine Art of Conversation" (occurs only if he had high honor and helped her in "Of Men and Angels") |
| “ | Maybe it's a sign, Arthur... try... try to do the good thing. | „ |
| —Mary-Beth Gaskill to Arthur, about his Tuberculosis, in one random conversation in Beaver Hollow |
Low Honor[]
| “ | Please... I have a family, sir... please! | „ |
| —Thomas Downes in Money Lending and Other Sins III |
| “ | My Pa used to say if you stare into the fire long enough, you can see the whole world pass by | „ |
| —Hosea Matthews during a random campfire conversation. |
| “ | I see clearly that your world is not a world from which one can escape. | „ |
| —Mary Linton, in her goodbye letter to Arthur, at the end of "Goodbye, Dear Friend" |
Trivia[]
| To be added. |
