That's the Way It Goes (George Harrison song)

Partly influenced by his extended holidays in Hawaii and Australia, the lyrics convey his dismay at the world's preoccupation with money and status, although, unlike several of Harrison's previous musical statements on the subject, he expresses resignation and acceptance.

The track includes contributions from British musicians such as Henry Spinetti, Herbie Flowers and Ray Cooper, along with a deep-toned vocal part from American gospel singer Willie Greene.

Indicating Harrison's enduring admiration for the song, it was one of the B-sides of the 12-inch single "When We Was Fab" in 1988, and he subsequently included it on his compilation album Best of Dark Horse 1976–1989.

[9] In his book on Harrison for the Praeger Singer-Songwriter series, Ian Inglis groups "That's the Way It Goes" with the title track to Gone Troppo and "Mystical One" as songs that offer "a clear insight into his frame of mind" at this time.

[10]Harrison biographer Simon Leng considers "That's the Way It Goes" to be a social commentary that conveys the artist's withdrawal from the "money madness of the '80s" as typified by the anti-societal policies of British prime minister Margaret Thatcher.

[15] In the third verse, a film actor aspires to achieve stardom in the form of "a shining city on a hill", yet the starring roles he seeks merely bury his sense of individuality.

[18] Having spent the New Year on Hamilton Island[22] in Australia,[23] Harrison and his family continued to travel for much of early 1982, including making a visit to Los Angeles where he received an award from UNICEF in recognition of his 1971 benefit concert for the fledgling nation of Bangladesh.

[6] Aside from Harrison, the musicians playing on "That's the Way It Goes" were Mike Moran (on keyboards), Ray Cooper (percussion), Herbie Flowers (bass) and Henry Spinetti (drums).

[28] According to Leng, the line-up of mainly English musicians on Gone Troppo was further evidence of Harrison's limited interest in music during this period, with many of the new acquaintances having come through Cooper,[29] who also had an executive role at HandMade.

[14][28] Leng describes the musical arrangement as typical of Harrison's work at the time: "layers of acoustic guitars topped by picking light electrics, understated keyboards, and lots of slide riffs".

[35][nb 2] In MacFarlane's view, the recording shares the "sunny and carefree" Pacific mood of the album's title track and "evokes palm trees, ocean surf, and gentle breezes ... the kind of environment in which one can find renewal and peace".

[56] Writing shortly after Harrison's death in November 2001, music journalist Rip Rense cited the track as evidence that "All his albums, even the rather hasty 'Extra Texture,' and the post-scripty 'Gone Troppo,' contain some of the most affecting moments in his career.

"[57] Reviewing Harrison's solo releases in 2004, for Blender magazine, Paul Du Noyer considered the song to be the album's "standout track".

He adds that Harrison's mood of acceptance in the lyrics marks "a remarkable departure for a performer best known for a determined kind of proselytizing" through songs such as "Awaiting on You All", "Living in the Material World" and "That Which I Have Lost".

[66][nb 3] Brown's performance of "That's the Way It Goes" was omitted from the theatrical release of David Leland's documentary Concert for George in 2003, but included on the two-disc DVD, issued in November that year.