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    The Blow Monkeys - It Doesn't Have To Be This Way - UK 7'' Cover - Front
    1987 Singles The Blow Monkeys

    The Blow Monkeys – It Doesn’t Have To Be This Way

    5 Views1 Min Read

    The Eighties Archive

    Song Number 0089
    Released in the early weeks of 1987, “It Doesn’t Have to Be This Way” by The Blow Monkeys remains a definitive monument of British sophisti-pop. It seamlessly blends glossy, danceable production with a sharp, politically charged conscience. Written by the band’s elegant frontman, Dr. Robert, the song arrived at a time when the United Kingdom was deeply fractured by the aggressive economic transformations of the Thatcher era. Amid high unemployment and social unrest, the track offered listeners a rare commodity: a sophisticated, uplifting pop anthem that refused to ignore the grim realities of the world outside the nightclub doors.
    On a purely sonic level, the track is an irresistible masterclass in late-1980s pop craftsmanship. Driven by a propulsive rhythm section, a bouncing bassline, and shimmering synthesisers, the song immediately commands movement. The inclusion of a triumphant, stabbing brass section adds a layer of soul-infused optimism, while soaring gospel-style backing vocals provide warmth and an undeniable sense of communal solidarity. It was a sound designed for maximum radio play and dancefloor appeal, yet this luxurious sonic packaging served a deeper purpose. It acted as a Trojan horse, smuggling radical social commentary directly into the mainstream charts and onto daytime television.
    Beneath the infectious groove lies a blistering critique of public complacency and political despair. The title itself functions as a direct challenge to the prevailing political rhetoric of the 1980s, which continuously insisted that there was no alternative to harsh economic policies. Dr. Robert’s lyrics reject this passive surrender to fate. He sings with a potent mixture of soulful urgency and cool detachment, urging the listener to wake up to the forces shaping their lives. The song argues that systemic inequality and social hardship are not inevitable natural laws, but artificial constructs that can be dismantled if people simply refuse to accept them. By framing the struggle as a personal choice to either capitulate or resist, the track empowers the individual.
    The song quickly became the band’s biggest commercial success, climbing high into the UK top ten and resonating deeply with a public exhausted by political stagnation. For a generation feeling increasingly alienated, it became an anthem of resilience. The Blow Monkeys proved that chart-topping pop music did not have to be vapid or escapist; it could be intelligent, commercially viable, and deeply principled all at once. Decades after its release, the song has lost none of its power. While the specific political landscape of 1987 has changed, its core message regarding the importance of human agency, questioning authority, and resisting apathy remains entirely universal, proving that great pop music can provoke thought while making you move.
    The song peaked at No. 05 in the UK charts on 14th February 1987.
    The Blow Monkeys - It Doesn't Have To Be That Way - Eighties Archive - Promo Image
    The Blow Monkeys - It Doesn't Have To Be This Way - UK 7'' Cover - Front
    The Blow Monkeys - It Doesn't Have To Be This Way - UK 7'' Cover (Front)
    The Blow Monkeys - It Doesn't Have To Be This Way - UK 7'' Cover - Back
    The Blow Monkeys - It Doesn't Have To Be This Way - UK 7'' Cover (Back)
    A-Side It Doesn’t Have To Be This Way (4:04)
    (Dr. Robert)
    Produced By Michael Baker
    B-Side Ask For More (1:16)
    (Dr. Robert)
    Produced By Michael Baker
    UK Top 40 Chart Run [7 Weeks] – 31st January 1987 – 14th March 1987
    27
    11
    05
    08
    14
    24
    37

    Officially Released Versions

    It Doesn’t Have To Be This Way (Single Version) (4:04)
    It Doesn’t Have To Be This Way (Long) (6:07)
    It Doesn’t Have To Dub That Way (6:27)
    It Doesn’t Have To Be This Way (Instrumental Version) (4:43)
    This Is The Way It Has To Be (6:05)

    See ALL releases of ‘I Doesn’t Have To Be This Way’ on Discogs.

    Lyrics

    It doesn’t have to be this way
    Just counting the hours
    ‘Cause when your bed is made
    Then, baby, it’s too late, yeah

    There’s no hope for a hungry child
    Whose joker is wild
    They take all hope away
    By the end of the day
    Well, I just about had enough of the sunshine

    Hey!
    (Hey!)
    What did I hear you say?
    You know
    It doesn’t have to be that way!
    You!
    (You!)
    When you walk out the door
    (You walk out the door)
    You gotta ask for more
    (You gotta ask for more)
    You gotta ask for more

    It doesn’t have to hurt that way
    Just counting the pain
    You’ve only got yourselves to blame
    For playing the game
    There’s no hope for a hungry child
    (No wonder!)
    Whose joker is wild
    And they take all hope away
    (No wonder!)
    And I just can’t see the sense
    And my mind’s a haze
    (No wonder!)
    Ooh, and I just about had enough of the sunshine

    Hey!
    (Hey!)
    What did I hear you say?
    You know
    It doesn’t have to be that way!
    You!
    (You!)
    When you walk out the door, baby
    (You walk out the door)
    You gotta ask for more
    (You gotta ask for more)
    From society
    Take a tip from me now, yeah

    Do you want it?
    Do you want it?
    Don’t you know that I got it, baby?
    (If you want)
    Do you want it?
    Don’t you know I got it, baby?
    Do you want it?
    Do you want it?
    Ooh, and I just about had enough of the sunshine

    Hey!
    (Hey!)
    What did I hear you say?
    (What did I hear you say?)
    You know
    It doesn’t have to be that way!
    You!
    When you walk out the door
    (When you walk out that door)
    Ooh, you better ask for more
    Baby, baby, baby

    Hey!
    (Hey!)
    What did I hear you say?
    You know
    It doesn’t have to be that way
    You!
    When you walk out the door, baby
    You gotta ask for more
    (You gotta ask for more)
    You gotta ask for more
    I said hey, oh-oh
    (Hey!)
    What did I hear you say?
    You know
    It doesn’t have to be that way
    You!
    When you walk out the door, baby
    (You walk out the door)
    You gotta ask for more
    (You gotta ask for more)
    You gotta ask for more
    For more

    Written By Dr. Robert

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    The Blow Monkeys
    It Doesn’t Have To Be This Way
    The Blow Monkeys - It Doesn't Have To Be This Way - UK 7'' Cover - Front
    The Blow Monkeys - It Doesn't Have To Be This Way - VIT Album

    Date Released

    19th January 1987

    Highest Chart Position

    No. 05

    Genre

    Rock, Pop, Funk

    Date Of UK Top 40 Entry

    31st January 1987

    Record Label

    RCA RECORDS

    Catalogue Number

    MONK 4

    Other Songs In Archive

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    We hope this will be your one stop shop for enjoying your Eighties music nights. There are over 3,500 chart entries to add to this site, so call in often, as we will be adding entries every day. We will be adding more features to the site as time goes on. But for now, enjoy!

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