ELO: The Way Life's Meant To Be

Well, I came a long way to be here today
And I left you so long on this avenue.
And here I stand in the strangest land,
Not knowing what to say or do.
As I gaze around at these strangers in town,
I guess the only stranger is me.
And I wonder (yes, I wonder),
Yes, I wonder, (oh, I wonder)
Is this the way life's meant to be.

Although it's only a day since I was taken away
And left standing here looking in wonder
(It's your life, it's your life),
Ah, the ground at my feet, maybe it's just the old street,
But everything that I know lies under
(It's your life, it's your life).
And when I see what they've done
To this place that was home,
Shame is all that I feel.
Oh, and I wonder (oh, I wonder),
Yes, I wonder (wonder, wonder, wonder, wonder)
Is this the way life's meant to be.

Too late, too late to cry, the people say,
Too late for you, too late for me.
You've come so far, now you know everything, my friend
(Look and see the wonders of our world).

And I wonder (oh, I wonder),
Yes, I wonder (yes, I wonder)
Is this the way life's meant to be.

As I wander around this wreck of a town,
Where people never speak aloud,
With its ivory towers and its plastic flowers,
I wish I was back in 1981.
Just to see your face instead of this place,
Now I know what you mean to me.
Ooh, and I wonder (oh, I wonder,),
Yes, I wonder (yes, I wonder)
Is this the way life's meant to be.

And I wonder (oh, I wonder),
Yes, I wonder, wonder, wonder, wonder
Is this the way life's meant to be.

Ooh, I wonder,
Oh, I wonder, wonder, wonder
Is this the way life's meant to be.

Oh, oh, is this the way life's meant to be?
Mmm-mmm, is this the way life's meant to be?
I wanna know now
Is this the way life's meant to be.