The Way Life's Meant to Be

"The Way Life's Meant to Be" is a song by English rock band Electric Light Orchestra (ELO). The song was initially released in the band's 1981 album Time, but was eventually released as a single in March 1982. It was the first Time song to be recorded, and was played in a studio different from the one most songs in the album were recorded. "The Way Life's Meant to Be" was the final Time single to be released.

This song is more Southern European-influenced than other ELO songs and features instruments such as castanets. "The Way Life's Meant to Be" deals with the narrator's experience in the future, feeling dismay as a street he remembers has been distorted from his memory, having grown plastic flowers and ivory towers.

The song was written and produced by Jeff Lynne, who sings and plays guitars in the song. It was engineered by Reinhold Mack and conducted by Rainer Pietsch. "The Way Life's Meant to Be" did not chart in the United Kingdom and the United States, though it peaked at number 30 in West Germany, charting from the start of February to early April. Despite its low charting, the song has generally received positive reviews from critics.