What It's Like

We've all seen a man at the liquor store
Beggin' for your change
The hair on his face is dirty
Dread locked and full of mange
He asks a man for what he could spare with shame in his eyes
"Get a job, you fuckin' slob" is all he replies

God forbid you ever had to walk a mile in his shoes
'Cause then you really might know
What it's like to sing the blues

Then you really might know what it's like, what it's like
Then you really might know what it's like, what it's like
Then you really might know what it's like, what it's like
Then you really might know what it's like

Mary got pregnant from a kid named Tom
Who said he was in love
He said, "Don't worry about a thing, baby doll
I'm the man you've been dreamin' of"
But three months later he say he won't date her or return her calls
And she swear
"God damn if I find that man I'm cuttin' off his balls"

And then she heads to the clinic
And she gets some static walkin' through the door
They call her a killer, a sinner, a whore

God forbid you ever had to walk a mile in her shoes
'Cause then you really might know what it's like to have to choose

Then you really might know what it's like, what it's like
Then you really might know what it's like, what it's like
Then you really might know what it's like, what it's like
Then you really might know what it's like

I've seen a rich man beg, I've seen a good man sin
I've seen a tough man cry
I've seen a loser win and a sad man grin
I heard an honest man lie
I've seen the good side of bad
And the downside of up and everything between
I licked the silver spoon, drank from the golden cup
Smoked the finest green

I stroked the fattest dimes
At least a couple of times before I broke their heart
You know where it ends
Yo, it usually depends on where you start
I knew this kid named Max
He used to get fat stacks out on the corner with drugs
He liked to hang out late
He liked to get shit faced and keep the pace with thugs

Until late one night, there was a big gun fight
Max lost his head
He pulled out his Chrome 45
Talked some shit and wound up dead
And now his wife and his kids are caught in the midst
Of all of this pain
You know it comes that way
At least that's what they say when you play the game

God forbid you ever had to wake up to hear the news
'Cause then you really might know what it's like to have to lose

Then you really might know what it's like, what it's like
Then you really might know what it's like, what it's like
Then you really might know what it's like, what it's like
To have to lose

To have to lose