What It´s Like
The Everlast Lyrics

We've all seen a man at the liquor store beggin' for your change
We've all witnessed a man solicit for cash outside a liquor store

The hair on his face is dirty, dread-locked, and full of mange
The man's facial hair is filthy, tangled, and unkempt

He asks a man for what he could spare, with shame in his eyes
He requests money from another person, feeling ashamed to do so

"Get a job you fucking slob," is all he replies
The other person responds by insulting him, suggesting that he get a job

God forbid you ever had to walk a mile in his shoes
It's difficult to understand what he's going through without experiencing it firsthand

'Cause then you really might know what it's like to sing the blues
Only by experiencing his struggles could someone truly empathize with his despair

Mary got pregnant from a kid named Tom that said he was in love
A woman named Mary conceived a child with a man named Tom who claimed to love her

He said, "don't worry about a thing, baby doll I'm the man you've been dreaming of."
Tom reassured Mary that he was the perfect partner for her

But three months later he say he won't date her or return her calls
Shortly thereafter, Tom changed his tune and refused to communicate with Mary

And she swear, "god damn, if I find that man I'm cuttin' off his balls"
Mary is infuriated by Tom's behavior and vows to seek retribution

And then she heads for the clinic and she gets some static walking through the door
Mary faces opposition when trying to access healthcare services

They call her a killer, and they call her a sinner and they call her a whore
Society judges and shames her for her decisions and circumstances

God forbid you ever had to walk a mile in her shoes
Without firsthand experience, it's difficult to understand the choices and hardships of someone like Mary

'Cause then you really might know what it's like to have to choose
By encountering the same complex decisions she faced, one could truly empathize with Mary's predicament

I've seen a rich man beg, I've seen a good man sin
I've observed instances of surprising and unexpected behavior from various people

I've seen a tough man cry, I've seen a loser win and a sad man grin
People can display emotions and behaviors that go against assumed stereotypes

I heard an honest man lie
Even the most truthful people can occasionally be dishonest

I've seen the good side of bad and the downside of up
Life contains both positive and negative outcomes in unexpected places

And everything between
Life is full of a wide variety of experiences in between extremes

I licked the silver spoon, drank from the golden cup, and smoked the finest green
I've enjoyed privileges and indulged in luxury

I stroked the fattest dimes at least a couple of times before I broke their heart
I've pursued and had romantic relationships with attractive partners before causing them emotional pain

You know where it ends, yo, it usually depends on where you start
The outcome of one's life often correlates to their starting point and circumstances

I knew this kid named Max who used to get fat stacks out on the corner with drugs
I was acquainted with a young man named Max who made a lot of money selling drugs on the street

He liked to hang out late he liked to get shit-faced and keep the pace with thugs
Max enjoyed partying and associating with dangerous people

Until late one night there was a big gun fight and Max lost his head
One night, Max was caught in a violent altercation and unfortunately died

He pulled out his chrome .45, talked some shit, and wound up dead
Max's actions during the altercation contributed to his tragic end

Now his wife and his kids are caught in the midst of all of this pain
Max's family is suffering because of his choices and actions

You know it comes that way at least that's what they say when you play the game
Some would say that Max's death was the result of the dangerous lifestyle he chose to lead

God forbid you ever had to wake up to hear the news
Hearing terrible news about a loved one is a painful experience

'Cause then you really might know what it's like to have to lose
Losing someone close to you is an experience that defies description and truly must be felt to be understood