What It's Like
The Everlast Lyrics

We've all seen a man at the liquor store beggin' for your change
It's common to see a man begging for spare change at the liquor store

The hair on his face is dirty, dread-locked, and full of mange
The man has neglected hygiene and has matted, dirty hair

He asks a man for what he could spare, with shame in his eyes
The man begs for some spare change, feeling embarrassed

"Get a job you fucking slob," is all he replies
The man is met with insults instead of help or kindness

God forbid you ever had to walk a mile in his shoes
It's hard to understand someone else's struggles unless you experience them yourself

'Cause then you really might know what it's like to sing the blues
Only by experiencing hardship can you truly understand and empathize with another's difficulties

Mary got pregnant from a kid named Tom that said he was in love
Mary fell pregnant after a man named Tom claimed to love her

"Don't worry about a thing, baby doll I'm the man you've been dreaming of"
Tom promised Mary that he was the perfect man for her

But three months later he say he won't date her or return her calls
Tom quickly changed his mind, leaving Mary alone and pregnant

And she swear, "Goddamn, if I find that man I'm cuttin' off his balls"
Mary is filled with anger and vows revenge on Tom for his betrayal

They call her a killer, and they call her a sinner and they call her a whore
Mary is met with harsh judgement and criticism for seeking an abortion

God forbid you ever had to walk a mile in her shoes
It's hard to understand Mary's choices unless you've been in her position

'Cause then you really might know what it's like to have to choose
Mary was forced to make a difficult decision, and only by experiencing similar circumstances can you comprehend the weight of that choice

I've seen a rich man beg
It's unusual to see a wealthy person begging for anything, but it happens

I've seen a good man sin
Even the best people have moments of weakness and do something wrong

I've seen a tough man cry
Men who are typically seen as strong or invincible can have moments of vulnerability

I've seen a loser win
People who are perceived as having failed can surprise others with success

And a sad man grin
Someone who appears unhappy can still pretend to be happy

I heard an honest man lie (uh)
Even truthful people can tell a lie under certain circumstances

I've seen the good side of bad
There are positive aspects to negative situations

And the downside of up
Even in good circumstances, there can be negatives or drawbacks

And everything between
There is a full spectrum of experiences between good and bad

I licked the silver spoon
The singer was born into a privileged life

Drank from the golden cup
The artist lived a luxurious lifestyle

And smoked the finest green
The singer indulged in high-quality drugs

I stroked the fattest dimes at least a couple of times
The singer had romantic relationships with attractive, wealthy women

Before I broke their heart
The singer had a habit of hurting the women he was with

You know where it ends, yo, it usually depends on where you start
The outcome of your life often depends on the situations you are born into and the opportunities presented to you

I knew this kid named Max
The artist knew a young man named Max

Who used to get fat stacks out on the corner with drugs
Max made a lot of money selling drugs on the street corner

He liked to hang out late
Max enjoyed being out at night

He liked to get shit-faced and keep the pace with thugs
Max enjoyed getting drunk and spending time with dangerous people

Until late one night, there was a big gunfight and Max lost his head
Max was involved in a shootout which ultimately led to his death

He pulled out his chrome .45, talked some shit, and wound up dead
Max foolishly escalated a dangerous situation, leading to his own demise

Now his wife and his kids are caught in the midst of all of this pain
Max's family is left to deal with the aftermath of his violent death

You know it comes that way, at least that's what they say when you play the game
When you engage in risky or dangerous behavior, bad things can happen

God forbid you ever had to wake up to hear the news
It's a terrible experience to wake up to news of a loved one's death

'Cause then you really might know what it's like to have to lose
Only by experiencing the pain of loss can you truly understand how difficult it is to cope with it