We've all seen a man at the liquor store
Beggin' for your change
The hair on his face is dirty, dreadlocked 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 for the clinic
And she gets some static walkin' through the door
They call her a killer, and they call her a sinner
And they call her 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 down side 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 sh-
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
To have to lose
To have to lose