What It's Like

He said, "Don't worry about a thing, baby doll
I've seen a rich man beg, I've seen a good man sin
Then you really might know what it's like

And smoked the finest green
I knew this kid named Max
Then you really might know what it's like
He pulled out his chrome .45, talked some shit, and wound up dead
Then you really might know what it's like
Mary got pregnant from a kid named Tom that said he was in love
But 3 months later, he say he won't date her or return her calls
You know it comes that way

God forbid, you ever had to walk a mile in his shoes

Until late one night, there was a big old fight and Max lost his head
'Cause then you really might know what it's like to sing the blues
He liked to hang out late
I've seen the good side of bad and the downside of up

I've seen a tough man cry, I've seen a loser win
God forbid, you ever had to wake up to hear the news
Before I broke their heart
God forbid, you ever had to walk a mile in her shoes

And she swear, "Goddamn, if I find that man, I'm cuttin' off his balls"
Then you really might know what it's like
You know where it ends, yo, it usually depends on where you start

At least that's what they say when you play the game
"Get a job, you fucking slob," is all he replies
'Cause then you really might know what it's like to have to lose

They call her a killer, and they call her a sinner
Then you really might know what it's like
Then you really might know what it's like
Then you really might know what it's like
I'm the man you've been dreaming of"
I stroked the fattest dimes at least a couple of times
And a sad man grin, I heard an honest man lie
And they call her a whore

Now his wife and his kids are caught in the midst of all of this pain
Then you really might know what it's like
'Cause then you really might know what it's like to have to choose
And then she heads for the clinic
Then you really might know what it's like

He liked to get shit-faced and keep the pace with thugs
I licked the silver spoon, drank from the golden cup
Then you really might know what it's like
He asks a man for what he could spare, with shame in his eyes
Who used to get fat stacks out on the corner with drugs
And everything between
And she gets some static walking through the door