What It's Like

(album: Play It Forward - 2022)

We've all seen a man at the liquor store begging 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 fucking 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 dreaming of"
But three months later he say he won't date her or return her calls
And she swear, "Goddamn, if I find that man I'm cutting off his balls"

And then she heads for the clinic and she gets some static walking through the door
They call her a killer, a sinner, a whore
God forbid you ever had to walk a mile in his 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 shit
And he wound up dead
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 and hear the news
'Cause then you really might know what it's like to have to lose, yeah

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