We've all seen a man at the liquor store beggin' for your change
The hair on his face is dirty, dread-locked and full of mange
He asks the man for what he could spare with shame in his eyes
'Get a job you ***king 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 3 months later he say he won't date her or return her calls
And she swears, 'Goddamn
If find that man I'm cuttin' off his balls'

And then she heads for the clinic and
She gets some static walking through the door
They call her a killer, and they call her a sinner
And they call her a *****
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 its 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've heard a honest man lie, I've seen the good side of bad
And the downside of up, and everything between

I've licked the silver spoon, drank from the golden cup
And smoked the finest green
I've stroked the daddies 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 ****-faced and keep the pace with thugs
Until late one night there was a big gun fight and Max lost his head
He pulled out his chrome .45
Talked some **** and wound up dead

Now his wife and his kids
Are caught in the midst of all of this pain
You know it crumbles 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
Then you really might know what it's like
Then you really might know what it's like
To have the blues