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 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   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      Mary got pregnant from a kid named Tom that 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 swear, "Goddamn, if I 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 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   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'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 downside of up   And everything between      I licked the silver spoon, drank from the golden cup   And 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   Who 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 old fight and Max lost his head   He pulled out his chrome .45, talked some shit, and 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 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 to lose