Lyric discussion by NativePryde 

Cover art for What It's Like lyrics by Everlast

The Homeless and the arrogant:

"We've all seen the man at the liquor store Beggin' for your change The hair on his face is dirty, dreadlocked And full of mange He ask the man for what he could spare With shame in his eyes "Get a job, you fuckin' slob"'s all he replied"

  • It's a homeless man with a skin disease who is shameful of the situation he is in. The man who walked by was representing an arrogant man who didn't consider anything of the homeless man. Maybe he was homeless because he couldnt afford the treatment to his disease?

"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"

-Don't degrate a man because of his position. Anyone could wind up like him. i.e Rags to riches to rags

"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 said he won't date her or return her call And she sweared "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 doors They call her a killer, and they call her a sinner And they call her a whore"

  • Mary fell in love with a man who lied to her about his committments. He betrayed her and broke her heart. She went and got an abortion, while people considered her a murderer. Maybe she pictured a life with the man of her dreams to raise her kid?. Maybe she couldn't see it without him?. Nor did she get any advice or guidence?. Money Problems?, maybe.

"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"

  • You have to expierence the situation to make a choice for something like that. Giving up a beautiful gift means there was an ugly problem. You can consider a difference, but be greatful you don't have to make a choice like that.

"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 baddest 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"

  • Ironies. The circumstances could be the same for anyone.

"I knew this kid named Max He used to get fat stacks out on the corner with drugs He liked to hang out late at night Liked to get shit faced And keep 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 wound up dead Now his wife and his kids Are caught in the midst of all of his pain You know it crumbles that way At least that's what they say When you play the game"

  • Max didn't consider how far his situation could go, nor did he consider the pain he would leave behind to the people who loved him. Pain.

"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 To have to lose..."

  • Be greatful to not wake up to find out someone you love is on the news... You don't deserve that pain.

All in all it's about accepting life for what it is. Yes it could be better, but it could also be worse.

@NativePryde - " It's a homeless man with a skin disease who is shameful of the situation he is in. The man who walked by was representing an arrogant man who didn't consider anything of the homeless man. Maybe he was homeless because he couldnt afford the treatment to his disease?"

I think you are missing the main point. this man doesn't have a disease, he is HOMELESS, THERE FOR DIRTY - HE IS JOBLESS, THERE FOR POOR.