Thursday, June 12, 2008

What it's like: Everlasting empathy

It has been ten years since Everlast issued What It's Like, but the song still resonates. Even more so in a hotly contested political season that coincides with some of the toughest economic times in recent American history.

  • We've all seen the man at the liquor store begging for your change
  • The hair on his face is dirty, dreadlocked, and full of mange
  • He asks the man for what he can spare with shame in his eyes
  • Get a job you fucking slob is all he replied.

  • 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 [x4]

  • 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 said he won't date her or return her calls
  • And she swears God damn if I find that man I'm cutting off his balls
  • And 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 [x4]

  • 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 daddy's 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 on the corner with drugs
  • He liked to hang out late, he liked to get shit faced, and keep 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 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

  • 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 [x3]
  • To have to lose . . . .

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home

Google
 
Web Jurisdynamics