What It's Like

"What It's Like" is a single from Everlast's 1998 album Whitey Ford Sings the Blues. The song is typical of the style Everlast embraced after leaving hip-hop trio House of Pain, being a combination of rock, hip-hop and blues incorporating characterization and empathy towards impoverished protagonists. The song went to #1 on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart for one week and #1 on the Hot Modern Rock Tracks for nine weeks.[1] It also peaked at #13 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the singer's only solo Top 40 hit on the US pop chart to date.[1] In the United Kingdom, the song reached #34 on the UK Singles Chart.[2] Everlast performed the song on Saturday Night Live in 1999, on the show hosted by James Van Der Beek. He also references "What It's Like" on his 2000 song "Whitey's Revenge" in response to an ongoing verbal dispute between him and rapper Eminem. This song was also used as a promo for the 2006-2007 seasons of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Law & Order: Criminal Intent.

[Verse 1] 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 fucking slob" is all he replies [Hook] 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 (what it's like) [Verse 2] 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 calls And she sweared, "Goddamn, 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 door: They call her a killer, and they call her a sinner, and they call her a whore! [Hook 2] 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 it's like (what it's like) [Bridge] 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 [Verse 3] 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 gunfight 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 comes that way At least that's what they say When you play the game [Hook] 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 (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...