"What It's Like" by Everlast is a song that explores the struggles and hardships faced by different individuals in society. The lyrics depict various scenarios where people face judgment, adversity, and difficult choices. The song begins by describing a man begging for change at a liquor store, highlighting his unkempt appearance and the shame in his eyes. When he asks for help, he is met with derogatory remarks, emphasizing the lack of empathy and understanding from others. The lyrics suggest that unless one has experienced similar hardships, they cannot truly understand what it feels like to face such challenges. The next verse introduces the story of Mary, who becomes pregnant from a man named Tom, who initially claims to love her. However, he later abandons her, leaving her feeling betrayed and anger towards him. Mary decides to seek an abortion and faces criticism and labeling from society. The lyrics express the idea that one can only truly comprehend the difficulty of making a choice like this when they have personally been in such a situation. Further, the song acknowledges that life is full of contradictions and contradictions. It mentions seeing a rich man begging, a good man sinning, a tough man crying, a loser winning, and a sad man grinning. This suggests that people's lives are complex, and no one is exempt from experiencing both good and bad situations. The lyrics also touch upon drug addiction and its consequences. It mentions a character named Max, who makes money selling drugs but ends up losing his life in a gunfight. The song highlights the impact of Max's actions on his family, emphasizing the cycle of pain that ensues. Overall, "What It's Like" aims to shed light on the struggles faced by different individuals in society, urging empathy, understanding, and refraining from judgment. It encourages listeners to consider the experiences and perspectives of others, as everyone's journey is unique, and hardship can befall anyone.
