Everlast Song Argument " What It's Like"
Sydney Sanders
English 305
Professor Michael Harrold
1 February 2011
Song Argument Essay “What it’s Like” by Everlast is a song that tells not one but three different stories. It touches on homelessness, abortion and drug violence. Three very relevant topics, despite its 1998 release date. The song cautions those who are quick to judge and reminds us all, to take second look. The song also argues that the listener may one day find themselves in a similar situation and they may one day be the homeless person, the girl walking into the clinic or the family member of a drug dealer. Everlast does something very effective when making any argument; he puts a face to the issue he is discussing.
The argument in this song is maybe not as direct and simplistic as many, but it is one that I believe is very relevant and very easy for the younger generations to identify with. Everlast brings up something’s that many of us would prefer to ignore. In the fourth line of the first verse after a man is asked for some spare change his reply is “get a job you fuckin' slob…” This is sadly the response that many homeless people hear each day. People often see homelessness as a faraway problem, or an everyday annoyance. In the next verse Everlast states “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”, reminding all of us that this problem is not one that could never happen to each of us. This style of argument is repeated with the abortion example and with the dead drug dealer. A noticeable difference with the last two examples is the fact that he gives both the girl getting an abortion and the young drug dealer a name, Mary and Max. The homeless man remains nameless, much like in real life. The fact that the girl receiving an abortion receives criticism from people may be a reference to her name sake Mary Magdalene. The song also points out that things can quickly change and that people always have a darker
English 305
Professor Michael Harrold
1 February 2011
Song Argument Essay “What it’s Like” by Everlast is a song that tells not one but three different stories. It touches on homelessness, abortion and drug violence. Three very relevant topics, despite its 1998 release date. The song cautions those who are quick to judge and reminds us all, to take second look. The song also argues that the listener may one day find themselves in a similar situation and they may one day be the homeless person, the girl walking into the clinic or the family member of a drug dealer. Everlast does something very effective when making any argument; he puts a face to the issue he is discussing.
The argument in this song is maybe not as direct and simplistic as many, but it is one that I believe is very relevant and very easy for the younger generations to identify with. Everlast brings up something’s that many of us would prefer to ignore. In the fourth line of the first verse after a man is asked for some spare change his reply is “get a job you fuckin' slob…” This is sadly the response that many homeless people hear each day. People often see homelessness as a faraway problem, or an everyday annoyance. In the next verse Everlast states “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”, reminding all of us that this problem is not one that could never happen to each of us. This style of argument is repeated with the abortion example and with the dead drug dealer. A noticeable difference with the last two examples is the fact that he gives both the girl getting an abortion and the young drug dealer a name, Mary and Max. The homeless man remains nameless, much like in real life. The fact that the girl receiving an abortion receives criticism from people may be a reference to her name sake Mary Magdalene. The song also points out that things can quickly change and that people always have a darker