Walk In My Shoes

Do you ever have people look at you like you carry some new disease?
Do people avoid touching you like you're covered with flies and fleas?
Do people turn their nose up with despese upon their faces?
No one ever thinks the future could have us changing places.
Well, before you walk away from me like fate gave me a right to choose...
Take one minute and let me tell you what it's like to walk in my shoes

It's cold at night, when the shelter's full there's no time for me to sleep
Two hats, three blankets and two wool coats is the baggage that I keep.
I find a subway outlet, a bench, or some place that's got heat
I've walked all day with holey socks and mismatches shoes on my feet
Do you think that I appreciate the way that life is treating me?
If you can look past my ragged clothes, I'm sure that you will see...
That I'm capable of feeling and also capable of thinking
Don't dismiss me because I'm dirty and my body may be stinking
And you have the nerve to flip me a quarter and wait for thank you that's due?
I appreciate all the help I can get, but you don't have a clue
And don't you dare spit on me because I smell like booze
You would drink too if you had to take a walk all day in my shoes.

Sometimes I talk to myself and sometimes I don't think so clearly
I pray every night that I would die, I hate this world you love so dearly
But before I give up on life and die, I pray to God and I know I can't lose
For me it's known as survival, if you want to know...walk in my shoes.