The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
I would tell you about the things they put me through
The pain I've been subjected to
But the Lord himself would blush
The countless feasts laid at my feet
Forbidden fruits for me to eat
But I think your pulse would start to rush
Now I'm not looking for absolution
Forgiveness for the things I do
But before you come to any conclusions
Try walking in my shoes
Try walking in my shoes
You'll stumble in my footsteps
Keep the same appointments I kept
If you try walking in my shoes
If you try walking in my shoes
Morality would frown upon
Decency look down upon
The scapegoat fate's made of me
But I promise now, my judge and jurors
My intentions couldn't have been purer
My case is easy to see
I'm not looking for a clearer conscience
Peace of mind after what I've been through
And before we talk of any repentance
Try walking in my shoes
Try walking in my shoes
You'll stumble in my footsteps
Keep the same appointments I kept
If you try walking in my shoes
If you try walking in my shoes
Try walking in my shoes
Now I'm not looking for absolution
Forgiveness for the things I do
But before you come to any conclusions
Try walking in my shoes
Try walking in my shoes
You'll stumble in my footsteps
Keep the same appointments I kept
If you try walking in my shoes
You'll stumble in my footsteps
Keep the same appointments I kept
If you try walking in my shoes
Try walking in my shoes
If you try walking in my shoes
Try walking in my shoes
The pain I've been subjected to
But the Lord himself would blush
The countless feasts laid at my feet
Forbidden fruits for me to eat
But I think your pulse would start to rush
Now I'm not looking for absolution
Forgiveness for the things I do
But before you come to any conclusions
Try walking in my shoes
Try walking in my shoes
You'll stumble in my footsteps
Keep the same appointments I kept
If you try walking in my shoes
If you try walking in my shoes
Morality would frown upon
Decency look down upon
The scapegoat fate's made of me
But I promise now, my judge and jurors
My intentions couldn't have been purer
My case is easy to see
I'm not looking for a clearer conscience
Peace of mind after what I've been through
And before we talk of any repentance
Try walking in my shoes
Try walking in my shoes
You'll stumble in my footsteps
Keep the same appointments I kept
If you try walking in my shoes
If you try walking in my shoes
Try walking in my shoes
Now I'm not looking for absolution
Forgiveness for the things I do
But before you come to any conclusions
Try walking in my shoes
Try walking in my shoes
You'll stumble in my footsteps
Keep the same appointments I kept
If you try walking in my shoes
You'll stumble in my footsteps
Keep the same appointments I kept
If you try walking in my shoes
Try walking in my shoes
If you try walking in my shoes
Try walking in my shoes
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When I think about this song (which I strongly relate to)< I get the impression of someone wo's not proud of the path their life has taken, and what they've done. At the same time, they've accepted that they did the best they could and that, before you judge them, you have to look at things from their perspective.
In the end, though, I think it's as much about learning to accept your own mistakes in life, as it is about encouraging others to do the same.
I jusr heard this song for the first time and I have to say that it hit me like a brick. It's like, "You think you're so great and I'm nothing, try being me for a little while and see how far you get." It totally hits out at all those hippoctrates in the world who love to preach about what we should do, but don't really have a clue, you know? I just love it for that.
Great song and quite emotional too.
I guess that its about perception. You know how quick some people are to judge others without knowing much about them ? That's what it is to me.
I think its about persons who say "why you are so frustrated? theres no reason for it? you wasted your time wiht your problems" its about the people who don't know really about the serious porblems of others. they jude others without any knowledge about them so "try walking in my shoes if you think life is so easy"
I love this song, to me, it's a hymn, the message, judge not for you'll be judged. I think it's a reminder to also open our eyes to compassion when we see other individuals. Imagine walking in the shoes of those that society likes to sweep under the rug, could you walk in their shoes and not stumble? This song is very very good on many levels.
I thought that it was related to drugs, i mean "Forbidden fruits for me to eat" and then he got sober and over with it, and he's saying like dont judge me because you dont know what i've been through, and if you're going to judge......try walking in my shoes...
This song got me through high school. i dont know what i would have done without it! it needs no definition it speaks for itself!
This song is about drug addiction. I am not one to accuse anyone of drug use. Apparently from what I read, the lead singer had a heroin addiction issue. As an artist with an addiction issue, he is trying to point out how hard it would be to walk in his shoes and yet he didn't stumble in the end. I understand completely. You can't comment on this song unless you have been there. It is not to comment that others are unintelligent. This is a song where in order for someone to really understand the message they had to have experienced being judged by drug addiction. I have been judged for the past 10 years for my addiction issues. It is only coming out now that prescriptions weren't working for me that allowed me to function and I was self-medicating after a certain point to live with peace of mind. I have been slowly doing less drugs. I got so far in my life and career yet I am fried by prescriptions and yet people still judge me to the highest degree. I have extremely hard shoes to walk in. Try getting as far as I did high and fried. As commented by my boss, it is extremely difficult for a person to hide being as fried as I am and still succeed. Mind you I am 26 years old. Take that into consideration also.
I think this is someone coming to terms with the very bad things they've done and possibly are regretful and lamenting cause either they got away with them and are judging themselves (this is like a song to there own selves, inward reflecting), or they didn't get away with the bad things they've done and are being judged very harshly by those who realize what they've done and they're saying to them try spending time in my shoes and you'd see why I had to make those decisions and did the bad things I did.
This song is about infidelity. About betrayal in love. About not judging one's infidelity before you have been put in the same situations - lusting after someone who is not your lover. The human side we all possess and would just like to ignore.