There's an alley cat slowly walkin' down a dirty street
Watching a cop on the take marching to his city beat
You got five fingers Johnny stealing everything in sight
You gotta be bad to be good in the dead of the night
Wowowow, kick itYou're dancing in fire, baby
When you're takin' it to the streets
Yeah to the streets
Baby better be better watch your back
Fast on your feet
Cause they're wheelin' dealin'
Cheatin' stealin'
Child you're gonna learnChorus:
You gotta be bad to be good
If you know what I'm talkin' about
What's that
So I say it again
You gotta be bad to be good
In the dead of the nightWhen you got nothin' baby
You got nothin' to lose, nothin' to lose
It's an eye for an eye baby
And a tooth for a tooth, ain't it the truthIf you got nine lives you might survive
Cause nothing's free on the other sideChorus
Wheelin' dealin' cheatin' stealin'
Just to stay alive
They got love for sale, yes for sale
On the New York subway line
Watch the working girls hanging out
Turning tricks underneath the lights,
Oh the lightsOne step from hell
The poor men sell their soul
for a taste of wineChorusWhen it's said and done
and you're on the run
And the only law comes under the gun