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 it

You'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 learn



Chorus:

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 night



When 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 truth



If you got nine lives you might survive

Cause nothing's free on the other side



Chorus



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 lights



One step from hell

The poor men sell their soul

for a taste of wine



Chorus



When it's said and done

and you're on the run

And the only law comes under the gun