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