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
Kick it

You're dancing in fire, baby
When you're takin' it to the streets, yeah, to the streets
Better watch your back, baby
Better be fast on your feet, yes, on your feet

'Cause they're wheelin', dealin', cheatin', stealin'
Child, you're gonna learn

You gotta be bad to be good
If you know what I'm talkin' about
What's that?
So 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

Bad to be good
If you know what I'm talkin' about
What's that?
So say it again
You gotta be bad to be good
If you know what I'm talkin' about
Now what's that?
Oh, na-na, say it again

Wheelin', dealin', cheatin', stealin'
Just to stay alive

I 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

You gotta be bad to be good
If you know what I'm talkin' about
What's that?
So say it again
You gotta be bad to be good
If you know what I'm talkin' about
Now what's that?
Oh, na-na, say it again
Bad to be good
B-b-b-bad, b-b-b-bad
You gotta be bad to be good
B-b-b-b-bad, oh yeah
Bad to be good
You gotta be bad to be good
What's that? So say it again

When it's said and done and you're on the run
The only law comes under the gun