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 Wow, 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 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 What's that so say it again Wheelin' dealin' cheatin' stealin' just to stay alive I've 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 What's that so say it again You gotta be bad to be good Bad to be good You gotta be bad to be good 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 And the only law comes under the gun