They say you [bad word] home,
boy you been drivin' too fast
When you gonna shape up,
how long is this gonna last

You may be laughin' today,
but listen to some good advice
An' take a look at tomorrow
in a workin' man's weary eyes

You gotta pick a career,
go for the gold
Smile for the camera,
do what you're told
Well you can take away the ladder 'cos I ain't gonna climb it
If there's a stairway to heaven I swear I'm gonna find it

Well there are winners and outlaws and leaders and lovers
Behind every man in the news
And one thing I know is behind everyone
there's a boy who had nothin' to lose
Behind every man who has somethin' to say
There's a boy who had nothin' to prove

An' every hero was once,
every villain was once
just a boy with a bad attitude

Every hero was once,
every villain was once
just a boy with a bad attitude

She says you never call,
 [bad word] you're actin' so tough
You either hold me too tight,
or you don't hold me enough

Don't be afraid of me angel,
I ain't about to clip your wings
Just put your feet on the ground
and your arms around the real thing

You gotta love me for keeps,
feather the nest
Plan for the future,
an' gimme your best
Boy we're never gonna have a normal family life
Steamin' up and down the speedway on the back a' your bike

Well there are winners and outlaws and leaders and lovers
Behind every man in the news
And one thing I know is behind everyone
there's a boy who had nothin' to lose
Behind every man who has somethin' to say
There's a boy who had nothin' to prove

An' every hero was once,
every villain was once
just a boy with a bad attitude

Every hero was once,
every villain was once
just a boy with a bad attitude

Bad attitude, you got us tearin' our hair
Such a bad attitude, boy you just don't seem to care

We try to lay down [bad word]  but you were born to refuse
What's the world gonna do with a boy like you

You got it bad, you got a bad attitude

You try to lay down [bad word]  well I was born to refuse
What's the world gonna do with a man like you

You got a bad -
no, you got a bad,
you got a bad -
ooh, you got a bad
You got a bad -
no, you got a bad,

You got a bad attitude

Every hero was once,
every villain was once
just a boy with a bad attitude

Every hero was once,
every villain was once just a boy -

Well there are winners and outlaws and leaders and lovers
Behind every man in the news
And one thing I know is behind everyone
there's a boy who had nothin' to lose
Behind every man who has somethin' to say
There's a boy who had nothin' to prove

An' every hero was once,
every villain was once
just a boy with a bad attitude

Every hero was once,
every villain was once
just a boy with a bad attitude

Oh, you got a bad,
ooh, you got a bad,
oh, you got a bad attitude

No, you got a bad,
you got a bad,
you got a bad attitude
 

P. Jacobs / S. Durkee, 1984