In every neighborhood there is bad and good   Money's tight, prices overblown   They sell ecstasy here on avenue B   One way ticket to the combat zone      The streets are fast and tough and if you're tough enough   Chances are you can make it on your own   Life on overdrive, you could learn to survive   Livin' life in the combat zone      Keep your ear to the ground   Keep your shoulder to the wheel   Keep your finger on the pulse   And you can make it      Keep your eye on the dice   Keep your back to the wall   One step ahead of the game   And you can make it      Here is the place, now is the time   It's up to you   (Get ready now)   You better be on your guard   Sometimes you're blind, you carry on   (Business as usual)   How can we be so hard?      You can run away or, you can choose to stay   Either way, life can chill you to the bone   You know that golden rule, don't be nobody's fool   Play it cool, in the combat zone      Keep your ear to the ground   Keep your shoulder to the wheel   Keep your finger on the pulse   And you can make it      Keep your eye on the dice   Keep your back to the wall   One step ahead of the game   And you can make it      Watch what you say, watch what you do   It's up to you   (Get ready now)   They'll take you for a ride      Before you're bought and sold   Get it up, get it under control   (Get ready now)   There's nowhere you can hide      Keep your ear to the ground   Keep your shoulder to the wheel   Keep your finger on the pulse   And you can make it      Keep your eye on the dice   Keep your back to the wall   One step ahead of the game   And you can make it      Can't people understand there's a world at your command   Can't we trust one another?   What does it take to make you see   We share one destiny and nothing lasts forever      Higher, this could be the vision   That we've both been dreamin' of   Higher, and so much brighter   Than the stars that shine above