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