Johnny wanted to be an image on the T.V.
Livin' it up in the city
Every night night on the town
He threw the dice down
Playin' it up to the crowd

When he sang to the company man
He got better with every line
When it came to the name of the game
Nobody was playing in time

Johnny you gotta get streetwise
Sha-la-la-la-la-la
Johnny you gotta get streetwise
Sha-la-la-la-la-la

Johnny always wanted to be a pretender
Signing a deal to forever
Playing all night
But it wouldn't come right
He just couldn't get it together

Shooting up with the rest of the band
In the room of a lost motel
Is it gonna get better tomorrow?
Well Johnny, you never can tell

Johnny you gotta get streetwise
Sha-la-la-la-la-la
Johnny you gotta get streetwise
Sha-la-la-la-la-la