So the suburbs were jungle
Did you mama make you eat it?
You were barely out of high school
When your daddy told you 'Beat It'

And repression was a buzzword
So you called yourself a victim
A victim of repression
This court is now in session

With a growl and a guitar
You made yourself a name
But the fire left the grooves
When the first check came

You've been bought
(Interests are conflicting)
You've been bought
(Chemical's addicting)

You've been bought
(What goes around, comes around)
You'll get caught
Get it while you're hot 'cause you know
You've been bought

Sold your bad reputation
For a deal in Tinseltown
Then the video rolls
Then the whip comes down

Did you slap around the ladies for the camera?
Do you slap them when the camera isn't there?
Those are lawyers telling you to look rebellious
Pulling strings when your fist goes in the air

This year's rock and roll messiah
Come to settle some old score
You can save that bad boy posturing
I've seen that sneer before

You've been bought
(A real heavy sweater?)
You've been bought
(Elvis did it better)

You've been bought
(What goes around, comes around)
You'll get caught
Get it while you're hot 'cause you know
You've been bought

South African promoters call
And you wonder if you should
But ideals fall like dominoes
When the money looks good

We don't need another manufactured rebel
We don't want your twisted doctrines of despair
If your music's saying nothing save it for the dentist chair

You've been bought
(Interests are conflicting)
You've been bought
(Chemical's addicting)

You've been bought
(What goes around, comes around)
You'll get caught
Get it while you're hot 'cause you know
You've been bought

You've been bought
You've been bought
You'll get caught
Get it while you're hot 'cause you know
You've been bought, hey