Released: April 9, 1994

Songwriter: Ashley Ingram Des’ree

Producer: Ashley Ingram

[Verse 1]
Listen as your day unfolds
Challenge what the future holds
Try to keep your head up to the sky
Lovers, they may cause you tears
Go ahead, release your fears
Stand up and be counted
Don't be ashamed to cry

[Chorus]
You gotta be bad, you gotta be bold, you gotta be wiser
You gotta be hard, you gotta be tough, you gotta be stronger
You gotta be cool, you gotta be calm, you gotta stay together
All I know, all I know, love will save the day

[Verse 2]
Herald what your mother said
Read the books your father read
Try to solve the puzzles in your own sweet time
Some may have more cash than you
Others take a different view
My oh my, hey, hey

[Chorus]
You gotta be bad, you gotta be bold, you gotta be wiser
You gotta be hard, you gotta be tough, you gotta be stronger
You gotta be cool, you gotta be calm, you gotta stay together
All I know, all I know, love will save the day

[Bridge]
Time asks no questions, it goes on without you
Leaving you behind if you can't stand the pace
The world keeps on spinning
You can't stop it, if you try to
This time it's danger staring you in the face, oh

[Verse 3]
Remember, listen as your day unfolds
Challenge what the future holds
Try and keep your head up to the sky
Lovers, they may cause you tears
Go ahead, release your fears
My oh my, hey hey

[Chorus]
You gotta be bad, you gotta be bold, you gotta be wiser
You gotta be hard, you gotta be tough, you gotta be stronger
You gotta be cool, you gotta be calm, you gotta stay together
All I know, all I know, love will save the day
You gotta be bad, you gotta be bold, you gotta be wiser
You gotta be hard, you gotta be tough, you gotta be stronger
You gotta be cool, you gotta be calm, you gotta stay together
All I know, all I know, love will save the day

[Outro]
Gotta be bold, gotta be bad
Gotta be wise, don't ever say
Gotta be hard, not too too hard
All I know is love will save the day
You gotta be bad, you gotta be bold, you gotta be wiser
You gotta be hard, you gotta be tough, you gotta be stronger
You gotta be cool, you gotta be calm, you gotta stay together
Yeah
You gotta be bad, you gotta be bold, you gotta be wiser
You gotta be hard, you gotta be tough, you gotta be stronger

Des’ree

Desirée Annette Weeks, known by her stage name as Des'ree, is a British R&B singer.

She started in 1991 (signed by Sony 550) with her debut single “Feel So High”. Her debut album Mind Adventures was released in 1992. It reached minor success worldwide (It reached the top thirty in the UK) and is certified silver in the UK. “You Gotta Be” was the lead single for Desirée and gained massive success. It hit the Billboard Hot 100 at number five and was huge in the UK.

Her second album I Ain’t Movin' was a win, being certified gold in multiple countries (UK, US, Australia, and New Zealand) and selling 2.5 million copies worldwide. In 1998, Des'ree made another hit; “Kissing You”. It peaked in the top ten and number one in multiple countries and earned her a Brit Award for British Female Solo Artist. She also released her third album Supernatural that year, which is now certified gold in the UK. After 1999, Des'ree dissapeared from the public.