Lyric discussion by originl 

Cover art for Badlands lyrics by Bruce Springsteen

It's saying that world won't waste any time getting you down if you let it, SO DON'T LET IT!

He talks about the way people are never happy/satisfied in life, how they let things get them down, but "it ain't no sin to be glad you're alive"

Bruce is the fuckin man

Yeah, that line: ain't no sin to be glad you're alive is tremendous!

@originl

Yes for me the three central lines in this song is, that no matter what these Badlands are doing to get you, "You gotta live it everyday", "Spit it in the face" , "it ain't no sin to be glad you're alive"