basically, she wants to be a much better person than she feels she is. she makes the effort but isnt able to overcome her urges nd thoughts. when she is telling who shes singing to to prey nd bring the virgin home for luck,nd the bolted door nd whatever, shes trying to say RUN without saying it. she knows shes no good for herself nd she doesnt want to bring this person under with her, but she wants to change for the better nd become a little more like this person. in a sence, she uses the person to wrap her mind around something so she can try nd salvage whats left of her self esteem, but all the same in the process breaking it down lower. she knows it isnt going to last nd she doesnt want to be alone so she suppresses whatever shes feeling to her partner nd acts like everythings alright, even when she knows its falling to pieces because she cant control herself, much less the situation. when it all wraps up, shes lost her man, nd she knows theres nothing left to back to. shes right back in the same depressing hole she was to begin with, without hope, nd not knowing what to do other than try.

its a vicious cycle.

She's spent a lot of her life trying to be good, tring to mend her wicked ways, but she just doesn't seem to be able to be good. She tries really hard, but she just keeps going bad. She's even surprised herself by some of the things she's done (done things I never thought I'd do). It helps to be with this guy, but she's afraid of corrupting him. So she tells him to hold on to religion and being good so that she won't turn him wicked (Clutch your pictures of the pope...etc). At the same time, she tries to persuade him to stay with her (Come on, Sugar, let's go out tonight) because, when he leaves, she's miserable (That sinking feeling, when you are leaving...). She's accepted herself as a bad person, but she hasn't given up on him. She's trying to be with him and save him from herself at the same time.

"A little time and I'll be all right
C'mon sugar let's go out tonight"

She wants to party with you but knows her "Wicked Ways" will inevitably corrupt you, hence the warnings to stay true to your (religious) morals.

That's weird that no one has posted on this, i don't like the beginning beat of this song, it's like weirdly cowboyish, but the ending is so great. i'm not so sure as to what this means:
Clutch your pictures of the Pope
Pray to God for love and hope
Bring the Virgin home for luck
Bolt the door down, keep it shut

How does this song have no comments? Its one of their best. For some strange reason, its fun to dance along to.