Wanted Dead or Alive (live CMT Crossroads)

Wanted Dead or Alive
Bon Jovi & Sugarland Lyrics

I'm a cowboy
On a steel horse I ride
I'm wanted dead or alive

Sometimes I sleep, sometimes it's not for days
The people I meet always go their separate ways
Sometimes you tell the day by the bottle that you drink
And times when you're alone, well, all you do is think

I'm a cowboy
On a steel horse I ride
I'm wanted (wanted), dead or alive
Wanted (wanted), dead or alive

Oh, and I ride
Yeah

Oh, I'm a cowboy
On a steel horse I ride
I'm wanted (wanted), dead or alive

And I walk these streets, a loaded six-string on my back
I play for keeps 'cause I might not make it back
I've been everywhere, still I'm standing tall
I've seen a million faces and I've rocked them all

'Cause I'm a cowboy
On a steel horse I ride
I'm wanted (wanted), dead or alive
'Cause I'm a cowboy
I got the night on my side
And I'm wanted (wanted), dead or alive
And I ride (and I ride), dead or alive
I still drive (I still drive), dead or alive
Dead or alive
Dead or alive

Dead or alive
Dead or alive

The lyrics to Bon Jovi’s “Wanted Dead or Alive” speak to the romanticized image of the outlaw, a lone ranger who roams the land with nothing but a guitar and a thirst for adventure. The first verse sets the scene for the song, with the idea that the singer is a wandering soul who is stuck in a world where everything is the same – much like the life of a nomad, where they live in a repetitive cycle. The line ‘Every day, it seems we're wastin' away’ suggests a life of meaningless and purposelessness. The second verse details the loneliness that comes with the outlaw lifestyle, with the people the singer meets always leaving and the bottle being a constant companion. The chorus ‘I'm a cowboy, on a steel horse I ride’ is a metaphor for the singer’s guitar, and this likening himself to a cowboy on a motorcycle is perhaps an extension of the Wild West outlaw persona.

The last verse tells of the singer’s triumphs as a musical outlaw, claiming to have been ‘everywhere’ and ‘seen a million faces and rocked them all’. This suggests that the life of the outlaw isn’t always a sad and lonely one but can be a thrilling adventure. Throughout the song, the chorus repeats with the words ‘Wanted dead or alive’, a phrase that speaks to the idea of the outlaw being a target of the law – where it feels like the only options are to either die or to carry on living their life as a rebel. Ultimately, the lyrics of “Wanted Dead or Alive” relate to the idea of freedom, where the life of an outlaw is one that is independent and free from the constraints of society.

It's all the same, only the names will change
Despite the different names, everything is essentially the same.

Every day, it seems we're wastin' away
Every day, it feels like we are losing little pieces of ourselves.

Another place where the faces are so cold
Yet another location where the people are distant and disconnected.

I'd drive all night just to get back home
I would go to any lengths, even if it means driving through the night, to return to the comfort of my own home.

I'm a cowboy
I am a wanderer and an outsider.

On a steel horse I ride
I travel on a motorcycle, which is my only means of escaping the mundane.

I'm wanted dead or alive
I am constantly being pursued, either figuratively or literally.

Sometimes I sleep, sometimes it's not for days
Occasionally I rest, but at times I am awake for days on end.

The people I meet always go their separate ways
The individuals I interact with always end up living their separate lives.

Sometimes you tell the day by the bottle that you drink
On certain days, the only way to track the time is by how often you turn to alcohol.

And times when you're alone, well, all you do is think
When you find yourself by yourself, all you can do is reflect and contemplate.

'Cause I'm a cowboy
As a wanderer, I am a cowboy.

I got the night on my side
The nocturnal hours are when I feel most alive and free.

And I walk these streets, a loaded six-string on my back
I wander around with a guitar on my back, keeping it close and ready for whenever inspiration strikes.

I play for keeps 'cause I might not make it back
I perform with urgency because my future is uncertain and my life is always at risk.

I've been everywhere, still I'm standing tall
Although I've traveled far and wide, I have remained resolute and unbroken.

I've seen a million faces and I've rocked them all
I have performed in front of countless people and have succeeded in thrilling them all.

And I ride (and I ride), dead or alive
Whether I am alive or dead, I will continue to travel on.

I still drive (I still drive), dead or alive
Even if I am not alive, I will still find a way to continue driving forward.

Dead or alive
No matter what state I am in, I will not give up.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Jon Bon Jovi, Richard S Sambora

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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