The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
It's all the same, only the names will change
Every day, it seems we're wastin' away
Another place where the faces are so cold
I'd drive all night just to get back home
I'm a cowboy
On a steel horse I ride
I'm wanted dead or alive
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
Every day, it seems we're wastin' away
Another place where the faces are so cold
I'd drive all night just to get back home
I'm a cowboy
On a steel horse I ride
I'm wanted dead or alive
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
Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae
Wanted Dead Or Alive Lyrics as written by Richard S Sambora Jon Bon Jovi
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Well this song is a pretty clear cut. Its a parallel between Bon Jovi's live on the road and that of an out law cowboy.
Point 1: The first line says "Its all the same, only the names have changed." Thats about how they used to be called outlaw cowboys and now they're rock stars.
Point 2: "Im a cowboy, on a steel horse I ride. Wanted dead or alive." This is just restating the parallel he is about to illustrate. Outlaws used to ride horses. Now the bad boy image is a guy on a bike. Plus a steel horse is obviously a motorcycle thats totally obvious.
Point 3: "Sometimes I sleep, sometimes it's not for days." Thats is showing how both rock stars and outlaws get little to no sleep because of their schedules/activities.
Point 4:"Sometimes you tell the day by the bottle you drink." You drink what appropriate for what youre doing. A beer if youre relaxing and not needing your basic motor skills(shooting or playing guitar) or water if you cant relax.
Point 5:"I walk the streets with a loaded six string on my back" That is merging the tow independent identities of a rockstar and outlaw into one. The six string is obviously a guitar but the fact that its "loaded" means that its some what like a six shooter.
Point 6: "Ive seen a million faces" is a reference to the fact that both rockstars and outlaws travel alot and meet many different people. One sings songs and rocks them with music the other takes their money and i suppose "rocks" their normal lives.
I think you may be right...
interesting theory... <br />
I like this interpertation its different and makes you think, however in the documentry "When We Were Beautiful" Jon and Richie cleary state that the song was writen about touring and life on the road.
This is just one kick-ass tune. If I am not mistaken, it's about the band's life on the road, incessantly touring as BJ is known for doing, and the trials and tribulation therof. THE quintessential song from this band, in my mind anyway......
Huh huh...huh huh...BJ.
nope, its the tour bus. been confirmed over and over =)
Awesome song. My steel horse is my '65 Mustang, and I always listen to this while cruising down the highway, with my windows open.
carljenk I'm calling BS...go back and listen to this, and Call of Ktulu again. There are NO similarities.
I am using this song to teach the Hero's quest in my GT class tomorrow, but one that I always puzzled me was the title.. CLearly, they are not wanted like the outlaws from back in the day, so what does that title mean?
you are correct jules, it is mostly about the bands life on the road. "A loaded six string on my back," refers to his six string guitar, and the million faces that he has rocked are of all the fans going to the concerts. This is a song that should be played loud in your cars, just blasting.
"steal horse i ride" means the tour bus :-D
i know this song is about touring but this is wat i think when i hear it. more just a couple of outlaws just ridin the highways on their hogs, being the steel horse. Think about it, its a thing between your legs pounding at speed, and it aint a hooker. The solo evens sounds like a hog sometimes.
The ultimate outlaw riding song. Its beautiful
FYI - Jon Bon Jovi hosted Saturday Night Live this weekend (Oct. 13th), and he specifically said the steel horse is his tour bus!
Well this song is a pretty clear cut. Its a parallel between Bon Jovi's live on the road and that of an out law cowboy. <br /> <br /> Point 1: The first line says "Its all the same, only the names have changed." Thats about how they used to be called outlaw cowboys and now they're rock stars.<br /> <br /> Point 2: "Im a cowboy, on a steel horse I ride. Wanted dead or alive." This is just restating the parallel he is about to illustrate. Outlaws used to ride horses. Now the bad boy image is a guy on a bike. Plus a steel horse is obviously a motorcycle thats totally obvious.<br /> <br /> Point 3: "Sometimes I sleep, sometimes it's not for days." Thats is showing how both rock stars and outlaws get little to no sleep because of their schedules/activities.<br /> <br /> Point 4:"Sometimes you tell the day by the bottle you drink." You drink what appropriate for what youre doing. A beer if youre relaxing and not needing your basic motor skills(shooting or playing guitar) or water if you cant relax.<br /> <br /> Point 5:"I walk the streets with a loaded six string on my back" That is merging the tow independent identities of a rockstar and outlaw into one. The six string is obviously a guitar but the fact that its "loaded" means that its some what like a six shooter.<br /> <br /> Point 6: "Ive seen a million faces" is a reference to the fact that both rockstars and outlaws travel alot and meet many different people. One sings songs and rocks them with music the other takes their money and i suppose "rocks" their normal lives.
I think that the steel horse is a motorcycle, and the song is about a biker. Either that or its about traveling on tour.
Well this song is a pretty clear cut. Its a parallel between Bon Jovi's live on the road and that of an out law cowboy. <br /> <br /> Point 1: The first line says "Its all the same, only the names have changed." Thats about how they used to be called outlaw cowboys and now they're rock stars.<br /> <br /> Point 2: "Im a cowboy, on a steel horse I ride. Wanted dead or alive." This is just restating the parallel he is about to illustrate. Outlaws used to ride horses. Now the bad boy image is a guy on a bike. Plus a steel horse is obviously a motorcycle thats totally obvious.<br /> <br /> Point 3: "Sometimes I sleep, sometimes it's not for days." Thats is showing how both rock stars and outlaws get little to no sleep because of their schedules/activities.<br /> <br /> Point 4:"Sometimes you tell the day by the bottle you drink." You drink what appropriate for what youre doing. A beer if youre relaxing and not needing your basic motor skills(shooting or playing guitar) or water if you cant relax.<br /> <br /> Point 5:"I walk the streets with a loaded six string on my back" That is merging the tow independent identities of a rockstar and outlaw into one. The six string is obviously a guitar but the fact that its "loaded" means that its some what like a six shooter.<br /> <br /> Point 6: "Ive seen a million faces" is a reference to the fact that both rockstars and outlaws travel alot and meet many different people. One sings songs and rocks them with music the other takes their money and i suppose "rocks" their normal lives.
This song can also be used to describe a fisherman's life minus the millions and guitars and fans, some trips we sail all night to get back home. I love listening to this song on the rough days when its windy and its the perfect song for deadliest catch.