Wanted Dead Or Alive

Album: Slippery When Wet (1986)
Charted: 13 7
Play Video
  • 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 Writer/s: Jon Bon Jovi, Richard S Sambora
    Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 26

  • Pattie G. from IdahoTo all you saying it is a motorcycle you are very much incorrect !!!!!! Jon has stated in interviews STEEL HORSE is the TOUR BUS. The song is about life on the road touring.
  • Lastvmax from Portugal, France, Switzerland, ThailandI didn't hear any of the band's music (still wondering why...) until I got this tune out of a SOA episode. I feel that the song's tone and the 'steel horse' mentioned suit perfectly this wonderful series. One of the very major hits in my best of the best 'petrolhead - road ventures - driving - biking' music.
  • Penton Silverwheel from Birmingham, UkIt just has this epic, cinematic feel. I guess that happens when you play with magic. Just as kick ass in 2021! Jon BJ is the guy. Although I have heard rumours it was originally a Colin Dent composition before ol' BJ slipped in when wet.
  • Unspecified from MarsThis is one of the best songs of the 80s easily!!! Also I was reading another one of the comments and teenagers just can be mean. He is REALLY nice now though, BELIEVE ME!!!!!
  • Shy G from Colorado@Helena Im surprised you know supernatural, im wrighting abt it and thats why im on here!
  • Helena from United KingdomI see the Supernatural fan girls are all over the place...lol..this song actually reminds me of an 80s movie of the same name "Wanted Dead or Alive" starring Rutger Hauer, who I'm kind of a fan girl for! i love that movie and Rutger, and I like Jon Bon Jovi and he was cute back in the day. Shame if he actually IS a dick IRL but I guess a lot of big stars are :(
  • Kaye Mosley from San AntonioMet the band during December 1989 when Jon was single. My bestie and I saw them in San Antonio and got invited to Houston to party with them! Boy was I Naive back then. Doc Magee was with them at the time and Jon's dad was on tour also-- ate supper at the Four Seasons with the band and entourage and then to Ricks Cabaret. Jon was more than nice--even commented that he must have rescued a bus load of Girl Scouts with how lucky he was.
  • Ivy from Springfield, NeI hate Jon Bon Jovi. My dad went to high school with him, and says he was a real dick. I can't help loving the music . . . I just don't like the guy personally from what I've heard. @ Caitlin down there- Did Chris Daughtry really do this? It must've been good. You know what's funny, the bands Daughtry and Bon Jovi are both named after their lead singers. (panda) i just realized that!
  • Jeffrey from Vancouver, WaThe "guitar part sounding like Led Zepplin" comment makes considerable sense, as Richie Sambora absolutely idolized Jimmy Page (Zep's Lead Guitarist) trying to emulate and even improve on riffs JP taught him.
  • Jesse from Dalhart, TxThe Discovery Channels' hit show "Deadliest Catch" brought back this 80's hit and continues to spread to generations of fans of both the show and the group!
  • Kassi from Rosenberg, TxIt sounded amazing when Dean Sangit on Supernatual (my favorite Tv show!)!!!
  • Jessica from Raleigh, NcI love this song, it's one of my favorites. But everytime I hear it, I think of the TV show Supernatural where on the finale for season 3 the two main characters, Sam and Dean Winchester, sing along with this song while driving. it's so hilarious and just made me love this song that much more!
  • Lee-ann from Perth, AustraliaThe "steel horse" in this song is definitely a tour bus. Jon has said so himself.
  • Hunter from Cincinnati, Oha steel horse is def. a reference to a motorcycle
  • Jessica from Oxford, United KingdomI love the guitar solo in this, almost as good as the dry county solo
  • Sarah from La, CaLOVE THIS SONG ( Jensen Ackles playing Dean Winchester on Supernatural Sings it way better. He sang it on the episode "No Rest For The Wicked" the season ending of the third season. His brother on the show Sam sang backup.) Bon sings it good too though
  • Camille from Toronto, OhMy husband said the "steel horse" is a motorcycle, not a tour bus.
  • Andrew from Birmingham, United StatesThis song sounds so easy and fun to play on my guitar. I'd like to learn how to play it. If I had a band, all of us members would probably be "Wanted Dead or Alive". Ha-ha.
  • Kevin from Pittsburgh, Pain the music video, a lot of the senses are from the city of Pittsburgh. like the inside the tunnel, coming out of the tunnel, when a bunch of people are behind glass door that was the mellon arena. thay are all fomr the city of Pittsburgh
  • Kelsi from I-town(ionia, Mithis is the theme song for "Deadlest Catch"
  • Caitlin from A City, NcAmerican Idol 5 contestant Chris Daughtry performed and recorded a version of Wanted Dead or Alive. His version can be found on the season's album.
  • Jennifer from Scarsdale, NyI Love Bon Jovi, This is probarly their song ever
  • Joe Bobson from Madrid, Spaingreat song witha great guitar solo. if only all songs were like this
  • Oscar from Stockholm, SwedenActually, Jon gained inspiration from Thin Lizzy's "Cowboy Song" when writing this song.
  • Magnus from Selfoss, IcelandThis is awesome solo in wanted or alive
  • Matt H. from Niantic, CtDoesn't the guitar part during the verses sound like Led Zeppelin's Thank you?
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