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I'm a Wanted Man
Royal Deluxe Lyrics


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They didn't know it when they turned me loose
I shot the sheriff and I slipped the noose
The law ain't never been a friend of mine
I would kill again to keep from doing time
You should never ever trust my kind

I'm a wanted man
I got blood on my hands
Do you understand
I'm a wanted man




I took the pistol and I shot out all the lights
I started running in the middle of the night
The law ain't never been a friend of mine
I would kill again to keep from doing time
You should never ever trust my kind

I'm a wanted man
I got blood on my hands
Do you understand
I'm a wanted man

I'm a wanted man
I got blood on my hands
Do you understand
I'm a wanted man

If you ask me to change
I don't know, if I can
I'll always be, who I am

I'm a wanted man
I got blood on my hands
Do you understand
I'm a wanted man

I'm a wanted man
I got blood on my hands
Do you understand
I'm a wanted man
I'm a wanted man
I'm a wanted man
Do you understand
I'm a wanted man

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "I'm a Wanted Man" by Royal Deluxe depict a person who has committed a serious crime, likely murder, and is now on the run from the law. The first lines of the song, "They didn't know it when they turned me loose, I shot the sheriff and I slipped the noose," suggest that the singer has already escaped punishment for his crime and is still evading capture. The following lines emphasize the character's disdain for the law, stating that it has never been a friend and that he is willing to kill again to keep from being arrested.


The chorus of the song, which repeats throughout, declares that the singer is a wanted man with blood on his hands. This statement reinforces the idea that he has committed a violent crime, and suggests that he feels remorse for what he has done. However, he also expresses that he may not be capable of changing who he is, even if he wanted to.


Overall, "I'm a Wanted Man" is a dark and intense song that explores themes of crime, punishment, and identity. The singer is a complex and conflicted character, torn between his desire to escape justice and his guilt for the actions he has taken. The lyrics and driving beat of the song combine to create a sense of urgency and danger, emphasizing the seriousness of the character's situation and the gravity of his past deeds.


Line by Line Meaning

They didn't know it when they turned me loose
I was released from prison and they didn't even realize I had already killed the sheriff and escaped.


I shot the sheriff and I slipped the noose
I killed the sheriff and was about to be executed for it, but I managed to escape the noose.


The law ain't never been a friend of mine
I've always been on the wrong side of the law, and it's never done me any favors.


I would kill again to keep from doing time
I'm not afraid to kill again if it means I won't have to go back to prison.


You should never ever trust my kind
People like me are dangerous and can't be trusted.


I'm a wanted man
The law is after me and I'm on the run.


I got blood on my hands
I've killed before and I'm not afraid to do it again.


Do you understand
Do you realize the severity of my situation?


I took the pistol and I shot out all the lights
I sabotaged the scene of my crime by shooting out all the lights.


I started running in the middle of the night
I fled into the darkness of the night to avoid being caught.


If you ask me to change
If you expect me to reform my ways,


I don't know, if I can
I'm not sure if I'm capable of changing.


I'll always be, who I am
I'm a criminal and that's never going to change.




Contributed by Luke C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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