DEAD OR ALIVE
Spencer Hill ft. Toni Nielson Lyrics
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Try to aim for my heart
But you'll miss
You knew from the start
I ain't no walk in the park
Yes you did
Tell 'em to aim for my heart
But they'll miss
You say you go hard, huh
Well I ain't feelin it
I'm wanted dead or alive
'Cuz there's a price tag on my life
No one's gonna take my heart from me
No one's gonna take my heart from me
Looks like I'm wanted dead or alive
I'm wanted D.O.A.
The X marks the spot
And the target's my heart
Try to hit
You reshuffle the cards
But I still come out on top
This is it
An undercover cop
But you revealed who you are
Yes you did, oh
You say you go hard, huh
But I'm not feelin it, oh
The opening verse of "Dead Or Alive" by Spencer Hill ft. Toni Nielson is someone boldly asserting their unflinching strength and resilience against their enemies. They describe themselves as "a shot in the dark," someone who is not easily penetrable, and therefore their opponents will surely miss when they try to strike them. The singer assumes that her enemies have ill intentions towards her ("try to aim for my heart"), but that they will not be able to fulfill them. They go on to describe themselves as a formidable foe, someone who is not a "walk in the park," and impervious to attackers' attempts to take them down.
In the second verse, the singer retells the same message in a different way. They describe themselves as a person with a price tag on their head, but they refuse to be taken down by anyone who comes after them. They reiterate that they will never let anyone take their heart - a metaphor for their courage and fighting spirit. The songwriter then likens themselves to a treasure with an 'X' marking the spot, again emphasizing that they are hard to conquer. They seem to know that their opposition includes people they perceive to be undercover cops or spies, but they are not worried and proclaim that they still come out on top.
Overall, "Dead Or Alive" is a song about standing firmly in one's ground against any negative forces that may be working against them. The lyrics are written in a style reminiscent of old western films where the singer is always wanted dead or alive- to be brought to justice, but the twist here is that the singer is not going to be caught or taken down - they are going to fight.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a shot in the dark
I may be difficult to find or my true intentions may be unclear
Try to aim for my heart
You're trying to attack me at my core
But you'll miss
Your attempt won't succeed
You knew from the start
You've known all along
I ain't no walk in the park
I'm not an easy person to deal with
Yes you did
It's true
You can call in the guards
You can bring in reinforcements if you want
Tell 'em to aim for my heart
Instruct them to strike me at my core
But they'll miss
But they won't succeed
You say you go hard, huh
You claim to be tough
Well I ain't feelin it
But I don't perceive it
I'm wanted dead or alive
There's a reward for capturing or killing me
'Cuz there's a price tag on my life
Someone is willing to pay for that reward
No one's gonna take my heart from me
No one will be able to defeat me completely
Looks like I'm wanted dead or alive
It seems I'm being actively pursued
I'm wanted D.O.A.
I'm wanted dead on arrival
The X marks the spot
The location of my vulnerability is clear
And the target's my heart
My core is your intended target
Try to hit
Try to attack me
You reshuffle the cards
You try something new
But I still come out on top
But I ultimately prevail
This is it
This is the crucial moment
An undercover cop
You were hiding something
But you revealed who you are
You've been exposed
Yes you did, oh
It's true
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Y, BUFFY SAINTE MARIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind