DEAD OR ALIVE
Tom Cruise Lyrics

It's all the same, only the names will change
Life is filled with repetition and monotony, only the specific details differ from one experience to the next.

Everyday it seems we're wasting away
Time continues to pass without significant progress or accomplishment.

Another place where the faces are so cold
The people in this new environment are unfriendly and unwelcoming.

I'd drive all night / Just to get back home
Home is a comforting and familiar place, worth great effort to return to after being away.

I'm a cowboy, on a steel horse I ride / I'm wanted dead or alive / Wanted dead or alive
The singer identifies with the iconic American symbol of a cowboy, and feels that he is constantly in danger and on the run from something.

Sometimes I sleep, sometimes it's not for days / And people I meet always go their separate ways
The singer's lifestyle is unpredictable and often leaves him isolated, as others come and go from his life with little continuity or longevity.

Sometimes you tell the day / By the bottle that you drink / And times when you're all alone all you do is think
The singer has a tendency to rely on alcohol to cope with difficult circumstances or to feel some semblance of control in his life, which can only go so far in easing his loneliness and anxiety.

I walk these streets, a loaded six string on my back / I play for keeps, 'cause I might not make it back / I been everywhere, still I'm standing tall / I've seen a million faces / And I've rocked them all
The singer is a skilled musician who puts his all into every performance, even as he recognizes the danger and uncertainty of his lifestyle. However, he has already proven himself time and time again, and feels confident in his ability to succeed in the face of any adversity.

I'm a cowboy, on a steel horse I ride / I'm wanted dead or alive
The singer once again identifies with the cowboy archetype, and continues to feel ambivalent about his status as a fugitive from the law and from a life of stability.

I'm a cowboy, I got the night on my side / I'm wanted dead or alive / Wanted dead or alive
The singer is at his strongest and most capable during the night, but is always on the run and in danger, never able to fully relax or feel secure.