nadiacoyle November 13th, 2007 03:57PM  
You've got it so wrong- remember after new jersey how the band nearly split up- they had nothing more to say to each other after all those packed in tour buses and living out of each other's pockets- well jon said that was what the song was about and the first persons "steel horse" metaphor is right jon said it himself- and wanted dead or alive comes into it because jon said that in the time of slippery when wet and new jersey he literally felt he was wanted dead or alive- that he was killing himself touring at the pace they where- that people- fans, critics, producers- didn't care as long as they got their show

closer August 30th, 2008 08:37PM  
This song is all about life as a touring rock band, the whole "cowboy" theme is just a metaphor, Jon Bon Jovi has always been a fan of the old western heroes, and was able to see a link between his life as a rock star, and the cowboy's life he was so inspired by.

songinterpreter95 May 9th, 2009 10:48PM  
My thought is that he is a convict wanted dead or alive, hence the name. And his steel horse is his runaway car.