ðə sˈɔŋz tˈaɪɾəl pˈeɪz hˈɑːmɪdʒ tə dʒˈɑːnz ˌædmɚɹˈeɪʃən fɔːɹ ˈoʊld wˈɛst hˈiəɹoʊz, ænd hˌaʊ hiː aɪdˈɛntᵻfˌaɪz wɪð ðˌɛm æz bˌiːɪŋ hˈeɪɾᵻd ænd lˈʌvd æt ðə sˈeɪm tˈaɪm"wˈɔntᵻd dˈɛd ɔːɹ ɐlˈaɪv", sˌoʊ tə spˈiːk.
The song's title pays homage to Jon's admiration for Old West heroes, and how he identifies with them as being hated and loved at the same time ("wanted dead or alive", so to speak).