☝️ Key Points
- The song is about a man who is on the run from the law.
- He is wanted in different cities and states.
- It is mentioned that various women are looking for him.
- The lyrics include examples of the places where the protagonist made stops during his escape.
- The song conveys the feeling of constant danger and tension that the protagonist experiences.
Interpretation
The lyrics of the song "Wanted Man" by
Johnny Cash tell the story of a man who is on the run from the law. He is wanted in different cities and states, such as California, Buffalo, Kansas City, and Ohio. Wherever you look, you could see this wanted man.
The protagonist of the song reveals to us that he may be working in Colorado or Georgia, but nobody knows who he really is. If someone recognizes him, they should not tell anyone, because he is on the run.
It is also mentioned that various women, like Lucy Watson, Jeannie Brown, and Nellie Johnson, are looking for him. The protagonist has had enough of many things, even more than he needed, and some things have turned out to be bad.
The lyrics also include examples of places where the protagonist made stops during his escape, such as El Paso, Pleura, Shreveport, and Abilene. He wonders why he is wanted in any city that is roughly in the middle.
The song ends by saying that he is still wanted by the police, no matter which city or state he is in. He could be discovered anywhere if you look closely.
The lyrics address the theme of fleeing from the law and living on the streets. Johnny Cash expresses the story of the wanted man with his distinctive voice and the classic country sound. The lyrics convey the tension and feeling of constant danger that the protagonist experiences as he repeatedly flees from the authorities.