Lyrical lines of the song “Outlaw (Don’t Waste Your Time)” by J MICHAELS & THE WANNA-BE-A BAND give the vivid impression of the life of danger, of isolation, of much fate. J Michaels creates the rough character of life outside, living the life of the outlaw for whom the price has been set. The four minutes of the song observe the words speak of the issues of passion, of sacrifice, of the rough edges of life outside the borders of the law.

J Michaels relays intense emotions through the expression of the dilemma of the outlaw desiring affection but not being able to give it back as it would do harmful effects. The lyrics of the song express the tone of the man discovering the life he lives will inflict injury upon the people he loves. The message of not wasting time loving him touches upon the realization of the injury the life of the outlaw does to personal relationships. It has a delicate tone more than the rougher personality of the outlaw.

This is a brief but compelling narrative, as the language stays simple and the listener can easily sympathize with the character’s inner struggle. The imagery, for instance surrounded by a posse or dying young, brings the audience into the scene as it becomes concrete and immediate. J Michaels also does a good job of relaying shame and wanting, particularly as he criticizes himself for believing he would be unable to love. It gives more depth of emotion to the track and makes the character more human as the listener can more easily sympathize.

Overall, the lyrics attain the balance of the toughness of the life of the outlaw and the richness of the human emotion. J Michaels does the drama as well as the emotion of the tale, so “Outlaw (Don’t Waste Your Time)” becomes a song that does something multi-dimensional. The lyrics break through the authenticity as much as the ability of the interspersed storytelling and emotion sentiment.