The Outlaw Torn Lyrics Meaning

This could be about James' father who abandoned him at an early age. James has mentioned that this has impacted his life tremendously.

His father died in 1996, the same year this song came out, so it could be about James dealing with his death and with abandonment all over again.

"And now I wait my whole lifetime for you"

James has waited his entire life for his dad to return to him. When he finally does, he leaves again (by death).

"I ride the dirt, I ride the tide for you
I search the outside, search inside for you"

James never had a father figure, so he had to teach himself how to be a man. He searches inside for it.

"To take back what you left me
I know I’ll always burn to be
The one who seeks so I may find
And now I wait my whole lifetime"

His father has left him again and he's completely shattered by it. He'll always long for a father that he'll never have.

"Outlaw of torn
Outlaw of torn
And I’m torn"

James is obviously emotionally torn by this.

"The more I search, the more my need for you
The more I bless, the more I bleed for you"

James is suffering from the loss. He needs his dad but he's not here anymore.

"You make me smash the clock and feel
I’d rather die behind the wheel"

James doesn't like showing his emotions or even feeling them at all, but his dad makes him do that. He'd rather die than to feel.

"Time was never on my side
So on I wait my whole life time"

James never had time on his side. His mother died when he was thirteen and his father left him. He's always been waiting, and he'll wait for the rest of his life.

"Hear me
And if I close my mind in fear
Please pry it open
See me
And if my face becomes sincere
Beware
Hold me
And when I start to come undone
Stitch me together
Save me
And when you see me strut
Remind me of what left this outlaw torn"

I believe he's singing this part to his wife. Telling her to don't let him be a wreck like he used to be throughout his life.

This is just my interpretation, so I could obviously be way wrong.