When in Rome

Lyrics

In the fire blue forests faded and forgotten
I crawled through the cotton fields picking for cotton
The overseer sneered
His whipping was rotten with ecstasy
In childlike terror, I tore at the tap roots
The cards of the lash were calling to follow suit
I dashed for the swamps; the hounds in hot pursuit, jealously
All through the night a figure of fright as I hid my head
And they buried their nose in a cut of my clothes, now torn in shreds
And they never would leave until they believed that I was dead
But I'd never curse their names
Oh, who am I to blame?
I know I'd do the same, endlessly

Chorus:
And all the highborn ladies, so lovely and so true, have been handed to the soldiers
When in Rome, do as the Romans do

Frail and afraid in the mists of the morning
The snakes and the spiders were sadly performing
The bark of the dogs kept up the warning inside the wood
Sweating and swearing, I crawled from the manger
The highway appeared to take me from danger
Is there anyone here who would pick up a stranger
I wish they could
Then someone replied, "Would you like a ride, come in," he said
We drove for a while; he gave me a smile and a piece of bread
The hammer was hard in the chrome of the car as I cracked his head
And we took off in a spin, I smashed his skull again
Thank you, my good friend, I feel so good

Chorus

Late in the evening, I came to the city
I fell to the sidewalk sighing for pity
A diamon was dropped from the hands of the pretty to be so kind
Cowards and corpses were busy competing
The rhymes of the riots were busy repeating
I raced to the corner and sped from the speeding
To save my mind
Latches and locks and companies of cops hid from the rain
There was silk in the stores for the whims of the whores
That shone with shame
I asked for a light from a priest in the night, then I fanned the flames
And the traffic all stood still to see if some had been killed
I was glad to leave a thrill so far behind

Chorus

A monk and his mother were dancing so dandy
The topless nun was handing out candy
The beautiful bishop broke out the brandy--the kiss we craved
They stuttered and stammered, "Would I feel like staying?"
We fell to our knees feverishly praying
The salt in the saltpeter seemed to be saying
"Be brave, be brave"
I reached for a robe, I preached and I probed, and I taught the tomb
Though greed for the guilt was played to the hilt as I promised doom
I toyed with their fears till coins and tears filled the room
Then I took off down the road, laughing madly like a toad
God bless every soulless soul that would be saved

Chorus

A chorus of children were passing the hours
I joined in their fun and gave them my flowers covered with kisses
And showered with showers that they repaid
Taken and trusting, would I be their teacher
She looked so appealing, I wanted to touch her
Just out of reach unable to reach her
Their hands were raised
Charmed by the chalk the lessons were taught inside the class
They studied the rules of the samurai schools they had to pass
The lessons were learned, the room was adjourned, I turned on the gas
And I watched them make their pleas
They passed the test with ease
I gave them their degrees they made the grade

Chorus

Feeling my weakness a coward for company
I joined the ranks of the hot and the hungry
To teach what it means to have love for your country
We marched away
We lowered our lives for the lines of the border
We danced with the mothers and played with the daughters
We followed our fantasies following orders
It was child's play
After the war the bullets were bored so we kept the game
With cynical smiles we put them on trial to place the blame
Now what kind of beast would love such a feast
Have you no shame?
So we hung them by the feet
Oh! We shot them in the street
Yes, the victory was sweet on victory day

Chorus

The bread and the circuses came to be nearing the savior or
Somebody must be appearing
Pagans and pageants were all disappearing, inside my head
The stones on the statues were staring and stalling
Caesar and Cassius were cursing and calling
The empire had risen, and now it was falling
Or so it seemed
The crown and the cross seemed empty and lost in dark despair
And luminous lies and death in disguise were everywhere
The canvas was cold, the story was old, I said my prayers
Then I crowned him on the head
Oh! I blessed him as he bled
Oh! At last the King is dead
God save the Queen

Chorus

Now nothing remained for building or burning
The losing of lovers was all I was learning
A time for escape and a time for returning had come to me
Back through the ashes and back through the embers
Back through the roads and the ruins I remembered
My hands at my side I sadly surrendered, do as you please
The hero was home, proven and grown...I fell on the floor
Mad with romance, they started to play
Their star was born
I bled like the rain, I exploded in pain, then I screamed for more
Oh make me feel sublime, release me from my mind
Kill me one more time, and set me free

Chorus

Notes

Copyright © 1968 BARRICADE MUSIC, INC. (ASCAP)