Noirsville Tune of the Week

 More Tom Waits

Romeo Is Bleeding

Romeo is bleeding but not so as you’d notice

he’s over on 18th street as usual

lookin so hard against the hood of his car

and puttin' out a cigarette in his hand

and for all the pachucos at the pumps

at Romeros paint and body

they all seein' how far they can spit

well it was just another night

but now they’re huddled in the brake lights of a 58 Belair

and listenin' to how Romeo killed a sheriff with his knife

 

and they all jump when they hear the sirens

but Romeo just laughs and says

all the racket in the world ain’t never gonna

save that coppers ass

he’ll never see another summertime for gunnin' down my brother

and leavin' him like a dog beneath a car without his knife

 

and Romeo says hey man gimme a cigarette

and they all reach for their pack

and Frankie lights it for him and pats him on the back

and throws a bottle at a milk truck

and as it breaks he grabs his nuts

and they all know they could be just like Romeo

if they only had the guts

 

but Romeo is bleeding but nobody can tell

and he sings along with the radio

with a bullet in his chest

and he combs back his fenders

and they all agree its clear

that every thing is cool now that Romeos here

but Romeo is bleeding

and he winces now and then and he leans against

the car door and feels the blood in his shoes

and someone's crying in the phone booth

at the 5 points by the store

Romeo starts his engine

and wipes the blood off of the door

and he brodys through the signal

with the radio full blast

leavin' the boys there hikin' up their chinos

and they all try to stand like Romeo

beneath the moon cut like a sickle

and they’re talkin now in Spanish about their hero

 

but Romeo is bleeding as he gives the man his ticket

and he climbs to the balcony at the movies

and he’ll die without a whimper

like every hero's dream

just an angel with a bullet

and Cagney on the screen