Rome Songtext

von Dan Bern

We pulled into Rome with blood in our eyes
After days of traveling and months of lies
Taking our various turns at the wheel
Taking booze and pot and cigarettes, anything not to feel
No one had slept, no one had eaten
Our bodies were bad, our spirits were beaten
Together we dragged all of us down
As we staggered through Rome, blaming the town
Blaming the students for worship of others
Blaming the cops and blaming their brothers
And never quite looking ourselves in the heart
And minute by minute growing further apart

Julia, Julia, where have you gone?
Why have you vanished off of my lawn?
Julia, Julia, where is your truck?
Where have you driven with all of my luck?

Ah, but even old bull fighters, their gravestones in sight
Must search 'till they unearth one last bull to fight
And so it was with us, so near to the end
One last story to tell, one last hill to defend
One glance to avoid, one guitar to strum
One untruth to be told, one last song to be sung
And you, the most brilliant, most driven, most keen,
Jewel of a bastard I ever have seen
And you in your turn, the good bitch of the Nile
So real to the end, nothing left to defile
And me in the middle, along for the ride
The unwilling distraction from familiocide
And knowing our weaknesses, no one refrained
From picking and prodding till nothing remained

Julia, Julia, where have you gone?
Why have you vanished off of my lawn?
Julia, Julia, where is your truck?
Where have you driven with all of my luck?

And now in this kitchen, miles from home
Miles from anything, miles from Rome
Rome was a bust, Rome was a scream
Rome was the final rapid eye movement to this dream
We scattered like leaves, like pieces of dust
Warriors watching their swords and shields rust
And now as we descend to couches and clocks
To closets and appointments, let us drink to the rocks
Let us drink to the sand, to the winds which have blowed us
Let us drink to the rivers, let us drink to the road

And if you travel this far, from either conscience or greed
Have one piece of advice that I think you should heed
Yes if ever your travels take you this far from home
Consult your map carefully, steer clear of Rome

Julia, Julia, where have you gone?
Why have you vanished off of my lawn?
Julia, Julia, where is your truck?
Why have you vanished with all of my luck?

Julia, Julia, where have you gone?
Why have you vanished off of my lawn?
Julia, Julia, where is your truck?
Why have you driven with all of my luck?