When In Rome by Phil Ochs
Pre>
A
In the fire blue forests, faded and forgotten
I crawled through the cotton fields, picking for cotton
D
The overseer sneered, his whipping was rotten
A
With ecstasy.
F#m
Im child-like terror I tore out the tap roots
Bm
Cards of the lash were calling to follow suit
E7
I dashed for the swamps, the hounds in hot pursuit
D a
Jealously.
C#7 f#m
All through the night a figure of fright, as I hid my head
C#7 f#m
And the buried their nose in a cut of my cloths, now torn in shreds
C#7 b
And they never would leave until they believed that I was dead
E a
But I'd never curse their names
E a
Oh, who am I to blame
E a
I know I'd do the same
B
Endlessly.
C#m
And all the high-born ladies
F#m
So lovely and so true,
B
Have been handed to the soldiers
E
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?
Oh I wish you 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
Then we took off in a spin
Oh I smashed his skull again
Oh thank you my good friend,
I feel so good.
And all the high-born ladies
So lovely and so true,
Have been handed to the soldiers
When in rome do as the romans do.
Late in the evening I came to the city
I fell to the sidewalks sighing for pity
A diamond 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, companies of cops ran 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 someone had been killed
I was glad to leave a thrill
So far behind.
And all the high-born ladies
So lovely and so true,
Have been handed to the soldiers
When in rome do as the romans do.
A monk and his mother were dancing so dandy
A topless nun was handing out candy
The beautiful bishop broke out the brandy
The kiss we crave.
They stuttered and stammered, would I feel like staying
We fell to our knees, feverishly praying
The salt in the salt-peter seemed to be saying
Be brave, be brave.
I reached reached for a robe, I preached and I probed
And I taught the tune.
And the greed for the gills was played to the hilt
As I promised doom
I toyed with their fears, until 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.
And all the high-born ladies
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