Literary Lyrics: Romeo and Juliet

Thursday, May 31, 2012


This is originally by Dire Straits... I guess I should give credit where credit is due. However, I infinitely prefer the Killers' cover of the song. I'll give you both versions so you can judge for yourselves. I am mainly posting it because of the obvious literary link to Romeo and Juliet -- I love the way that story has become so iconic that other storytellers can take it and twist it into something new.



A lovestruck Romeo, sings the streets of serenade
Laying everybody low with a love song that he made
Find a streetlight, steps out of the shade
Says something like, "You and me, babe, how about it?"

Juliet says, "Hey, it's Romeo, you nearly gave me a heart attack"
He's underneath the window, she's singing
Hey, la, my boyfriend's back"
You shouldn't come around here, singing up at people like that
Anyway what you gonna do about it?

Juliet, the dice was loaded from the start
And I bet and you exploded in my heart
And I forget, I forget the movie song
When you gonna realize, it was just that the time was wrong, Juliet?

Come up on different streets, they both were streets of shame
Both dirty, both mean, yes and the dream was just the same
And I dream your dream for you and now your dream is real
How can you look at me, as if I was just another one of your deals?

Well, you can fall for chains of silver, you can fall for chains of gold
You can fall for pretty strangers and the promises they hold
You promised me everything, you promised me thick and thin
Now you just say, "Oh, Romeo, yeah, you know
I used to have a scene with him"

Juliet, when we made love, you used to cry
You said, "I love you like the stars above, "I love you till I die"
There's a place for us, you know the movie song
When you gonna realize, it was just that the time was wrong, Juliet?

I can't do the talk like the talk on the TV
And I can't do a love song like the way it's meant to be
I can't do everything but I'd do anything for you
Can't do anything except be in love with you

And all I do is miss you and the way we used to be
All I do is keep the beat, the bad company
And all I do is kiss you, through the bars of a rhyme
Juliet, I'd do the stars with you any time

Juliet, when we made love, you used to cry
You said, "I love you like the stars above, I'll love you till I die"
There's a place for us, you know the movie song
When you gonna realize, it was just that the time was wrong, Juliet?

A lovestruck Romeo, he sings the streets of serenade
Laying everybody low with a love song that he made
Find a convenient streetlight, steps out of the shade
He says something like, "You and me, babe, how about it?"





4 comments:

  1. I've only ever heard the Indigo Girls version! Didn't even know it was a cover, ha.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I actually didn't know the Killers one was a cover until I wrote this post! I'll have to look up the Indigo Girls version too.

      Delete
  2. I'm dating myself, but it's the original version all the way for me. That walk! The hair! Reminds me of Eric. I always thought the intro would be the perfect song to walk down the aisle to, especially if it was done exactly like they do in the video. The Killers rock too, though. Love Dustland Fairytale.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's awesome! Scott and I have a friend who used this as his wedding song (but the Killers version). I think the song itself is so timeless it works for almost anyone who sings it.

      Delete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...