Rome

After listening to the album on repeat, this song definitly caught my attention.

I think its comparing the downfall of the Roman Empire to the downfall of a relationship.

"2000 years in a trashcan"

Phoenix are just too cool.

The correct lyrics are (taken from the CD sheet):

Who's the boy you like the most Is he teasing you with underage? Could he be waving from a tropical sunset? Static silhouette somehow Single in his bed someday Quiet till it falls, falls, falls

Rome, Rome, Rome, Rome Focus looking forward the colosseum Oh no! What did I say? What can I say? Rome, Rome, many tears have fallen here I'll be driving, you look the other way

It ain't easy to ignore When your shutters are open all the way When it's candlelight I see I go insane Distant silhouette somehow We shared a cigarette somewhere Addict till it falls, falls, falls

Rome, Rome, Rome, Rome Focus looking forward the colosseum Oh no! What did I say? What can I say? Rome, Rome, many tears have falling here I'll be driving, you look the other way

Always and forevermore I call to say I'm on the way 2000 years remain in a trash can Let burn the cigarette somewhere Ashes till it falls, falls, falls

I stand outside under broken leaves I know I can't do without The future's trying to wait I've never loved you And if I loves you I wouldn't say that I'm sorry oh no I stand outside under broken leaves

Always and forevermore We're together dead and lonely I thought I couldn't do this without you Single in his bed somewhere Ashes till it falls, falls, falls

best song on the album

I love this song!

To me, it's about a longterm relationship that was troubled, but to top it off, the other partner cheats with a man that she's idolized(static silhouette of the other guy waving from a tropical sunset) and that the singer casually knows(the reference to sharing the cigarette somewhere). The singer finds out about them and is haunted by his brief encounter with the other man. When he sings about always calling to tell his partner that he's on the way, it's his way of making sure that the other man isn't there when he gets home and that he cannot ever trust her again(always and forevermore). They almost break-up and he tries to say that he never loved her, but it's not really true(I've never loved you and if I love you...). Somehow, they end up staying together, but the trust is gone and they are destroyed inside. He uses the Roman empire as a metaphor for their relationship as slowly decaying and breaking down for numerous factors(her cheating, his misspoken words, their lack of trust) as the actual Roman empire did over a long period of time. Their relationship is a facade of ashes and will crumble, much like the Colosseum still stands and is doomed to eventually crumble, but for now they are together.

It's interesting that another band, The Decemberists, would also use the Roman empire to describe the dissolution of a relationship in Record Year for Rainfall. Anyway, Rome is a wonderful and beautiful song!

To me this song is about old love. The 'static silhouette' that might be 'underage' could be the persons first love,- someone who it seems impossible to forget about. 'Always and forevermore We're together dead and lonely'

• because in the memories eveything that was between them stays the same. They're "dead" for each other, meaning: no part of each others lives anymore. (except from in the memories..)

This song made me fall in love with Phoenix. Absolutely beautiful...

I also have had this on constant repeat for about a month now. Can't get sick of it...LOVE how he sings the "thought I couldn't do this without you, single in this bed somewhere". They're always so fantastic at catchy songs with surprisingly deep lyrics.

"I know I can't do without, the future's trying to wait" definitely about trying to hold onto hope that the relationship will come back...trying to hold off on all the changes that come when splitting up.

This song has a personal significance to me, because it co-relates perfectly with the dysfunctional relationship I shared with a crush. As for the intended meaning, it's probably not as gay as I've made it out to be, but, such is the way of music.

I interpreted this song as a summer love in Rome. Rome is usually identified with summer, lust, love and i thought that Phoenix compared summer love to the downfall of Rome. Ex/Who's the boy you like the most (your first love) Is he teasing you with underage? (happened at a young age) Could he be waving from a tropical sunset? Static silhouette somehow (memories from the future) Single in his bed someday (he's alone thinking of the summer love) Quiet till it falls, falls, falls

Rome, Rome, Rome, Rome Focus looking forward the colosseum (don't worry about summer ending, just enjoy it while it lasts) Oh no! What did I say? What can I say? (the end was inevitable) Rome, Rome, many tears have fallen here (a place of romance, but also sadness) I'll be driving, you look the other way (breaking up)

So yeah, i thought of it like a summer/young love that although childish, was still true love.

(Doesn't this remind you of the Notebook?! :P)

I interpreted this song as a summer love in Rome. Rome is usually identified with summer, lust, love and i thought that Phoenix compared summer love to the downfall of Rome. Ex/Who's the boy you like the most (your first love) Is he teasing you with underage? (happened at a young age) Could he be waving from a tropical sunset? Static silhouette somehow (memories from the future) Single in his bed someday (he's alone thinking of the summer love) Quiet till it falls, falls, falls

Rome, Rome, Rome, Rome Focus looking forward the colosseum (don't worry about summer ending, just enjoy it while it lasts) Oh no! What did I say? What can I say? (the end was inevitable) Rome, Rome, many tears have fallen here (a place of romance, but also sadness) I'll be driving, you look the other way (breaking up)

So yeah, i thought of it like a summer/young love that although childish, was still true love.

(Doesn't this remind you of the Notebook?! :P)