The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Romeo is bleeding but not so as you'd notice
He's over on 18th street as usual
Looking so hatd against the hood of his car
Ans putting 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' 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 graps his nuts
And they all know they could've 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 everything is cool now that romeos here
But romeo is bleeding
And he winches now and then and he leans against
The car door and feels the blood in his shoes
And someones crying in the phone booth
At the five points by the store
Romeo starts his engine
And wipes the blood 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 sicle
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 wimper
Like every hero's dream
Just an angel with a bullet
And Cagney in the screen
He's over on 18th street as usual
Looking so hatd against the hood of his car
Ans putting 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' 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 graps his nuts
And they all know they could've 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 everything is cool now that romeos here
But romeo is bleeding
And he winches now and then and he leans against
The car door and feels the blood in his shoes
And someones crying in the phone booth
At the five points by the store
Romeo starts his engine
And wipes the blood 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 sicle
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 wimper
Like every hero's dream
Just an angel with a bullet
And Cagney in the screen
Lyrics submitted by yuri_sucupira, edited by edenkitchen
Romeo Is Bleeding Lyrics as written by Tom Waits
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, JALMA MUSIC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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this is one of Tom's best poems/songs. it comes to mind a cocky Latino in the 1950's in L.A.
he's gutshot, trying to be tough in front of his amigos, secretly in agonizing pain. a tough cooki right up to the end, they all look up to Romeo.
and he doesn't let them down, even as his last breath slips from his lungs.
A fantastic song! You can almost see Romeo in your mind's eye :)
Anyway, for Guffle, Spanish is as follows:
Andele pues! [Come on, let's go!]. Hey Pachuco! [Hey jerk!]. Hago la lucha! [I'll take you on!]. Dáme esa pistola, hombre! [Give me that pistol, man!]. Hijo de la chingada madre! [You son of a fucking whore!]. Ay, que pinche pancho! [Oh, what a fucking wimp!]. Vamos a dormir, hombre [Let's go to sleep, man]
Cited by tomwaitslibrary.com/lyrics/bluevalentine/romeoisbleeding.html :)
Hope that helps
yeah, this song is so cool. tom is the most underrated artist ever, i wish more people would listen to his music
this is one of Tom's best poems/songs. it comes to mind a cocky Latino in the 1950's in L.A.
he's gutshot, trying to be tough in front of his amigos, secretly in agonizing pain. a tough cooki right up to the end, they all look up to Romeo.
and he doesn't let them down, even as his last breath slips from his lungs.
loads of people listen to him. He's huge, and hardly underrated I think, just slightly obscure, which isn't necessarily a bad thing
Anyone know what Tom says in spanish in this song?
Try listening to it ;) It's not in the lyrics, but he says some stuff in spanish at the end. I'm guessing it has something to do with "and they're talkin now in spanish about their hero".
Well, pachucos were a kind of cultural movement of mexican americans towards the 40s and 50s, and so when he says "hey pachuco" towards the end, just picture mexican americans with greased hair and zoot suits ;)
I don't think this song is about the Romeo character being injured or shot or literally bleeding. I think it's more metaphorical, saying that he's experiencing a deep emotional pain that he can't show to his fellow pachucos because they look up to him as their leader. He's trying to maintain the facade of being cool, composed, and unhurt, but the pain he is experiencing is killing him, and even while putting up the act he's constantly aware of it.
That may be, Tommy, but I prefer the literal approach. Too many songs have too many hidden meanings, I like the occasional literal song.