When In Rome Lyrics - 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 

So lovely and so true, 

Have been handed to the soldiers 

When in rome do as the romans do. 

A chorus of children were passing the hours 

I joined in their fun and gave them my flowers 

Covered with kisses and showered with showers 

That they repaid. 

Taken and trusting, would I be their teacher? 

She looked so appealing, I wanted to touch her 

Just out of reach, unable to reach her 

Their hands were raised. 

Charmed by the chalk, the lessons were taught, inside the class 

They studied the rules of the samurai schools, they had to pass 

The room was adjourned, the lessons were learned, 

I turned on the gas 

And I watched them make their pleas 

They passed the test with ease 

I gave them their degrees, 

They made the grade. 

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. 

Feeling my weakness, a coward for company 

I joined the ranks of the hot and hungry 

To teach what it means to have love for your country 

We marched away. 

We lowered our lives for the lines of a border 

We danced with the mothers, played with the daughters 

We followed our fantasies, following orders 

It was child's play. 

After the war the bullets were bored so we capped the game 

With cynical smiles we put them on trial to place the blame 

Now what kind of beast would love such a feast 

Have you no shame? 

So we hung the by the feet 

Oh, we shot them in the street 

Oh, the victory was sweet 

On victory day. 

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. 

The bread and the circuses came to be nearing 

The saviour or somebody must be appearing 

Pagans and pageants were all disappearing 

Inside my head. 

The stones on the statues were staring and stalling 

Caesar and cassius were cursing and calling 

The empire had risen and now it was falling 

Or so it seemed. 

The crown and the cross seemed empty and lost in dark despair 

And luminous lies, death in disguise were everywhere 

The canvas was cold, the story was old, I said my prayers 

Then I crowned him on the head 

Oh, I blessed him as he bled 

Oh at last, the king is dead 

God save the queen. 

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. 

Now nothing remained for building or burning 

The losing of lovers was all I was learning 

A time for escape and a time for returning had come to me 

Back through the ashes and back through the embers 

Back through the roads and the ruins I remembered 

My hands at my side I sadly surrendered 

Do as you please. 

The hero was home, proven and grown, I fell on the floor 

Mad with romance they started to dance, their star was born 

I bled like the rain, exploded in pain, then I screamed for more 

Oh, make me feel sublime 

Release me from my mind 

Oh, kill me one more time 

And set me free. 

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. 

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