When In Rome Acordes

	  

       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 guilt 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. 
Notes: