Tom Waits

Romeo Is Bleeding

Tom Waits


Tom: Bm

Bm                                 F#9
Romeo is  bleeding,            but not so as you'd notice,
     Bm                            F#9       
He's over on 18th street  as usu - al
Bm                                 F#9  
Lookin' so hard     a - gainst the hood of his car
     Bm                              F#9  
 And puttin' out a cigarette  in his hand

[Verse]
            Bm                          F#9
For all the pachucos at the pumps  At Romero's Paint and Body
                       Bm                              F#9
They're all seein' how far they can spit, well, it was just another night
                 Bm                                 F#9
And now  they're huddled in the brake lights   of a fifty-eight Bel-Air
    Bm                                 F#9
And listenin' to how Romeo killed   a sheriff with his knife

             Bm                                         F#9
And they all jump when they hear the sirens,        But Romeo just laughs
         Bm                                     F#9
"All the racket in the world  ain't never gonna save that Coppers' ass
         Bm                                         F#9
He ain't never gonna see another summertime     for gunnin' down my brother
Bm                                  F#9
Leavin' him like a dog,   beneath a car without his knife"

[Verse]
             Bm                                    F#9
Romeo says," Hey man, gimme a cigarette", and they all reach for their pack
Bm                                   F#9
Frank - ie lights  it  for him   and pats him on the back
             Bm                                F#9
An' throws a bottle at a milk truck, and as it breaks, he grabs his nuts
             Bm                                           F#9
An' they all know, they could be just like Romeo  if they only had the guts

[Verse]

Bm                                 F#9
Romeo is bleeding,             but  no - body can tell
       Bm                                  F#9
An' he sings along with the radi    With a bul - et in his chest
       Bm                           F#9
An' he combs back his fenders  they all agree it's clear
     Bm                               F#9
That ev - rything is cool,   now that Ro - meo is here

[Verse]

Bm                              F#9
Romeo is bleeding        and he winces now an' then
       Bm                                       F#9
And he leans against the car door,    feels the blood in his shoes
          Bm                              F#9
Someone's cryin' at the 5 Points,     the phone booth by the store
Bm                               F#9
Romeo starts his engines,    the blood off the door

[Verse]

       Bm                                      F#9
And he brodies through the signal     With the radio full blast
            Bm                                         F#9
Leavin' the boys there__          hikin' up their chi - nos
                Bm                                        F#9
And now they're all tryin' to stand like Romeo,  with the Moon cut like a sickle
Bm                                             F#9
And they're talkin' now in Spanish,    all a - bout their hero

[Verse]

Bm                            F#9
Romeo is bleeding       as he gives the man his ticket
       Bm                           F#9
And he climbs  the balcony   at the mo - vies
          Bm                          F#9
And he'll die without a whimper  like e - very hero's dream
        Bm                            F#9
Like an an - gel with a bullet    and Cag - ney on a screen

[Bridge]

Bm                  F#9                 Bm                  F#9
Romeo is bleed - ing                    Romeo is bleed - ing            Hey, man
Bm                  F#9                 Bm                  F#9
Romeo is bleeding                       Hey man, Romeo is bleeding...


[Outro]
Bm                 F#9                  Bm                  F#9
Romeo is bleed - ing                    Romeo is bleed - ing            Hey, man
Bm                 F#9                  Bm                  F#9
Romeo is bleeding                       Hey man, Romeo is bleeding...
Bm                 F#9                  Bm                  F#9
Hey, pachuco!           Hey, pachuco!
Bm                 F#9                  Bm                  F#9
Dáme esa pistola, hombre!  Hago la lucha!       
Bm                 F#9                  Bm                  F#9
Ay, que pinche pancho! Vamos a dormir, hombre!