Romeo Is Bleeding - Tom Waits

Romeo is bleeding

but not so as you’d notice

He’s over on

18th Street

as usual

Looking so hard against the hood of his car

Puttin' out a cigarette in his hand

And for all the

Pachucos

at the pumps

At Romero’s Paint and Body

They all seein' how far they can spit

Well it was just another night

And now they’re huddled in the brake lights

Of a

'58 Bel Air

And listenin' how Romeo

Killed a sheriff with his knife

And they all jump when they hear the sirens

But Romeo just laughs

All the racket in the world

Ain’t never gonna save that

copper

's ass

He ain’t never gonna see another summertime

For gunnin' down my brother

And leavin him like a dog

Beneath a car without his knife

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 grabs his nuts

They all know they could be just like Romeo

If they only had the guts

Romeo is bleeding but nobody can tell

Sings along with the radio

With a bullet in his chest

And he combs back his feathers

And they all agree it’s clear

And that everything is cool

Now that Romeo’s here

Romeo is bleeding

He winces now and then

He leans against the car door

Feels the blood in his shoes

And someone’s cryin' at the

5 Points

In the phone booth by the store

Romeo starts his engines

Wipes the blood of the door

And he brodies through the signal

With the radio full blast

Leavin' the boys there hikin' up their chinos

And then they all try to stand like Romeo

Beneath the moon cut like a sickle

And they’re talkin' now in Spanish

All about their hero

Romeo is bleeding

As he gives the man his ticket

He climbs the balcony at the movies

And he’ll die without a whimper

Like every heroes dream

Like an

angel with a bullet

And

Cagney on the screen

And Romeo is bleeding

Romeo is bleeding hey man

Romeo is bleeding hey man

Romeo is bleeding hey man

Romeo is bleeding

Andele pues

Hey pachuco

Hey pachuco

Hago la lucha!

Dame esa pistola hombre

Hijo de la chingada madre

Ay que pinche pancho

Hey man

Hago la lucha

Hago la lucha

Vamos a dormir hombre

Hey man