☝️ Key Points
- The song lyrics tell the story of Romeo, a tough guy in a dangerous neighborhood.
- Romeo is involved in a murder and is being chased by the police, but shows no weakness.
- The people in the neighborhood admire Romeo for his bravery and wish to be as strong as him.
- Despite his injuries and bleeding, Romeo remains cool and is revered as a hero.
- The text ends with Romeo receiving a ticket and going to the cinema, where he will die without saying a word, like a heroic death.
Interpretation
The song lyrics "Romeo Is Bleeding" by
Tom Waits tell the story of Romeo, a tough guy who lives in a dangerous neighborhood. He is involved in a murder and is being pursued by the police. Despite being seriously injured and bleeding, he shows no weakness. Romeo is the hero of the neighborhood, and people admire him for his bravery.
The lyrics describe Romeo standing on the street, crushing a cigarette in his hand. The Pachucos, a group of people at the gas stations, watch him and are fascinated by his coolness. It is also mentioned that Romeo killed a sheriff with his knife. When the police sirens sound, they laugh at Romeo and don't believe he can be caught.
The people in the neighborhood admire Romeo and would like to be as strong as him. They give him cigarettes and support him by throwing bottles at trucks to cause chaos. But behind his tough facade, Romeo silently suffers. He has a bullet in his chest and feels the blood in his shoes.
Nevertheless, Romeo remains cool and drives away in his car while others try to be like him. He is revered as a hero, but no one realizes that he is bleeding and injured. The lyrics end with Romeo receiving a ticket and going to the cinema, where he will die without saying a word, like a heroic death. He is described as an angel with a bullet and Cagney on the screen.
The song lyrics "Romeo Is Bleeding" show how someone in a difficult environment maintains their courage and strength despite their internal suffering. It is a story of bravery and admiration in a tough world.