Romeo is Bleeding, Blue Valentine, Tom Waits [059]

As we come to Elizabeth and Caspar's final episodes with Sam and Martin, Song by Song returns to the bleak streets of LA for the violent shooting of a Latino gang-leader. Revisiting some of the structural issues from the previous episode, more of Waits's musical experimentation (even as he re-explores story ideas already covered in previous albums) and the sense of reality delivered by Waits and Johnny Cash all make up this week's discussion. (Thanks to Rob Maher for the "Kenny's Dead" theory on twitter.) Song by Song is Martin Zaltz Austwick and Sam Pay; two musicians listening to and discussing every single Tom Waits track in chronological order. website: songbysongpodcast.com twitter: @songbysongpod e-mail: [email protected] Music extracts used for illustrative/review purposes include: Romeo Is Bleeding, Blue Valentine, Tom Waits (1978) The Streets Of Laredo, American IV: The Man Comes Around, Johnny Cash (2002) We think your Song by Song experience will be enhanced by hearing, in full, the songs featured in the show, which you can get hold of from your favourite record shop or online platform. Please support artists by buying their music, or using services which guarantee artists a revenue - listen responsibly. Lyrics - Romeo Is Bleeding 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 fenders 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