Phil Ochs - When In Rome Lyrics






In the fire blue forests, faded and forgotten
I crawled through the cotton fields, picking for cotton
The overseer sneered, his whipping was rotten
With ecstasy
In child-like terror I tore out the tap roots
Guards of the lash were calling to follow suit
I dashed for the swamps, the hounds in hot pursuit
Jealously

All through the night a figure of fright, as I hid my head
And they buried their nose in a cut of my cloths, now torn in shreds
And they never would leave until they believed that I was dead

But I'd never curse their names
Oh, who am I to blame
I know I'd do the same
Endlessly

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

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-petre seemed to be saying
Be brave, be brave

I 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 them 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





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Phil Ochs When In Rome Comments
  1. L.... Y....

    And if my thought-dreams could be seen
    They'd probably put my head in a guillotine
    But it's alright, Ma, it's life, and life only.

  2. O.... M....

    The hammer was hard in the chrome of the car as I cracked his head. WHooooaaaa. I believe this song compares the fall of Rome and the prophecy of the fall of the US. Mentions Jesus, Nazi Germany. A little disorganized but Phil knew what he was doing. If you want to hear lyrics that couldn't be better, read about or listen to The Ringing of Revolution.

    Not in sequence but these are some lines from a great lyrical mind:
    Oh, life was a game, and work was a shame,
    And pain was prevented by pleasure.
    The world, cold and grey, was so far away
    In the distance only money could measure.

    As the windows were smashed by the ringing of revolution.
    Down on our knees we're begging you please,
    We're sorry for the way you were driven.
    There's no need to taunt just take what you want

    And we'll make amends, if we're living.
    But away from the grounds the flames told the town
    That only the dead are forgiven.
    As they crumbled inside the ringing of revolution.

    Signed, A big fan who was never a Leftist. His one fan who is not..

  3. S.... T....

    the history of america in one song

  4. A.... S....

    What is this song a critique of and what is it about? It seems to be talking about a slave or prisoner on the run but Ochs didn't tend to write about non topical or fictional people unless it had some greater meaning

  5. T.... T....

    Not sad completely beautiful for the rest of us!

  6. T.... T....

    Was young then but believed musicians were poets artists historians and brave commentators of our present days..thank you Phil Ochs

  7. T.... T....

    Beautiful poet historian as said

  8. J.... M....

    seriously, has anyone ever studied these lyrics? every line is devastating... no one on earth could write like Phil, a fallen angel.....

  9. J.... g....

    Great topical writer...kudos for what he could get in a song...but it’s hard to be a fan of any socialist...as they all, in their way, have his mental problems.

    J.... g....

    Love me, I'm a liberal is socialist now?

  10. J.... A....

    Wow! been looking for this for ever

  11. m.... ....

    I don't think anyone besides Phil Ochs could have composed this. One of the most powerful songs ever.

  12. P.... M....

    Saw him live at the Riverboat in Toronto many years ago

  13. J.... N....

    Jim Morrison wanted the world and he wanted it NOW... Phil Ochs could pretty much do WITHOUT it... and, sadly, did 8-9 years after writing and recording this gem.

  14. J.... N....

    You get a fuller idea just WHY Phil wasn't a-marchin' anymore when you truly realize all the horrors his "character" experienced through those eight verses of dread.

  15. J.... N....

    Oh, just one more thing (thank you, Peter Falk) -- this song in a way is the inner room(s) of the house that is I Ain't A-Marchin' Anymore.

  16. J.... N....

    This song is to The Crucifiction what When The Music's Over is to The End in The Doors' legend and lore -- the 2nd epic that somehow successfully follows the 1st epic.

  17. M.... C....

    I like most of his song's lyrics they had meaning not like what is heard today. very distinctive and powerful. will always miss you Phil.

  18. D.... Z....

    but phil is by far a better singer and songwriter than Dylan

    D.... Z....

    Gordon Lightfoot is better than both.

  19. E.... K....

    One of my favorite songs. Wish my friends liked this kind of music, shame not a lot of people know of him.

  20. R.... N....

    masterpiece from a giant of song.

  21. G.... M....

    Not a big fan of this album, but this song is Phil Ochs' best. Joe Hill is pretty good too.

  22. P.... L....

    Dylan's political songs? Where were they then? An arrogant, greedy, selfish, self-centred, egomaniac sell-out who didn't have even 1% of Phil's talent, Phil's dedication, Phil's courage or Phil's honesty. Fuck Off Dylan.

    P.... L....

    I agree with you brother. Remember Dylan was a musician. Ohcs was a saint.

  23. O.... ....

    the guy was a poet historian

  24. S.... G....

    One of his songs I really like. I don't really like most of his overtly political songs. They might have a good messages, but many of them are not good songs. Bob Dylan was far better at those. But many of Ochs's less political songs I like just as much as anything Dylan ever wrote.

    S.... G....

    I'm at the same point. He has great talent but his non-political songs are the best. He also has some great political songs, but this three post Elektra albums are clearly their best.

    S.... G....

    But they are good songs so im confused where you got confused

  25. K.... O....

    This is certainly one of a kined. Most radio stations would not play it as it is too long and you could not get enough adds in. Usually Phil writes very direct songs but this unique in that there are lots of different ways of understanding it. It is impressive that he could remember it all. 13 minutes is one hell of a song.

    K.... O....

    He did tend to write long cinematic songs that dove radio programmers crazy: this one, Pleasures of the Harbor, Ringing of Revolution, the Highwayman.

    K.... O....

    I first heard this amazing song when it was played by the legendary WHFS out of Bethesda Maryland -- perhaps arund 1974-5?

  26. J.... B....

    such an amazing singer songwriter. I thought I had heard all of his songs, thanks to YouTube I am discovering some truly great songs. ..or did I hide from the memory. ..still can't bear that he left us

    J.... B....

    I have taken phils advise. Western woman invited the heathen here. I wish the western woman and its spawn well. Let them have what your ancestors died for. Enjoy the heathens rule all western men off honour know we are free

  27. m.... ....

    It's sad how few ears this beautiful song has touched. Phil is a national treasure.

  28. S.... D....

    A
    This is such a beautiful song. There is so much genuine emotion in his voice; it's not something you run across that often these days. Phil Ochs was one of a kind. 

    Love you always, Phil.

  29. E.... ....

    This song is better than anything Dylan ever recorded.

    E.... ....

    +Emmie04 Nope---that's why Phil hung himself.

    E.... ....

    +Geoffrey Connor Phil hung himself because he was manic-depressive. Not because of any comparison with another artist.

    E.... ....

    Don Roby I have the same disorder as phil did bipolar ihave bouts of depression just like he did but ihave been able to live with ir through the spy and medication

    E.... ....

    His alleged bipolar disorder was never diagnosed and his alcoholism exacerbated it.

    E.... ....

    This is simply not true. Its a great song, but come on now.

  30. T.... ....

    Might be my favorite song of all time... Lyrics take you on a journey

  31. R.... K....

    It might still be my favourite Ochs song.

    R.... K....

    mine, too.