Phil Ochs – When In Rome (Guitar)
Capo 2
Key
-
Auto-scroll
Speed:
1.0x
Chords
3/4 time
[Verse 1]
G
In the fire blue forests faded and forgottenI crawled through the cotton fields, picking for cotton
C The overseer sneered, his whipping was rotten G With ecstasy Em In child-like terror I tore out the tap roots Am The cards of the lash were calling to follow suit D7 I dashed for the swamps, the hounds in hot pursuit C G Jealously B7 All through the night a figure of fright Em As I hid my head B7 And they buried their nose in a cut of my clothes Em Now torn in shreds B7 And they never would leave until they believed A That I was dead D G But I'd never curse their names D G Oh, who am I to blame? D G I know I'd do the same A Endlessly
[Chorus]
Bm And all the high-born ladies Em So lovely and so true A Have been handed to the soldiers D When in Rome do as the Romans do
[Verse 2]
G
Frail and afraid in the mists of the morningThe snakes and the spiders were sadly performing
C The bark of the dogs kept up the warning G Inside the wood Em Sweating and swearing I crawled from the manger Am The highway appeared to take me from danger D7 Is there anyone here who would pick up a stranger? C G Oh I wish you could B7 Then someone replied "Would you like a ride?" Em "Come in" he said B7 We drove for a while, he gave me a smile Em And a piece of bread B7 The hammer was hard in the chrome of the car A As I cracked his head D G Then we took off in a spin D G Oh I smashed his skull again D G Oh thank you my good friend A I feel so good
[Chorus]
Bm And all the high-born ladies Em So lovely and so true A Have been handed to the soldiers D When in Rome do as the Romans do
[Verse 3]
G
Late in the evening I came to the cityI fell to the sidewalks sighing for pity
C A diamond was dropped from the hands of the pretty G To be so kind Em Cowards and corpses were busy competing Am The rhymes of the riots were busy repeating D7 I raced to the corner and sped from the speeding C G To save my mind B7 Latches and locks, companies of cops Em Ran from the rain B7 There was silk in the stores for the whims of the whores Em That shone with shame B7 I asked for a light from a priest in the night A Then I fanned the flames D G And the traffic all stood still D G To see if someone had been killed D G I was glad to leave a thrill A So far behind
[Chorus]
Bm And all the high-born ladies Em So lovely and so true A Have been handed to the soldiers D When in Rome do as the Romans do
[Verse 4]
G
A monk and his mother were dancing so dandyThe topless nun was handing out candy
C The beautiful bishop broke out the brandy G The kiss we crave Em They stuttered and stammered, would I feel like staying Am We fell to our knees, feverishly praying D7 The salt in the saltpeter seemed to be saying C G Be brave, be brave B7 I reached for a robe, I preached and I probed Em And I taught the tomb B7 And the greed for the guilt was played to the hilt Em As I promised doom B7 I toyed with their fears 'til coins and tears A Filled the room D G Then I took off down the road D G Laughing madly like a toad D G God bless every soulless soul A That would be saved
[Chorus]
Bm And all the high-born ladies Em So lovely and so true A Have been handed to the soldiers D When in Rome do as the Romans do
[Verse 5]
G
A chorus of children were passing the hoursI joined in their fun and gave them my flowers
C Covered with kisses and showered with showers G That they repaid Em Taken and trusting, would I be their teacher? Am She looked so appealing, I wanted to touch her D7 Just out of reach, unable to reach her C G Their hands were raised B7 Charmed by the chalk, the lessons were taught Em Inside the class B7 They studied the rules of the Samurai schools Em They had to pass B7 The room was adjourned, the lessons were learned A I turned on the gas D G And I watched them make their pleas D G They passed the test with ease D G I gave them their degrees A They made the grade
[Chorus]
Bm And all the high-born ladies Em So lovely and so true A Have been handed to the soldiers D When in Rome do as the Romans do
[Verse 6]
G
Feeling my weakness, a coward for companyI joined the ranks of the hot and hungry
C To teach what it means to have love for your country G We marched away Em We lowered our lives for the lines of a border Am We danced with the mothers, played with the daughters D7 We followed our fantasies following orders C G It was child's play B7 After the war the bullets were bored Em So we kept the game B7 With cynical smiles we put them on trial Em To place the blame B7 Now what kind of beast would love such a feast A Have you no shame? D G So we hung them by the feet D G Oh, we shot them in the street D G Oh, the victory was sweet A On victory day
[Chorus]
Bm And all the high-born ladies Em So lovely and so true A Have been handed to the soldiers D When in Rome do as the Romans do
[Verse 7]
G
The bread and the circuses came to be nearingThe Savior or somebody must be appearing
C Pagans and pageants were all disappearing G Inside my head Em The stones on the statues were staring and stalling Am Caesar and Cassius were cursing and calling D7 The empire had risen and now it was falling C G Or so it seemed B7 The crown and the cross seemed empty and lost Em In dark despair B7 And luminous lies, and death in disguise Em Were everywhere B7 The canvas was cold, the story was old A I said my prayer D G Then I crowned him on the head D G Oh, I blessed him as he bled D G Oh at last, the King is dead A God save the Queen
[Chorus]
Bm And all the high-born ladies Em So lovely and so true A Have been handed to the soldiers D When in Rome do as the Romans do
[Verse 8]
G
Now nothing remains for building or burningThe losing of lovers was all I was learning
C A time to escape and a time for returning G Had come to me Em Back through the ashes and back through the embers Am Back through the roads and the ruins I remembered D7 My hands at my side I sadly surrendered C G Do as you please B7 The hero was home, proven and grown Em I fell on the floor B7 Mad with romance they started to dance Em Their star was born B7 I bled like the rain, exploded in pain A Then I screamed for more D G Oh, make me feel sublime D G Release me from my mind D G Oh, kill me one more time A And set me free
[Chorus]
Bm And all the high-born ladies Em So lovely and so true A Have been handed to the soldiers D When in Rome do as the Romans do