G
In the fire blue forests faded and forgotten
I 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
CG
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
Em
That I was dead
DG
But I'd never curse their names
DG
Oh, who am I to blame?
DG
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 morning
The 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?
CG
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
Em
As I cracked his head
DG
Then we took off in a spin
DG
Oh I smashed his skull again
DG
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 city
I 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
CG
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
Em
Then I fanned the flames
DG
And the traffic all stood still
DG
To see if someone had been killed
DG
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 dandy
The 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
CG
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
Em
Filled the room
DG
Then I took off down the road
DG
Laughing madly like a toad
DG
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 hours
I 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
CG
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
Em
I turned on the gas
DG
And I watched them make their pleas
DG
They passed the test with ease
DG
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 company
I 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
CG
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
Em
Have you no shame?
DG
So we hung them by the feet
DG
Oh, we shot them in the street
DG
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 nearing
The 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
CG
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
Em
I said my prayer
DG
Then I crowned him on the head
DG
Oh, I blessed him as he bled
DG
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 burning
The 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
CG
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
Em
Then I screamed for more
DG
Oh, make me feel sublime
DG
Release me from my mind
DG
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