When in Rome - Phil Ochs

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.

I'm child-like terror I tore out the tap roots
Cards 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 the 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-peter seemed to be saying
Be brave, be brave.

I reached reached for a robe, I preached and I probed
And I taught the tune.
And the greed for the gills 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 the 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.