Romeo And Juliet
Dire Straits/The Gary Tesca Orchestra Lyrics
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Laying everybody low with a love song that he made
Finds a streetlight, steps out of the shade
Says something like, "You and me, babe, how about it?"
Juliet says, "Hey, it's Romeo, you nearly gave me a heart attack"
He's underneath the window, she's singing, "Hey, la, my boyfriend's back
You shouldn't come around here singing up at people like that
"Juliet, the dice was loaded from the start
And I bet, and you exploded into my heart
And I forget, I forget the movie song
When you gonna realize it was just that the time was wrong, Juliet?"
Come up on different streets, they both were streets of shame
Both dirty, both mean, yes, and the dream was just the same
And I dreamed your dream for you and now your dream is real
How can you look at me as if I was just another one of your deals?
When you can fall for chains of silver you can fall for chains of gold
You can fall for pretty strangers and the promises they hold
You promised me everything, you promised me thick and thin, yeah
Now you just say "Oh, Romeo, yeah, you know I used to have a scene with him"
"Juliet, when we made love, you used to cry
You said 'I love you like the stars above, I'll love you 'til I die'
There's a place for us, you know the movie song
When you gonna realize it was just that the time was wrong, Juliet?"
I can't do the talks like they talk on the TV
And I can't do a love song like the way it's meant to be
I can't do everything but I'll do anything for you
I can't do anything except be in love with you
And all I do is miss you and the way we used to be
All I do is keep the beat, the bad company
All I do is kiss you through the bars of a rhyme
Julie, I'd do the stars with you any time
"Juliet, when we made love you used to cry
You said 'I love you like the stars above, I'll love you 'til I die'
There's a place for us you know the movie song
When you gonna realize it was just that the time was wrong, Juliet?"
And a lovestruck Romeo, he sang the streets a serenade
Laying everybody low with a love song that he made
Find a convenient streetlight, steps out of the shade
He says something like, "You and me, babe, how about it?"
"You and me, babe, how about it?"
The lyrics to Dire Strait’s song “Romeo and Juliet” tell the story of a young couple in love, named after Shakespeare's tragic lovers. The song's first verse opens with Romeo singing a love song to Juliet on the streets, which gets her attention. Juliet, at first surprised, reprimands him for his actions, but their love is too strong, and they end up together. However, the second verse introduces some drama in the relationship, highlighting that both Romeo and Juliet come from a similar background and share similar struggles. They are so alike that it feels as though they are living the same dream. But, the relationship starts to break down, and Juliet eventually leaves Romeo for someone else.
Throughout the song, Mark Knopfler's lyrics are emotionally charged, telling a powerful story of love, passion, and heartbreak. The lines "Juliet, the dice was loaded from the start, and I bet, and you exploded into my heart" are both a metaphor for the couple's doomed relationship and a reminder that love, while beautiful, can often end in pain. The song's final verse highlights Romeo's longing for Juliet; he cannot do everything, but he will do anything to be with her. "All I do is miss you and the way we used to be" is a poignant line, reminding listeners of the power of memory and how it can keep love alive long after it has faded away.
Line by Line Meaning
A lovestruck Romeo sang the streets a serenade
Romeo expressed his love openly and publicly
Laying everybody low with a love song that he made
His song made everyone feel the depth of his love
Finds a streetlight, steps out of the shade
He stood in the light to make his intentions clear
Says something like, "You and me, babe, how about it?"
He asked Juliet if she would be willing to be with him
Juliet says, "Hey, it's Romeo, you nearly gave me a heart attack"
Juliet was surprised to see Romeo and felt a sudden shock
He's underneath the window, she's singing, "Hey, la, my boyfriend's back
Juliet was hesitant because she had another lover
You shouldn't come around here singing up at people like that
She warned Romeo against approaching her too boldly
Anyway, what you gonna do about it?"
She challenged Romeo to come up with a solution
"Juliet, the dice was loaded from the start
Romeo felt that their fate was already sealed and struggles against it
And I bet, and you exploded into my heart
He was immediately enamored with Juliet from the start
And I forget, I forget the movie song
He wishes to forget romantic expectations of films and focus on their own relationship
When you gonna realize it was just that the time was wrong, Juliet?"
He tries to console Juliet, arguing that their current bad timing is only temporary
Come up on different streets, they both were streets of shame
They both came from difficult backgrounds
Both dirty, both mean, yes, and the dream was just the same
They had similar struggles and aspirations
And I dreamed your dream for you and now your dream is real
Romeo helped Juliet to realize her dreams
How can you look at me as if I was just another one of your deals?"
He was frustrated that Juliet was not taking their relationship seriously
When you can fall for chains of silver you can fall for chains of gold
Juliet has fallen for other allurements earlier in life
You can fall for pretty strangers and the promises they hold
She has also fallen for the promises of other men
You promised me everything, you promised me thick and thin, yeah
Romeo had made many promises to Juliet
Now you just say "Oh, Romeo, yeah, you know I used to have a scene with him"
Juliet's indifference and infidelity causes Romeo great pain
"Juliet, when we made love, you used to cry
She had been deeply moved by their passion for each other
You said 'I love you like the stars above, I'll love you 'til I die'
Her words were full of tenderness, expressing the depth of her love
There's a place for us, you know the movie song
Romeo believes that they could have a bright and happy future together
When you gonna realize it was just that the time was wrong, Juliet?"
He insists that the only thing keeping them apart is the timing of the relationship
I can't do the talks like they talk on the TV
Romeo is a simple man, not able to talk or act like celebrities on television
And I can't do a love song like the way it's meant to be
He feels incapable of writing poetic or romantic songs like the ones on the radio
I can't do everything but I'll do anything for you
Despite his limitations, he is willing to do whatever it takes to be with Juliet
I can't do anything except be in love with you
He acknowledges that his only talent is his love for Juliet
And all I do is miss you and the way we used to be
He is longing for the way things were between them
All I do is keep the beat, the bad company
He is getting by but struggling to cope without her
All I do is kiss you through the bars of a rhyme
He can only express his love for Juliet through his music
Julie, I'd do the stars with you any time
He offers to share everything with her, including the sky and the stars
"Juliet, when we made love you used to cry
Their experience of making love was incredibly emotional and powerful
You said 'I love you like the stars above, I'll love you 'til I die'
She is expressing her love again
There's a place for us you know the movie song
Romeo still believes that they can have a happy ending
When you gonna realize it was just that the time was wrong, Juliet?"
He maintains that timing is the only thing keeping them apart
And a lovestruck Romeo, he sang the streets a serenade
He keeps sharing and expressing his love for Juliet publicly, even though they are not together
Laying everybody low with a love song that he made
His song is so deep that it strongly affects everyone around him
Find a convenient streetlight, steps out of the shade
He uses the light to recreate the feeling of being with Juliet again
He says something like, "You and me, babe, how about it?"
He still hopes that Juliet will agree to be with him
"You and me, babe, how about it?"
He once again implores Juliet with a hopeful tone
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Mark Knopfler
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind