Rome
Ed Kowalczyk Lyrics


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Oh Great City of the Veil
Statues that hide the face
That never leaves a trace
For history wrong to tell
From the foundation I have run
And climbed the highest walls
Just to uncover that sweetest love
Of the one who lives inside me

Oh, Oh, Rome
This love will shine on
Oh, Rome
This love will shine on

Oh great woman of the veil
Temptations that hide the face
That never took the bait
That never ever fell
Never believed there were two
Where there's only ever been one
Shines as brightly in the night
As she does in the blazin' sun

Traffic jam!
I can't believe we got stuck here again
Outside St. John's
We gotta move on
To the temple not made with hands
Where you're never late




But just in time
For the real Love that lives inside

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Ed Kowalczyk's song 'Rome' take the listener on a journey through the city of Rome, exploring its history and the hidden emotions and desires of its people. The song speaks of a great city of the veil, where statues hide faces and history is concealed to keep it from being wrongly told. The singer of the song speaks of running from the foundation and climbing the highest walls to uncover the sweetest love of the one who lives inside him. The song suggests that Rome is a city of secrets, of hidden passions and desires, and of a deep sense of longing for something more.


The song also speaks of a great woman of the veil – a temptress who hides her face and never takes the bait. She is a woman of great resilience, who has never believed that there were two where there has only ever been one. The song suggests that this woman shines brightly in the night as she does in the blazing sun, and that she is a symbol of the enduring strength and beauty of Rome.


Overall, 'Rome' is a song about the hidden depths of a great city, about the passions and desires that lie beneath the surface, and about the enduring resilience of its people.


Line by Line Meaning

Oh Great City of the Veil
Addressing Rome as a grand city shrouded in mystery


Statues that hide the face
The statues in the city obscure their faces and keep their expressions a mystery


That never leaves a trace
There is no record of the true history of the city


For history wrong to tell
The city's history has been lost or hidden, and it's difficult to determine the truth


From the foundation I have run
Kowalczyk has explored and investigated the city's origins


And climbed the highest walls
He has gone to great lengths to gain access to the city's secrets


Just to uncover that sweetest love
His quest has led him to an emotional discovery


Of the one who lives inside me
He has found the love he was seeking within himself all along


Oh, Oh, Rome
Reaffirming the title city as the subject of the song


This love will shine on
Emphasizing the enduring nature of the love he has discovered


Oh great woman of the veil
Addressing a woman as a symbol of the city's allure and mystery


Temptations that hide the face
The city's alluring quality is heightened by its hidden temptations


That never took the bait
Kowalczyk has not fallen prey to the city's allurements


That never ever fell
He has remained steadfast in his pursuit of the truth


Never believed there were two
He has remained faithful and true to his own identity


Where there's only ever been one
He has always known who he is and stayed true to himself


Shines as brightly in the night
The woman he addresses remains beautiful and ravishing, even in the darkness


As she does in the blazin' sun
She is radiant and captivating in all circumstances


Traffic jam!
A sudden break in the song's introspective tone, as the singer becomes frustrated in the face of some obstacle


I can't believe we got stuck here again
Reflecting on a common frustration in the city


Outside St. John's
Naming a specific location in the city


We gotta move on
Despite the frustrations of the city, Kowalczyk urges himself to keep going


To the temple not made with hands
Looking beyond the man-made structures of Rome in search of a spiritual oasis


Where you're never late
A promise of eternal love, always available to those who seek it


But just in time
The love is not ephemeral or short-lived, but always ready when we are


For the real Love that lives inside
Reaffirming the earlier theme of internal, spiritual love, which is the true goal of Kowalczyk's search




Writer(s): Edward J. Kowalczyk Copyright: Loco De Amor Music

Contributed by Skyler T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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