Romeo & Juliet
Passenger Lyrics


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A lovestruck Romeo sings a streetsuss a serenade
Laying everybody low with a love song that he made
Finds a convenient streetlight, steps out of the shade
Says something like, "You and me babe—how 'bout it?"

Juliet says, "Hey it's Romeo. You nearly gimme a heart attack"
He's underneath the window; she's singing, "Hey, now, my boyfriend's back.
You shouldn't come around here singing up at people like that.
Anyway what you gonna do about it?"

Juliet, the dice was loaded from the start
And I bet, then you exploded into my heart
And I forget, I forget the movie song
When are 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, yeah you promised me thick and thin.
Well, 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 are you gonna realize it was just that the time was wrong, Juliet?

I can't do the talk 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 but 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
Juliet, 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 are you gonna realize it was just that the time was wrong, Juliet?

Overall Meaning

In Passenger's song "Romeo & Juliet," we get a glimpse of a love story that is passionate, tumultuous, and ultimately doomed. The song begins with Romeo serenading Juliet with a love song he wrote, under a street light. He asks her to be with him, to which she responds with caution, mindful of her "boyfriend" who is apparently on his way back. The song then shifts to Juliet remembering their past, how they fell in love and how she used to cry during their lovemaking.


The chorus of the song speaks volumes about the tragedy of their relationship. With the dice loaded from the start and the time seemingly wrong, Romeo and Juliet's romance is destined to fail. The song concludes with Romeo expressing his longing for Juliet, acknowledging that he cannot be with her as he is behind bars, and urging her to remember the love they shared.


The song tells the classic Shakespearean tale of Romeo and Juliet but puts a modern twist on it. The lyrics remind us that love can sometimes be intense, all-consuming, and ultimately tragic. The song highlights the powerful emotions that two people can share and how they can often be at odds with the practicality of the world around them.


Line by Line Meaning

A lovestruck Romeo sings a streetsuss a serenade
Romeo, who is hopelessly in love, sings a passionate love song to impress Juliet.


Laying everybody low with a love song that he made
Romeo's love song is so powerful that it captivates everyone in the vicinity.


Finds a convenient streetlight, steps out of the shade
Romeo finds a street light and decides to come out of the shadows to serenade Juliet properly.


Says something like, "You and me babe—how 'bout it?"
Romeo confidently proposes to Juliet and asks if she feels the same way.


Juliet says, "Hey it's Romeo. You nearly gimme a heart attack"
Juliet recognizes Romeo's voice and is startled by his unexpected appearance.


He's underneath the window; she's singing, "Hey, now, my boyfriend's back.
Romeo is lurking beneath Juliet's window while she reminds him that she already has a boyfriend.


You shouldn't come around here singing up at people like that.
Juliet is warning Romeo that he shouldn't be publicly serenading her like this.


Anyway what you gonna do about it?"
Juliet challenges Romeo to make a move if he's serious about being with her.


Juliet, the dice was loaded from the start
Juliet believes that fate has predetermined their relationship's outcome.


And I bet, then you exploded into my heart
Despite the predetermined fate, Romeo's love has an intense impact on Juliet's heart.


And I forget, I forget the movie song
Juliet has forgotten the cliché love songs from movies because Romeo's love is real and unique.


When are you gonna realize it was just that the time was wrong, Juliet?
Romeo is hoping that Juliet will eventually see that their love has potential, but the timing wasn't right.


Come up on different streets, they both were streets of shame
Despite living in different neighborhoods, Romeo and Juliet both face hardship and struggle.


Both dirty, both mean, yes, and the dream was just the same
Romeo and Juliet's dreams, although similar, are born from their shared tough upbringing.


And I dreamed your dream for you and now your dream is real
Juliet sees that Romeo has helped make her dreams a reality, even if they couldn't come true together.


How can you look at me as if I was just another one of your deals?
Romeo is questioning Juliet's sincerity and whether she truly cares for him or just views him as a rebound.


When you can fall for chains of silver you can fall for chains of gold
Romeo realizes that Juliet is more interested in riches and material possessions than true love.


You can fall for pretty strangers and the promises they hold
Juliet is attracted to flashy, charming men who make grand promises, which Romeo sees as superficial.


You promised me everything, yeah you promised me thick and thin.
Romeo recalls how Juliet made grand promises to him as well, but they ultimately failed to come true.


Well, now you just say, "Oh Romeo, yeah. You know, I used to have a scene with him."
Juliet has moved on from her relationship with Romeo and now dismisses it as a mere fling.


Juliet, when we made love you used to cry
Juliet was so moved by their passionate lovemaking that it made her cry.


You said, "I love you like the stars above, I'll love you 'til I die."
Juliet professed her eternal love for Romeo, vowing to love him until her dying day.


There's a place for us, you know the movie song
Romeo remembers a romantic movie song that he associates with them, hinting that he still feels they could be together.


When are you gonna realize it was just that the time was wrong, Juliet?
Romeo is hoping that Juliet will eventually see that their love has potential, but the timing wasn't right.


I can't do the talk like they talk on the TV
Romeo doesn't know how to express himself with flashy words like modern public figures.


And I can't do a love song like the way it's meant to be
Romeo doesn't know how to write a love song with broad appeal; his love is too specific and intimate.


I can't do everything but I'll do anything for you
Even if Romeo can't be everything Juliet wants, he is still willing to do anything and everything for her.


I can't do anything but be in love with you
Romeo is limited in many ways, but one thing he can do is be in love with Juliet.


And all I do is miss you and the way we used to be
Romeo wants to return to the simpler, happier times when he and Juliet were happy together.


All I do is keep the beat, the bad company
Romeo is struggling to keep moving forward in life while surrounded by negative influences and bad company.


All I do is kiss you through the bars of a rhyme
Despite being separate from Juliet, Romeo expresses his devotion through his poetic words and passion.


Juliet, I'd do the stars with you any time
Romeo is still deeply in love with Juliet and is willing to dream big with her by his side.


When are you gonna realize it was just that the time was wrong, Juliet?
Romeo is hoping that Juliet will eventually see that their love has potential, but the timing wasn't right.




Writer(s): Mark Knopfler

Contributed by Isabella D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@clairefletcher7169

this rendition made me cry - so heart felt

@gleydsonlopesof

Ouvir da vontade de expelir gases kkkk

@leafitoussi1028

Is there a way to get a better quality of this cover ?

@kirstyblenkin174

Lea Fitoussi I have a CD with this version on I will check and see what it's called 😉

@kirstyblenkin174

Lea Fitoussi it's BBC2 sound of the 80s. it has modern day covers

@bojanaleksic7173

Passenger played this few days ago in his live stream session (skip to 24:40, or not, all songs are awesome :D): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQ_CH33X9b4

@mp9748

Shit

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