While still in university she was submitting original material for other artists to record; however, none of her songs were recorded and she worked as a busker and waitress in Greenwich Village after graduating. Together with Soozie Tyrell and Lisa Lowell, she formed a street group known as Trickster. She struggled to make her way in the songwriting and recording industry in New York and New Jersey for many years before playing at Kenny’s Castaway in Greenwich Village, as well as Asbury Park's The Stone Pony, which got her notice and eventually recording work with Southside Johnny and David Johansen. Rumbledoll (1993) was her first record .
In 1984, she joined the E Street Band three or four days before the opening show of the Born in the U.S.A. Tour, either because Springsteen wanted to expand the emotional range of the band (Marsh, Glory Days) or because Nils Lofgren contracted mononucleosis, which made it impossible for him to sing his backing vocals (Scialfa, [1]). In 1986, she appeared on the Rolling Stones' Dirty Work album, leaving her unique vocal mark on "One Hit (To the Body)" as well as other tracks. She worked with Keith Richards on his first solo disc Talk is Cheap. Steve Jordan, who co-produced the Richards' record, was a friend of Scialfa's from her Greenwich Village days.
Scialfa has made two solo albums, 1993's Rumble Doll and 2004's 23rd Street Lullaby, both of which received four-star reviews from Rolling Stone, but failed to produce successful radio singles. Each record is a mix of confessional songwriting, impressive vocal range, and traditional country, folk and rock music. Springsteen and fellow E Street bandmates like Lofgren and Roy Bittan contributed backing work. Following the release of her second album, Scialfa played a series of club dates along the East Coast and she was also the opening act of the post-final night of the Vote for Change tour. Criticism of her performances was sometimes along the lines that, while she had some good songs and interesting arrangements, her voice was more suited to backing than lead vocals and she lacked stage presence. However, she has many loyal and enthusiastic fans. Some believe she ranks among today's top female song-writers and that her work is overlooked primarily due to her connection to Springsteen.
Romeo
Patti Scialfa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What can I do
You're a part of me forever
Like a troublesome tattoo
I lay awake at night
Curse your name into the dark
While the memory of you rings
Like a church bell through my heart
Oh Romeo
Remember how we'd listen to the radio
When the girls sang
"Baby baby you know it's true
Ain't no one in this world for me but you"
Now I'm a believer darlin'
I believe in heaven above
And when I look in your eyes
I believe I still see love
Well maybe I will never know
Just why you walked away
Did you think I wasn't good enough
Or were you just afraid
Of the cold rain that's fallen
All around us now
Oh Romeo
Now I'm living here in Chelsea
In somebody else's arms
Got a ring around my finger
Diamond snake around my arm
Don't know if he knows
About you darlin'
I don't even care
Sometimes he pretend to reach for me
And I pretend I'm there
While that cold rain
Has fallen all around us now
Listen
Oh Romeo
Remember how we'd listen to the radio
When the girls sang
"Baby baby you know it's true
Ain't no one in this world for me but you"
Well there is no one
in this world for me but you
In Patti Scialfa's song "Romeo," she sings about a love that has lasted long past its expiration date. She stands at her ex-lover's doorstep, wondering what she can do to mend their relationship. She compares her love for him to a troublesome tattoo, something that is always with her, even if she wishes it were not. She curses his name at night while the memory of him rings through her heart like a church bell. Then the cold rain starts to fall, a metaphor for the distance and tension between them.
She recalls happier times when they used to listen to the radio and sing along with the girls' song about true love. Now, she is a believer in heaven above, and when she looks in his eyes, she believes she still sees love. However, she can't understand why he left her. Was she not good enough, or was he just afraid of the cold rain that has fallen between them? Despite living in Chelsea with another man, she can't shake the memories of her past romance. She pretends to be there for her current partner, but her heart still belongs to Romeo.
Line by Line Meaning
Standing at your doorstep darlin', What can I do
I am here, desperately wanting to make things right between us, but I don't know how.
You're a part of me forever, Like a troublesome tattoo
You are a permanent fixture in my life, impossible to forget or remove, even though you cause me pain.
I lay awake at night, Curse your name into the dark, While the memory of you rings, Like a church bell through my heart, Then a cold rain starts to fall
I can't escape your memory, and it tortures me to the point where I stay up all night, angry and hurt. Even the weather seems to taunt me with its bleakness.
Oh Romeo, Remember how we'd listen to the radio, When the girls sang, "Baby baby you know it's true, Ain't no one in this world for me but you"
We had a love that felt invincible, and we clung to the idea of being soulmates, proven by the songs we listened to and the emotions they stirred in us.
Now I'm a believer darlin', I believe in heaven above, And when I look in your eyes, I believe I still see love
Despite everything that's happened, I still hold onto the hope that true love exists, and I see it when I look at you, despite the pain you've caused me.
Well maybe I will never know, Just why you walked away, Did you think I wasn't good enough, Or were you just afraid
I am still plagued by doubts and questions about why our relationship ended - was I not enough for you, or were you just afraid to commit?
Of the cold rain that's fallen, All around us now
The metaphorical 'rain' of negative emotions and circumstances continues to surround us, making it difficult to move on.
Now I'm living here in Chelsea, In somebody else's arms, Got a ring around my finger, Diamond snake around my arm
I've moved on in some ways, but I'm still haunted by the past. I'm married to someone else, but there's an emptiness inside me that nothing can fill.
Don't know if he knows, About you darlin', I don't even care
I don't know if my current partner knows about the depth of my past with you, but it doesn't really matter because it's not something I can change.
Sometimes he pretend to reach for me, And I pretend I'm there, While that cold rain, Has fallen all around us now
Even during intimate moments with my partner, my mind often wanders back to memories of you, and I feel guilty for it. I'm still stuck in this cycle of pain and heartbreak, symbolized by the never-ending rain.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: PATTI SCIALFA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind