"Romeo Is Bleeding" is a song written and performed by

Tom Waits Thomas Alan Waits (born December 7, 1949) is an American musician, composer, songwriter, and actor. His lyrics often focus on the underbelly of society and are delivered in his trademark deep, gravelly voice. He worked primarily in jazz during ...

, and released on his 1978 album, '' Blue Valentine.''''Blue Valentine'' track listing
- Tom Waits Official Website - accessed June 1, 2010 The lyrics make frequent use of

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries **Spanish cuisine Other places * Spanish, Ontario, Can ...

, including phrases such as "Hey

Pachuco Pachucos are male members of a counterculture associated with zoot suit fashion, jazz and swing music, a distinct dialect known as '' caló'', and self-empowerment in rejecting assimilation into Anglo-American society that emerged in El Paso, ...

!", "Dáme esa pistola, hombre!" (Give me that pistol, man!), "Hijo de la chingada madre!" (You son of a fucking whore!), and "Vamos a dormir, hombre" (Let's go to sleep, man). Waits also makes a reference to gangster movie-star James Cagney, also mentioned in "Invitation to the Blues" from the album '' Small Change.'' Jay S. Jacobs, in his book ''Wild years: the music and myth of Tom Waits,'' describes "Romeo is Bleeding" as depicting "a guy who sticks a shiv into the local sheriff ndis fatally shot in the chest — a familiar Waits image, with echoes of ''

West Side Story ''West Side Story'' is a musical conceived by Jerome Robbins with music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and a book by Arthur Laurents. Inspired by William Shakespeare's play '' Romeo and Juliet'', the story is set in the mid ...

''". Waits had more overtly referenced ''West Side Story'' earlier on the ''Blue Valentine'' album, with " Somewhere" as the opening track. According to Waits, the song is based on a real incident in

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, largest city in the U.S. state, state of California and the List of United States cities by population, sec ...

, and concerns "a Mexican gang leader who was shot and died in a movie house in downtown L.A.""Romeo Is Bleeding" lyrics
- Tom Waits Library - accessed June 1, 2010 Music critic Adrian Denning wrote that "one song that would, could and SHOULD rank amongst aits'finest moments is the fabulous Jazz swing and late night seedy feel of 'Romeo is Bleeding.'" While lukewarm towards '' Blue Valentine'' in general, Denning remarked that the song "corrects matters somewhat," citing the song's "great vocals and... bass groove."''Blue Valentine'' review
- Adrian Denning's album reviews - accessed June 1, 2010 Robert Christgau wrote that "Romeo is Bleeding" was "easily my favorite among his Chandleroid sagas of tragedy outside the law," but added that it is "more effective on the jacket than when he aitsunderlines its emotional resonance in song."''Blue Valentine'' review
- Robert Christgau's album reviews - accessed June 1, 2010 Patrick Humphries, in his book ''The many lives of Tom Waits,'' was unimpressed, labelling the song a "rewrite" of Waits' 1976 song, "Small Change."Humphries, Patrick (2007) ''The many lives of Tom Waits,'' Omnibus Press, p. 107 The song later lent its name to the

Peter Medak Peter Medak (born Medák Péter, 23 December 1937) is a Hungarian-born film director and television director of British and American productions. Early life Born in Budapest, Hungary, he was the son of Elisabeth (née Diamounstein) and Gyula Med ...

film ''

Romeo Is Bleeding ''Romeo Is Bleeding'' is a 1993 neo-noir crime thriller film directed by Peter Medak, written and produced by Hilary Henkin, and starring Gary Oldman, Lena Olin, Annabella Sciorra, Juliette Lewis, and Roy Scheider. It follows a psychosexual cat ...

'', which starred

Gary Oldman Gary Leonard Oldman (born 21 March 1958) is an English actor and filmmaker. Known for his versatility and intense acting style, he has received various accolades, including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and three British Academy ...

Personnel

– lead vocals, electric guitar * Ray Crawford – electric guitar *

Jim Hughart James David Hughart (born July 28, 1936) is a jazz and pop bass player. Biography Hughart was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, and is the son of Frederick (Fritz) Hughart, bassist with Minneapolis Symphony and San Diego Sympho ...

– bass guitar *

Charles Kynard Charles Kynard (20 February 1933 – 8 July 1979) was an American soul jazz/ acid jazz organist born in St. Louis, Missouri. Kynard first played piano then switched to organ and led a trio in Kansas City including Tex Johnson (flute, sax) ...

– hammond organ * Chip White – drums * Bobbye Hall Porter – congas * Frank Vicari – tenor saxophone

References

{{Tom Waits Songs written by Tom Waits 1978 songs Tom Waits songs Song recordings produced by Bones Howe