It doesn't matter when we're home, all alone
All we've got to be is me and you On our own there ain't nothing that we can't get through But when in Rome, do as the Romans do "When In Rome" is the working couple's anthem and one of Billy's under appreciated songs. During the day, the couple go to their separate work lives, swinging that hammer and answering that phone, and doing like the Romans do. But at the end of the day, they return to each other's arms and find relief. This is much like the theme of 52nd Street's "Until The Night."
Both songs could have been on An Innocent Man as they each have a retro early 60s sound. "When In Rome" is an upbeat finger-snapping soul tune. Mark Rivera does an excellent job on the saxophone. This is a good song to listen to on your morning commute to work. It will get your blood running and remind you about why you go to work every day and why you "don't mind masquerading with all those other fools" so long as at the end of the day you return to someone "right by [your] side" who keeps you satisfied. Billy tells his partner that it just the two of them against the world: "It doesn't matter when we're home, all alone, all we've got be is me and you, on our own there ain't nothing that we can't get through, but when in Rome, do as the Romans do." At the end of the day, while Billy may write about his high-class, supermodel, jet-setting wife ("That's Not Her Style"), they are still a working couple too, doing like the rest of us do out in the "real" world. Billy, however, is apparently not fond of this song as he never plays it in concert and recently said of the song "what was I thinking?" and "there's a real stinker." Many Billy Joel fans also consider the song to be one of his weaker ones, and a bit schmaltzy. Not me. "Coffee in the morning and martinis at night, Everybody's working up a big appetite." Love that line. Vertical Divider
"All we've got to be is me and you . . . " Columbia Records publicity photo. Credit: Unknown.
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Well I see you in the morning
Putting on your pretty clothes And I watch you do your make-up Like they do in all those fashion shows Then you turn to me so that I can see If you put yourself together right Then you go away and you're gone all day But I know you're coming home tonight And when you're home, darling all you've got to be is you But when in Rome, do as the Romans do Well it's alright if you're tired when your day is done You can see when you look at me, you're not the only one It's a cold, cruel world for a working girl But you can't let them see you cry It's a fact of life, now man and wife Work full time to just get by And when we're home all it's gonna be is me and you But when in Rome, do as the Romans do I've done some strange things I never thought I'd do before But if the strain brings Happiness, more or less Then I don't mind masquerading with all those other fools I don't mind the games I'm playing, Because I've learned the rules And when times are tough, I've got just enough If you're standing right by my side Darling more and more I get hungry for All the ways you keep me satisfied On our own there ain't nothing that we can't get throgh But when in Rome, do as the Romans do Then I don't mind masquerading With all those other fools I don't mind the games I'm playing, Because I've learned the rules It doesn't matter when we're home, all alone All we've got to be is me and you On our own there ain't nothing that we can't get through But when in Rome, do as the Romans do Swing that hammer and break that stone Push those buttons and answer that phone Coffee in the morning and martinis at night Everybody's working up a big appetite Do as the Romans do
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Video
A video for "When In Rome" featuring the hard-working and beautiful Christie Brinkley. "When In Rome" © 1989 Sony Music Entertainment.