Steve Forbert: Romeo's Tune

For one hit wonder Wednesday, we take you back to the beginning of 1980 with Steve Forbert’s only Top 40 hit – “Romeo’s Tune.” When this song was popular, people often compared Forbert as being the next Dylan. Forbert tried to shun all of the comparisons to folk-rock’s iconic songwriter.

I remember playing this tune at WAMX in Ashland, Kentucky where I worked two Saturday shifts. The single charted at #11 and was from Forbert’s second LP, “Jack Rabbit Slim.” While some of his later recordings were critically acclaimed, he never managed to repeat the success of “Romeo’s Tune.”

Live Version

Lyrics

Meet me in the middle of the day
Let me hear you say everything's okay
Bring me southern kisses from your room

Meet me in the middle of the night
Let me hear you say everything's alright
Let me smell the moon in your perfume

Oh, Gods and years will rise and fall
And there's always something more
Lost in talk, I waste my time
And it's all been said before
While further down behind the masquerade
The tears are there
I don't ask for all that much
I just want someone to care

Answer right now

Meet me in the middle of the day
Let me hear you say, everything's okay
Come on out beneath the shining sun

Meet me in the middle of the night
Let me hear you say, everything's alright
Sneak on out beneath the stars and run, yeah

Oh, yeah, yes
Oh, yes


It's king and queen and we must go down round
Behind the chandelier
Where I won't have to speak my mind
And you won't have to hear
Shreds of news and afterthoughts
And complicated scenes
We'll weather down behind the light
And fade like magazines

Meet me in the middle of the day
Let me hear you say, everything's okay
Bring me southern kisses from your room
Hey, hey
Meet me in the middle of the night
Let me hear you say, everything's alright
Let me smell the moon in your perfume
Oh, no
Meet me in the middle of the day
Let me hear you say everything's okay
Let me see you smiling back at me
Heeeey
Meet me in the middle of the night
Let me hear you say, everything's alright
Hold me tight and lovin' love is free
Whoa-oh
OK