The Band - When I paint my masterpiece

From their 1971's LP "Cahoots", one of the well known Bob's songs.

Oh, the streets of Rome are filled with rubble
Ancient footprints are everywhere
You can almost think that you're seein' double
On a cold, dark night on the Spanish Stairs
Got to hurry on back to my hotel room
Where I've got me a date with Botticelli's niece
She promised that she'd be right there with me
When I paint my masterpiece

Oh, the hours I've spent inside the Coliseum
Dodging lions and wastin' time
Oh, those mighty kings of the jungle, I could hardly stand to see 'em
Yes, it sure has been a long, hard climb
Train wheels runnin' through the back of my memory
When I ran on the hilltop following a pack of wild geese
Someday, everything is gonna be smooth like a rhapsody
When I paint my masterpiece

Sailin' round the world in a dirty gondola
Oh, to be back in the land of Coca-Cola!

I left Rome and landed in Brussels
On a plane ride so bumpy that I almost cried
Clergymen in uniform and young girls pullin' muscles
Everyone was there to greet me when I stepped inside
Newspapermen eating candy
Had to be held down by big police
Someday, everything is gonna be diff'rent
When I paint my masterpiece

Category:

Music

Tags:

• The Band
• When I paint my masterpiece

[Roddy165]

I like Bob D./Grateful Deads version-but The Band's version has to be the best!! Love the accordian/mandellin in this song.

[MrRazorblade999]

Oh the streets of Roooome...

[305bigdad]

I love that the picture looks like it is from the Civil War . I know Levon liked to read about that period.

[ajweberman]

AJ's footprints are everywhere

[Canadianloyalist123]

@8Darturo fuck you saddam Hussein of Iraq.

[MrB14me]

this song rules i thought it was cajun

[equallyeasilyfuqyou]

does anyone know if levon or richard played drums on this? i'm guessing levon.

[8Darturo]

fuck you, ronnie! 

[schalleepimp101]

best movies have the best songs

[percommode]

@Tubernaut Funny thing is I love all of Cahoots. It was the first album of the Band's that I really loved. And this was the track that started it off.

[lwslade54]

@hoodus61 The Simcoe Sound is similar to a hillbilly rock and country conbined. Do a search for Rick's brother Terry Danko. He has lots of songs he wrote as well as lots he did with Rick. 2 other groups with a Simcoe connection are Dry County and The Parachute Club. Marlo Davidson was from Simcoe. She was with the Parachute Club. Ric Wilson is from Simcoe and is with Dry County as their drummer.

[hoodus61]

@lwslade54 hay man would you explain the Simcoe sound to me ....i have been playing music since 1969 and am always looking for new sounds i play bass and Rick Danko is one of my top ten thanks David