Romeo and Juliet (song)

Infobox Single
Name = Romeo and Juliet


Artist = Dire Straits
from Album = Making Movies
B-side = Solid Rock
Released = 1980
Format =
Recorded =
Genre = Rock
Length = 05:54
Label = Vertigo
Writer = Mark Knopfler
Producer =
Certification =
Chart position = * #8 (UK Singles Chart)
Last single = "Lady Writer"
(1979)
This single = "Romeo and Juliet"
(1980)
Next single = "Skateaway"
(1981)"Romeo and Juliet" is a song by the British rock band Dire Straits, written by Dire Straits singer and lead guitarist Mark Knopfler. It first appeared on the 1980 album "Making Movies" and was released as a single in 1981. The song subsequently appeared on the Dire Straits live albums "" and "On the Night", and later on Knopfler's live duet album with Emmylou Harris, "Real Live Roadrunning" (though Harris does not perform on the track).

The song opens on an arpeggiated resonator guitar part played by Knopfler, who also sings the lead vocal. The instrumentation remains simple during the verses and moves to a full-on rock arrangement in the chorus sections.

The lyrics of the song comprise a description of a conversation between the two lovers of the title. In addition to the obvious reference to William Shakespeare's play of the same title, the song makes playful allusion to other works involving young love, including the songs "My Boyfriend's Back" and "Somewhere" from "West Side Story" (which is itself based on the Shakespeare play).

This song was inspired by Mark Knopfler's broken romance with Holly Vincent, leader of the band Holly and the ItaliansFact|date=October 2008.

Cover versions

* By the Indigo Girls on their 1992 album "Rites of Passage".
* By Cliff Eberhardt on his 1995 album "Mona Lisa Café".
* By Michael Braunfeld on his 1997 album "Steel City".
* By Edwin McCain on his 2003 album "The Austin Sessions".
* By Matt Nathanson on his 2006 album "At the Point".
* By The Killers on their 2007 album "Sawdust".
* By Monte Montgomery on his 2003 live album "New & Approved".
* By Emmylou Harris