Oh Romeo

Album: If I Don't Stay The Night (1997)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Co-written by Matraca Berg and Gary Harrison and running to 4 minutes 15 seconds, Mindy McCready recorded this track for her November 1997 album If I Don't Stay The Night. Nearly 16 years later, the words of the song would come back to haunt her fans, though sadly not the lady herself:

    Who would lay down her life?
    Swallow the poison, pick up the knife
    Maybe I cried Just a teardrop or two
    I would not die for you


    McCready had an abusive relationship with a man who nearly killed her, then after much turbulence and heartache found love with record producer David Wilson, who might indeed have been her Romeo. On January 13, 2013, Wilson, the father of McCready's second son, Zane, was found shot dead at their home, apparently by his own hand. A month and four days later, McCready shot Wilson's dog and then committed suicide herself. Thus, she really did die for her Romeo. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England

Comments: 1

  • Unknown from Springfield, UsThis song now really hits different when you listen to it...what the hell.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Martin Page

Martin PageSongwriter Interviews

With Bernie Taupin, Martin co-wrote the #1 hits "We Built This City" and "These Dreams." After writing the Pretty Woman song for Go West, he had his own hit with "In the House of Stone and Light."

N.W.A vs. the World

N.W.A vs. the WorldSong Writing

How the American gangsta rappers made history by getting banned in the UK.

Jimmy Webb

Jimmy WebbSongwriter Interviews

Webb talks about his classic songs "By the Time I Get to Phoenix," "Wichita Lineman" and "MacArthur Park."

They Might Be Giants

They Might Be GiantsSongwriter Interviews

Who writes a song about a name they found in a phone book? That's just one of the everyday things these guys find to sing about. Anything in their field of vision or general scope of knowledge is fair game. If you cross paths with them, so are you.

Vanessa Carlton

Vanessa CarltonSongwriter Interviews

The "A Thousand Miles" singer on what she thinks of her song being used in White Chicks and how she captured a song from a dream.

Don Felder

Don FelderSongwriter Interviews

Don breaks down "Hotel California" and other songs he wrote as a member of the Eagles. Now we know where the "warm smell of colitas" came from.