Sunday November 22, 2020 “Just Like Romeo & Juliet” The Reflections

We will be spending time in song with Shakespeare’s forever star crossed lovers all this week.  It is the perfect teenage love story given that Juliet’s age in Shakespeare’s play is suggested to be thirteen and Romeo's fifteen.

We’ll start somewhat chronologically with the 1964 gem and the only top ten hit for Detroit vocal group The Reflections, “(Just Like) Romeo & Juliet”.  Although not written by Shakespeare, what's so good about this song, aside from it’s so contagious pop sound, is just how faithful it remains to Shakespeare’s tragic love story.

You will of course remember the scene in Shakespeare’s play where Romeo takes Juliet to the Verona drive-in and just how much she craves those pretty presents in the catalogs and of course the need for Romeo to get a job and buy a car.  Wait, maybe I’m thinking about a different Shakespere play.

Stay safe and well… and don’t drink any strange potions.

Finding a job tomorrow morning,

Got a little something I want to do.

Gonna buy something I can ride in

Take my girl dating at the drive-in,

Our love's gonna be written down in history

Just like Romeo and Juliet

 

I'm gonna buy her pretty presents,

Just like the ones in the catalog.

Gonna show her how much I love her

Let her know that one way or the other,

Our love's gonna be written down in history

Just like Romeo and Juliet

 

Right now I'm speculating,

Wonder what tomorrow's gonna really bring.

If I don't find work tomorrow

It's gonna be heartaches and sorrow,

Our love's gonna be destroyed by a tragedy

Just like Romeo and Juliet

 

Talk about love and romance,

Just wait till I get myself straight.

I'm gonna put Romeo's fame right smack dab outta date.

 

Finding a job tomorrow morning,

Got a little something I want to do.

Gonna buy something I can ride in

Take my girl dating at the drive-in,

Our love's gonna be written down in history

Just like Romeo and Juliet