10 Best Songs Based on Romeo and Juliet

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Has there ever been a play more misunderstood by audiences than William Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet? It is a story of two teenagers – Juliet is thirteen, remember – who, through a series of misunderstandings, end up killing themselves. Yes, it is a tragedy, but is it really an eternal love story? Lack of communication, not trusting one's instincts and listening to friends instead, and then over-reacting are what occur in this story. And that is why it is timeless – teenagers still act like that to this day. It is sad, and the added complication of parents feuding (the "star-crossed lovers" thing) adds to that, but on any objective viewing, the story is more a tale of sad stupidity than a love that would never die.

Still, it is the one Shakespeare play that continues to sit in the zeitgeist of each age, as new audiences find its tragedy and love story to their liking. And, of course, when films like West Side Story and Romeo & Juliet come out and make large amounts of money, it just shows that the appeal is still there, as strong as ever.


Which leads to music. Hardly surprising, but a number of musicians have used the themes from this play and its titular characters as inspiration. Having said that, not as many as I would have thought. I own eight, and so when I went looking for two more to make up this list, I was shocked at how few I had to choose from.

Why is this? Maybe it feels too much like a cliché. Maybe the song-writers feel all that can be said has been said. Or maybe there are a lot of songs based on this play that just slipped under the radar of my searching because of the language used.

I did decide to get rid of songs that only mentioned Romeo and Juliet in passing (like '(Don't Fear) The Reaper' by Blue Öyster Cult). As it is, a lot of the songs I found use Romeo and/or Juliet as metaphors for either lovers in general or lovers that are out of reach. Oh, and I'm not using the music from the Prokofiev Ballet because that was music for Romeo And Juliet, not about them.

Still, here are ten songs featuring these Shakespearean characters or based on the play's ideas. Why do they work? Because the teenagers are still the same, be they Verona in the 1300s or Adelaide in 2020, and seem to always have been. Shakespeare was an absolute genius, and I stand by that. He knew how to write for people. And no matter what academics might say, that was who he was writing for – the people. And so why not have popular songs based on his work… songs for the people?
'Romeo And The Lonely Girl' by Thin Lizzy (1976)

This is one of those songs where Romeo is a metaphor for a guy unlucky in love. In this case, the Romeo makes a pass at a girl, is rebuffed and the girl goes onto someone else. It paints a picture of a depressed man, which probably suits the character in the play. And it is a decent track off the quite wonderful Jailbreak album.
'Romeo's Tune' by Steve Forbert (1979)

A tune that many recognise but few know the title of. This is because the title does not appear in the song. It is about withdrawing from the world with your lover. Not necessarily to death, but still that withdrawal from everything to be together was what Romeo and Juliet wanted. They just took it too far. This is told from the point of view of the idealised Romeo character and is a wonderful track.
'Romeo And Juliet' by Dire Straits (1980)

This song is special to me. It is a song Melinda and I would listen to together as we considered lost loves. I think of her when I hear it. It is a glorious track by Dire Straits , with beautiful guitar-playing and a melancholy tale about a couple that cannot stay together. Again, no death, but a depressing ending all the same. And one of Dire Straits' very best.
'(Just Like) Romeo And Juliet' by Mental As Anything (1980)

I am so embarrassed. In my column looking at Mental As Anything songs, I called this one of their top original tracks. Well, researching for this column… it's a cover! Yep, I made a mistake. Not the first, I am sure, and certainly not the last. Anyway, this is far better than the original , and compares the love of two people to Romeo and Juliet, as if it is a love story that has nothing bad about it. The play as a metaphor for a perfect love.
'They Don't Know' by Kirsty MacColl (1979) and Tracey Ullman (1983)


I cannot decide between the original or the equally awesome cover version, so I'll put them both here and let people decide for themselves (although MacColl does backing vocals and the "bay-bee" at the end of the instrument break of Ullman's version ). Romeo and Juliet are not mentioned in the song by name, but the story of a girl being with a guy that her family and friends do not like, but sticking with him anyway takes its basis from the play. The end of their relationship isn't mentioned, though… And this is another song that I associate with Mel because of a friend who just gave me grief about her.
'Juliet' by Robin Gibb (1983)

This is a song that I adore. The atmospheric synth, Gibb's amazing falsetto voice, and the rousing chorus. It is a great example of 1980s New Wave pop, and one of the best of the decade. The lyrics are a strange mix of allusions to the play and singing about a 1980s lifestyle. I think it is again taking Romeo and Juliet as having an idealised romance, but there are enough good things about the song to ignore that. Strangely, it only charted in mainland Europe. Well, in Australia, I bought it (well, the album it came from).
'Romeo And Juliet' by Malcolm McLaren presents the World Famous Supreme Team Show (1990)

This track is from the same album that gave us 'Aria On Air' , where Malcolm McLaren just went crazy and mixed music from all over the world into one under-appreciated musical stew. This one samples the line "Romeo And Juliet…" from the Pointer Sisters' version of '[I[Fire%%' and tells the tale of a modern day Romeo and Juliet doing… things. It is a weird mix of a song and well worth it.
'Romeo' by Dolly Parton featuring (deep breath) Mary Chapin Carpenter, Billy Ray Cyrus, Kathy Mattea, Pam Tillis and Tanya Tucker (1993)

This is an interesting song. It's basically a complete gender swap of the leering on a person as a sexual object trope. Dolly and her friends are all over Billy Ray Cyrus, asking him to be their Romeo, and he responds by asking if she is willing to be his Juliet. The whole Romeo and Juliet thing as simply idealised lovers is in full force here, but the whole woman treating men as objects and Billy Ray going along with it makes this song quite enjoyable for all that. And it uses quotes from the play! Yeah, I like it. It's Dolly! What's not to like?
'Romeo Loves Juliet' by Rick Astley (2001)

Another modern day telling of the tale, but this is one where the Romeo's love is unrequited. So, a very different take on the tale, but clearly using the Romeo and Juliet motif as a metaphor for, yet again, that idealised love story. The lyrics are a little bland, but the song is saved completely by Astley's incredible voice . The man is known for one pop song and yet his body of work is worth so much more than that.
'Love Story' by Taylor Swift (2008)

Another song based on the sort of story of Romeo and Juliet, where the families and friends don't like the two of them dating but they decide they want to anyway in defiance, and keeping it secret. The big difference is they don't kill themselves at the end. This was recorded during Swift's crossover period from country crooner to pop singer , so it tries to keep a foot in both camps. It is a pleasant song and not too bad to listen to.
'Romeo And Juliet' by Kasey Chambers with Foy Vance (2017)

And we finish with a track inspired by being in the Shakespeare room of the New South Wales State Library. The lyrics mention the titular couple and, unlike every other song on this list, there is actually a mention of death – "die in vain…" – which is a welcome relief. Chambers has a glorious voice and is more known for country music, but this is a magnificent Celtic track, with Foy Vance adding a nice counter. This is a beautiful, beautiful song. Why hadn't I heard of this before? Wow… what a way to finish.
So, ten songs based on Romeo and Juliet. Some very good songs here, but Dire Straits and Kasey Chambers are, to my mind, must listens. And, to leave you, I shall do so with the words of Juliet herself:
%%"Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow,
That I shall say good night till it
be morrow."%%
(Act 2, Scene 2)


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