Mercutio, after being fatally wounded by Tybalt in a duel, states to Romeo, “No, ‘tis enough, ‘twill serve. Ask for me tomorrow and you shall find me a grave man”(3.1.93). Romeo was immediately filled with thoughts of revenge towards Tybalt and sought his death. The song “Man Down” by Rihanna would go perfectly with this infamous scene where anger and revenge gets the best of Romeo and causes him to take the life of another. When Tybalt comes back to the place where he had killed Mercutio, Romeo angrily states, “That late though gav’st me, for Mercutio’s soul. Is but a little way above our heads, Staying for thine to keep him company”(3.1.123). Likewise, in the song, Rihanna states, “What started out as a simple altercation, turned into a real sticky situation.” In both cases, they had been wronged by someone and got their revenge by killing them. After Romeo and Tybalts duel, Romeo, standing over Tybalts dead body, states, “Oh, I am fortune’s fool,”(3.1.132) now realizing the implications of his revenge. Rihanna perfectly describes this by singing, “Me just thinking on the time that I’m facing, makes me wanna cry.” In conclusion, I believe that the audience would really appreciate this slow, confession type song during this hard to watch scene. Rihanna shines light onto the grief that Romeo feels for killing another man who was his family.
Lyrics
I didn't mean to end his life, I know it wasn't right
I can't even sleep at night, can't get it off my mind
I need to get out of sight, fore I end up behind bars
What started out as a simple altercation
Turned into a real sticky situation
Me just thinking on the time that I'm facing
Makes me wanna cry
'Cause I didn't mean to hurt him
Coulda been somebody's son
And I took his heart when
I pulled out that gun
Rum bum bum bum, rum bum bum bum, rum bum bum bum
Man Down!
Rum bum bum bum, rum bum bum, bum rum bum bum bum
Man Down!
Oh mama mama mama
I just shot a man down
In central station
In front of a big ol' crowd
Oh, why? oh, why?
Oh mama mama mama
I just shot a man down
In central station
Little 22, I call her Peggy Sue
When she fits right down in my shoes
Whatchu expect me to do? if you're playing me for a fool
I will lose my cool, and reach for my fire arm
I didn't mean to lay him down
But its too late to turn back now
Don't know what I was thinking
Now he's no longer living
So I'm bout to leave town, aye uh
'Cause I didn't mean to hurt him
Coulda been somebody's son
And I took his heart when
I pulled out that gun
Rum bum bum bum, rum bum bum bum, rum bum bum bum
Man Down!
Rum bum bum bum, rum bum bum, bum rum bum bum bum
Man Down!
Oh mama, mama, mama
I just shot a man down
In central station
In front of a big ol' crowd
Oh, why? Oh, why?
Oh mama, mama, mama, I just shot a man down (Criminal)(In central station)
Said, "I'd never thought I'd do it
Never thought I'd do it, never thought I'd do it!
Oh gosh, What ever happened to me
Ever happened to me, ever happened to me?
Why did I pull the trigger, pull the trigger, pull the trigger? Boom
And end a n****, end a n**** life so soon?
When mi pull the trigger, pull the trigger, pull it pon' you
Somebody tell me what I'm gonna, what I'm gonna do? Ehh
Rum bum bum bum, rum bum bum bum, rum bum bum bum
Me say one man down (And wah me say)
Rum bum bum bum, rum bum bum bum, rum bum bum bum
Then me went downtown
'Cause now I'mma criminal, criminal, criminal
Oh lorda mercy, now I am a criminal
Man Down, tell the judge please gimme minimal
Run out a town none a dem can see me now
Oh mama, mama, mama
I just shot a man down
In central station
In front of a big ol crowd
Oh, why? Oh, why?
Oh mama, mama, mama
I just shot a man down
In central station
I didn't mean to end his life, I know it wasn't right
I can't even sleep at night, can't get it off my mind
I need to get out of sight, fore I end up behind bars
What started out as a simple altercation
Turned into a real sticky situation
Me just thinking on the time that I'm facing
Makes me wanna cry
'Cause I didn't mean to hurt him
Coulda been somebody's son
And I took his heart when
I pulled out that gun
Rum bum bum bum, rum bum bum bum, rum bum bum bum
Man Down!
Rum bum bum bum, rum bum bum, bum rum bum bum bum
Man Down!
Oh mama mama mama
I just shot a man down
In central station
In front of a big ol' crowd
Oh, why? oh, why?
Oh mama mama mama
I just shot a man down
In central station
Little 22, I call her Peggy Sue
When she fits right down in my shoes
Whatchu expect me to do? if you're playing me for a fool
I will lose my cool, and reach for my fire arm
I didn't mean to lay him down
But its too late to turn back now
Don't know what I was thinking
Now he's no longer living
So I'm bout to leave town, aye uh
'Cause I didn't mean to hurt him
Coulda been somebody's son
And I took his heart when
I pulled out that gun
Rum bum bum bum, rum bum bum bum, rum bum bum bum
Man Down!
Rum bum bum bum, rum bum bum, bum rum bum bum bum
Man Down!
Oh mama, mama, mama
I just shot a man down
In central station
In front of a big ol' crowd
Oh, why? Oh, why?
Oh mama, mama, mama, I just shot a man down (Criminal)(In central station)
Said, "I'd never thought I'd do it
Never thought I'd do it, never thought I'd do it!
Oh gosh, What ever happened to me
Ever happened to me, ever happened to me?
Why did I pull the trigger, pull the trigger, pull the trigger? Boom
And end a n****, end a n**** life so soon?
When mi pull the trigger, pull the trigger, pull it pon' you
Somebody tell me what I'm gonna, what I'm gonna do? Ehh
Rum bum bum bum, rum bum bum bum, rum bum bum bum
Me say one man down (And wah me say)
Rum bum bum bum, rum bum bum bum, rum bum bum bum
Then me went downtown
'Cause now I'mma criminal, criminal, criminal
Oh lorda mercy, now I am a criminal
Man Down, tell the judge please gimme minimal
Run out a town none a dem can see me now
Oh mama, mama, mama
I just shot a man down
In central station
In front of a big ol crowd
Oh, why? Oh, why?
Oh mama, mama, mama
I just shot a man down
In central station