Rome is not Home

Rome is not Home

Zhiqiang Cai 2026.2.1

https://youtu.be/bhzWQh8p71U

[Verse 1]

I stopped a man on a quiet street,

Asked for a place I knew by heart.

He didn’t hesitate or doubt,

Just drew a line and said, “Start.”

His hand was steady, his voice was sure,

His eyes said trust me, I know.

So I nodded once and took the road,

Even though my feet said no.

[Chorus]

I asked him how to get home.

He showed me the way to get to Rome.

I know every way leads to Rome,

But Rome is Rome, not my home.

[Verse 2]

I walked along where his finger went,

Kept my questions tucked inside.

The ground felt wrong, the signs felt off,

Still I played the part and tried.

I wore belief like borrowed clothes,

Just long enough to fit the scene.

As long as someone watched my steps,

I was who they thought I’d be.

[Chorus]

I asked him how to get home.

He showed me the way to get to Rome.

I know every way leads to Rome,

But Rome is Rome, not my home.

[Bridge]

When his eyes were gone, the road went quiet,

The truth came back without a sound.

I stopped pretending I was lost,

And turned around, turned around.

[Final Chorus]

I asked him how to get home.

He showed me the way to get to Rome.

I know every way leads to Rome,

But Rome is Rome… not my home.