Bridgeport High School graduate Jeff Romeo’s song lyrics will make you laugh, cry or maybe even cringe.

 

He had dabbled in writing over the years with poems and a few songs, but it wasn’t until the pandemic hit that he really started churning out song lyrics and their diversity is intriguing.

 

So many songs in fact, that when he reached 100 songs, he decided to publish them in book form. He worked with AuthorHouse publishing to create “The Best 100 Songs That You Never Heard.”

 

But he didn’t stop there, he kept on writing. He published his second book, “The 130 Most Intriguing Songs That You Never Heard,” and “The Sadistically Clever and Sometimes Funny Writings of Jeffrey Brian Romeo.” He has written more than 250 songs and continues to write as the mood hits him.

 

He had each song copyrighted individually, but wanted to package them all together professionally in hopes that they could get noticed by someone in the music industry. He published his book in June of 2024, and it is available on Amazon or on his website. 

 

“I would like to get someone’s attention whether it is a musician, songwriter or publisher who says, ‘He has some good stuff, let’s check out his other stuff,’” said Romeo, who graduated in 1989 and was a member of the BHS Class AA 1988 state championship football team. “Originally, my dream was to hear someone famous singing my song on the radio, just killing it and crushing it with my song. And somewhere in small print on the album, it reads co-written by Jeff Romeo. I want to be behind the scenes. I don’t know what’s going to happen.”

 

The music he puts to his songs is very basic, so he welcomes a musician taking his songs and turning them into something even better. Growing up in Bridgeport, he was a fan of hard rock, heavy metal, classic and southern rock, alternative and country. So, his song lyrics are influenced by many different genres and could be paired with a variety of music.

 

His dream is that a famous musician would buy and record his songs one day.

 

“I know it would be Jeff's dream to have a well-known singer want to perform one of his songs,” said Gary Lhotsky, Jeff’s long-time friend and fellow BHS graduate.  “I know Jeff loves Zakk Wylde.  If Zakk Wylde did one of his songs, Jeff would be the happiest dude on Earth.”

 

He didn’t stop writing when he finished the book and currently has about 60 new songs and is churning out even more as you read this. He has been sharing several of his new songs on his Facebook page and his popularity has skyrocketed.

 

“I think my second round of songs are more dark and intriguing,” said Romeo. “I have a wide range of musical interest that influences what I write.”

 

Romeo will be the first to tell you that he has a very basic musical talent and can’t really carry a tune, but that hasn’t stopped him from creating songs that appeal to a very wide audience. He taught himself a few key chords on the guitar and while he was home during the COVID pandemic he picked up his guitar and started strumming it and humming out words.

 

“The words seem to time out better when you do it with music,” said Romeo. “That generated ideas in my head.”

 

Musician Dave Hendershot of the Glass Camels feels Romeo has what it takes to be successful as a songwriter.

 

“I met Jeff in a pub a little over a year ago,” said Hendershot. “He hadn’t been published yet. He began to show me his work and published (it) soon after. I think Jeff is a very creative and talented writer. He rhymes very naturally.”

 

Lyrics can stir emotions inside of and help us to process and even celebrate monumental moments in our lives. Romeo has always loved lyrics and felt that he could do as good or even a better job of writing lyrics as the musicians he listens to.

 

“I just started playing with the lyrics and making it my own story,” said Romeo. “I felt like I was writing a movie. I can create anything I want in this song and make it work out whatever way I want such as happy, sad, scary, mean or sweet. I can make it do whatever I want. I love playing with words like with metaphors, idioms and certain phrases. I like twisting them around and making them your own.”

 

When Romeo started writing songs, no one was more surprised than his sister.

 

“I thought he was just having some fun or maybe got bored and started a new hobby.” said Jodi Muller, Romeo’s sister, another BHS graduate and city resident. “I didn’t think it would last long or go as far as it has. I mean I know he has always been deep into his music and had talent for drawing/art, but I had no idea he could write like this.”

 

Muller said she thinks his songs are quite poetic, creative and well-written. Although, some she said she is not so fond of because she doesn’t like explicit songs.

 

A few titles that stood out from Romeo’s postings and his book were Single Mama, Medusa, Honey Bee, Attitude of Death, Hellenbach, The Real Me, Dragons and Butterflies, Cruel World, Johnny Cash, Are we Dating the Same Guy?, Can’t Always Get What I Want, Free Me and Busy Bee.

 

He feels his lyrics would go best with either country, rock or surf rock types of music.

 

“I try to be balanced,” said Romeo. “I try to change up the subject matter to include things that people can relate to. Some of the songs are totally true and are about things that happened in my life. I got into a fight in college and ended up in a Christmas tree. That is in one of my songs. There is a lot of truth in there and some are sci-fi and far-fetched.”

 

Lhotsky, who has known Romeo for 40 years, said Romeo writes what speaks to him in the moment and he loves the variety of moods.

 

“His songs can range from a darker side all the way to songs that are happy and sweet,” said Lhotsky.  “I think Jeff just found his calling in music, which is writing lyrics for songs.  I just see his song writing as a way to marry a talent he has with his love for music.”

 

Romeo said that not all of his song lyrics are about him or what he actually thinks.

 

“Some of it is how I see how others live, and I add theater,” said Romeo. “Some truths, some partial truths and some total fiction.  I’m ok with people guessing or thinking they know what it’s about or if it’s real or not, but it’s not all just about me. As I said in book, maybe the fun part is trying to figure it out.”

 

His sister, who knows him best, says she can see parts of Romeo in the songs he writes.

 

“I think there’s a mix of Jeff in the songs he writes,” said Muller. “Some of it may be how his mind thinks, but not necessarily how he feels or lives. I mean, some of the songs are so out there that I pray they are only exaggerations of his imagination or things he interprets from outside sources. But some of the songs seem to really ring true about things he’s done and how he feels.”

 

Hendershot said that Romeo is very good at pushing the boundaries in his songs.

 

“Jeff has an ability to characterize,” said Hendershot. “That is, come from his character’s POV. I think he writes for him and that’s the secret – no boundaries.”

 

When Romeo started writing during the pandemic, he was sending his songs to his sister like crazy and she was amazed at his tenacity. It didn’t surprise her at all that he reached 100 songs in no time.

 

“It’s actually been kind of a joke that every time my phone ‘pings’ my husband says ‘Jesus, is that another song?’” said Muller. “But, what’s impressive is that he has written that many songs that really sound like artsy well-written poems. Some are better than others, but I can see his growth as he keeps writing.”

 

Muller said Romeo has always been very interested in music.

 

“I remember him to always be another level of smart when it came to the bands of the day,” said Muller. “In high school, he knew everything about the songs and bands that played them.  I can remember going with him to see Metallica. I think he caught the drumsticks at a Red Hot Chili Peppers’ concert and he worshipped Guns N’ Roses.”

Muller said she is very proud of her brother. She said she hopes he sees this dream through, has fun trying and that it gives him fulfillment.

 

“He has tapped into a creative side of himself that no one knew he had, and he has put himself out there-really out there-like with posting on Facebook, singing his songs when he knows he doesn’t sing very well,” said Muller. “He stated his intentions from the start, which was to publish a book and to get his songs in the hands of other artists/musicians, etc. And I admit I thought all that sounded crazy at first, but he’s doing it.”

 

Lhotsky really admires Romeo for publishing his book.

 

“He puts his stuff out there and doesn't care what people think,” said Lhotsky. “That takes some courage to put yourself out there.  He is following his passion and I truly respect the hell out of him for doing that.”

 

When asked what a favorite song of Romeo’s was, Lhotsky said “Zombie in My Bed.”

“It’s not in his book, but it was a metal song he wrote back in college,” said Lhotsky. “I particularly loved it, but he will tell you it not that great.  But he and I both loved heavy metal growing up, so I think I am biased to that genre of music anyways and that made me really like Zombie in My Bed.”

 

Hendershot is working with Jeff to put music to his lyrics to release a few songs in the upcoming months.

 

“I’ve been reading his work,” said Hendershot. “When one grabs me, I write music for it.  I come up with a melody line or a tag lick. We are currently in the composition phase. I go over and work with him a couple times a week. We’ve gotten together maybe four times and have 3-4 songs about ready for recording. I’d like to see an album come of his work. I’ll be performing the songs in my solo shows. Ultimately, they will be for sale, rights and all.”

 

Romeo would also like to make videos to go along with his songs, so stay tuned to his Facebook page and website for new developments.

 

Romeo is single and has been a safety engineer with OSHA for 27 years. He has two children, Brooklyn and Tysen. Romeo, as noted, grew up in West Virginia and moved to Jacksonville in 1997. He has a bachelor’s degree in safety engineering from Fairmont State College (now University) and master’s degree in Safety and Environmental Management from West Virginia University.

 

Romeo’s book is for sale on Amazon.com and on his website, https://www.jeffromeosongs.com/. For more information visit his Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/jeff.romeo.547

 

Editor's Note: Top photo is of Jeff Romeo, while he is shown with his family - including plenty of familiar local faces in the second photo. Bottom image shows Romeo during his time as a key member of the Bridgeport High School football team. In the family photo, shown, from left, is Jeff's mother Jackie Romeo, sister Jodi Romeo Muller, dad Jim Romeo, daughter Brooklyn Romeo, brother in law Jeff Muller me, niece Julia Muller, nephew Nick Muller, sister Jamie Romeo, and nephew JT Muller.