He is also a veteran of musical theatre. In 1972, Bostwick originated the role of Danny Zuko in the original Broadway production of Grease. The role earned Bostwick a Tony Award nomination. Bostwick's other theatre roles include portraying bandit Jamie Lockhart in the 1977 Broadway musical The Robber Bridegroom. For this role, Bostwick earned his Tony Award. In 1990, another Broadway musical, Nick and Nora, in which Bostwick co-starred with Joanna Gleason, opened to poor reviews and closed after few performances.
Over At The Frakenstein Place
Barry Bostwick Lyrics
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Of the blackest night,
Burning bright,
There's a guiding star
No matter what or who you are
There's a light
There's a light
(Burning in the fireplace)
There's a light, light, in the darkness of everybody's life
The darkness must go down the river of night's dreaming
Flow morphia slow, let the sun and light come streaming
Into my life Into my life
Into my life Into my life
There's a light
(Over at the Frankenstein place)
There's a light
(Burning in the fireplace)
(There's a light, a light)
In the darkness of everybody's life
The lyrics to Barry Bostwick's song "Over at the Frankenstein Place" from the Rocky Horror Picture Show are an exploration of the darkness that exists within every person's life and the guiding star that can help one navigate through it. The opening lines describe the all-encompassing darkness that can be found in both the physical and emotional sense. The use of the metaphor of a guiding star implies that there is always hope, even in the darkest of times. The central refrain of the song, "There's a light," emphasizes this point and repeats to hammer home the message.
The second verse speaks to the idea of letting go of the darkness and allowing light and positivity to enter one's life. The use of the word "morphia" suggests the idea of anesthesia or a numbing agent, which can be interpreted as a metaphor for the ways in which people try to escape their problems. The idea of "letting the sun and light come streaming into my life" suggests that true healing and hope comes from accepting and facing one's problems head-on.
Overall, the lyrics to "Over at the Frankenstein Place" are a powerful meditation on the duality of light and darkness in human life, and the importance of acknowledging and working through the darkness in order to find the light.
Line by Line Meaning
In the velvet darkness,
In the soft, luxurious darkness,
Of the blackest night,
Of the deepest, darkest night,
Burning bright,
Shining brightly,
There's a guiding star
There is a star that directs us,
No matter what or who you are
Regardless of your identity,
There's a light
There is a source of illumination,
(Over at the Frankenstein place)
(It can be found at the location where Dr. Frankenstein resides),
There's a light,
There is a source of visible light,
(Burning in the fireplace)
(It comes from the fire burning in the fireplace),
There's a light, light, in the darkness of everybody's life
Everyone has something that illuminates their life,
The darkness must go down the river of night's dreaming
The darkness must be carried away by the flow of nighttime dreams,
Flow morphia slow, let the sun and light come streaming
Let the calm, sleepy feeling wash over slowly, allowing the light to shine through,
Into my life Into my life
Light must shine into my life,
There's a light
There is always something to guide us,
(Over at the Frankenstein place)
(It can be found specifically where Dr. Frankenstein resides),
There's a light
There is a visible source of light,
(Burning in the fireplace)
(It comes from the fire burning in the fireplace),
(There's a light, a light)
(This light is a source of visible illumination that guides us through the darkness of life)
In the darkness of everybody's life
Everyone has their own struggles and difficulties in life,
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: RICHARD O'BRIEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind