Milford composed the music for Salome, based on the Oscar Wilde play, and also starred in it as Mark Taper Forum, in Los Angeles in 1979. He wrote and performed "My Love is a Rebel" on the soundtrack of Limb, starring Barry Bostwick. His song "Justice" appeared on the --------> CIAO! MANHATTAN SOUNDTRACK <------------------
The Sword Of Damcoslese
Kim Milford Lyrics
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And I've got the feeling someone's gonna be cutting the thread
Oh, woe is me, my life is a misery
Oh, can't you see that I'm at the start of a pretty big downer?
I woke up this morning with a start when I fell out of bed
And left from my dreaming was a feeling of unnameable dread
My high is low, I'm dressed up with no place to go
Sha-la-la-la that ain't no crime
That ain't no crime
Rocky Horror you need peace of mind
And I want to tell you that you're doing just fine
You're the product of another time
And feeling down, well that's no crime...
The sword of Damocles is hanging over my head
And I've got the feeling someone's gonna be cutting the thread
Oh, woe is me, my life is a mystery
Oh, can't you see that I'm at the start of a pretty big downer?
Sha-la-la-la that ain't no crime
That ain't no crime
In the song "The Sword of Damocles" by Kim Milford, the lyrics describe the feeling of impending doom hanging over the singer's head. The title is a reference to a Greek legend in which Damocles is a courtier who is offered the chance to sit on the throne of Dionysius. However, he soon realizes that a sword is hanging over his head, suspended only by a single hair, symbolizing the constant threat of danger that accompanies those in power.
The lyrics evoke a sense of anxiety and desperation as the singer feels helpless to escape the inevitable. The opening lines of the song set the tone for the rest, as the singer feels that the sword is about to cut the thread and bring an end to their life. The chorus of "Sha-la-la-la that ain't no crime" serves to reassure the singer that feeling down is not abnormal and that they can get through it.
The latter half of the song suggests that the singer may be a fan of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." The chorus reassures them that feeling down is not a crime, while the last line of the song encourages them to keep going, as they are "doing just fine."
Line by Line Meaning
The sword of Damocles is hanging over my head
I feel like something bad is going to happen to me very soon.
And I've got the feeling someone's gonna be cutting the thread
I'm afraid that this bad thing will actually happen to me and it will be very dangerous.
Oh, woe is me, my life is a misery
I'm very sad and unhappy with my life right now.
Oh, can't you see that I'm at the start of a pretty big downer?
I'm just starting to feel really bad and things are probably going to get worse soon.
I woke up this morning with a start when I fell out of bed
I woke up suddenly and fell out of bed.
And left from my dreaming was a feeling of unnameable dread
I had a bad feeling after waking up from a dream, but I can't really explain what it was.
My high is low, I'm dressed up with no place to go
I feel really bad even though I've tried to look good today, and I have nothing to do to distract myself.
And all I know, is I'm at the start of a pretty big downer...
I'm really starting to feel bad and I know it's just the beginning.
Sha-la-la-la that ain't no crime
It's not a bad thing to feel sad sometimes, and it's okay to express that.
Rocky Horror you need peace of mind
A reference to the movie Rocky Horror Picture Show, suggesting that the character needs to find some peace and calmness in their mind.
And I want to tell you that you're doing just fine
Even though things seem bad, the singer thinks the character is handling things okay.
You're the product of another time
Your mood and feelings are influenced by the time period you're in and the experiences you've had.
And feeling down, well that's no crime...
Again, it's okay to feel bad sometimes and there's nothing wrong with it.
Contributed by Scarlett F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.