Time Warp
Little Nell Patricia Quinn and Richard O'Brien Lyrics
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Time is fleeting
Madness takes it's toll
But listen closely
Not for very much longer
I've got to keep control
I remember doing the time-warp
The blackness would hit me
And the void would be calling
Let's do the time-warp again
Let's do the time-warp again
It's just a jump to the left
An then a step to the right
With your hands on your hips
You bring your knees in tight
But it's the pelvic thrust
That really drives you insane
Let's do the time-warp again
Let's do the time-warp again
It's so dreamy, oh fantasy free me
So you can't see me, no, not at all
In another dimension, with voyeuristic intention
Well-secluded, I see all
With a bit of a mind flip
You're into the time slip
And nothing can ever be the same
You're spaced out of sensation
Like you're under sedation
Let's do the time-warp again
Let's do the time-warp again
Well I was walking down the street just a-having a think
When a snake of a guy give me an evil wink
He shook-a me up, he took me by surprise
He had a pickup truck, and the devil's eyes
He starred at me and I felt a change
Time meant nothing, never would again
Let's do the time-warp again
Let's do the time-warp again
It's just a jump to the left
And then a step to the right
With your hands on your hips
You bring your knees in tight
But it's the pelvic thrust
That really drives you insane
Let's do the time-warp again
Let's do the time-warp again
"The Time Warp" is a classic song from The Rocky Horror Picture Show, a musical comedy horror film that has achieved cult status over the years. The song serves as an anthem for the bizarre and outlandish performance that the audience expects from the movie. The lyrics convey the sense of madness and confusion that the characters experience as they navigate through time and space.
The song begins with the singer noting how time seems to slip away quickly and how madness can take its toll in such a journey. However, the singer assures the audience that they have to keep control despite the chaos, lest they lose themselves to the void. Then, the lyrics take a turn towards what is arguably the most recognizable section of the song, where the audience is encouraged to do the time-warp. This is achieved by first stepping to the left and then to the right, putting hands on one's hips, and bringing the knees in tight. But the true key to the time-warp is the pelvic thrust, which the singer insists will drive anyone insane if done properly.
The song then takes a surreal turn as the singer invites the audience into another dimension, where they are free to fantasize and not be seen. The voyeuristic nature of this dimension is made clear, as the singer observes everything in secret. The audience is then encouraged to do a "mind flip," which enables them to travel through time and have a new perspective on reality. However, the experience is so intense that it leaves one "spaced out of sensation" and feeling as though they've been sedated. Regardless, the singer invites the audience to once again do the time-warp, and the song finishes with a reiteration of the dance steps.
Line by Line Meaning
It's astounding
This experience is amazing and incredible
Time is fleeting
Time passes quickly and cannot be reversed
Madness takes it's toll
Mentally unstable behavior has consequences
But listen closely
Pay close attention
Not for very much longer
This experience will come to an end soon
I've got to keep control
I need to maintain self-control
I remember doing the time-warp
I recall performing this dance before
Drinking those moments when
Enjoying and soaking up those memories when
The blackness would hit me
When I would lose myself in the moment
And the void would be calling
Feeling detached from reality and drawn towards emptiness
Let's do the time-warp again
Let's repeat this experience
It's just a jump to the left
A simple sidestep to the left
An then a step to the right
A basic step to the right
With your hands on your hips
Place your hands on your hips in this motion
You bring your knees in tight
Bend your knees towards your body
But it's the pelvic thrust
But the hip thrusting motion
That really drives you insane
Is what really excites and energizes you
It's so dreamy, oh fantasy free me
It's so enchanting, oh make-believe release me
So you can't see me, no, not at all
You can't see me, no, not at all
In another dimension, with voyeuristic intention
In another realm, with the intent of watching
Well-secluded, I see all
Well-hidden, I see everything
With a bit of a mind flip
With a bit of a mental twist
You're into the time slip
You enter into a rift in time
And nothing can ever be the same
And everything will be forever altered
You're spaced out of sensation
You're detached from sensory experiences
Like you're under sedation
Like you're under the influence of a sedative
Well I was walking down the street just a-having a think
Well I was walking down the street lost in my thoughts
When a snake of a guy give me an evil wink
When a deceitful man gave me a mischievous look
He shook-a me up, he took me by surprise
He startled me, he caught me off guard
He had a pickup truck, and the devil's eyes
He had a truck and a sinister gaze
He starred at me and I felt a change
He looked at me and I sensed a transformation
Time meant nothing, never would again
Time had no significance and would never be important again
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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