Sweet Transvestite
O'Brien Lyrics
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He's just a little brought down because when you knocked,
He thought you were the candyman
Don't get strung up, by the way I look
Don't judge a book by its cover
I'm not much of a man by the light of day,
But by night I'm one hell of a lover
From transexual Transylvania
Let me show you around, maybe play you a sound
You look like you're both pretty groovy
Or if you want something visual that's not too abysmal,
We could take in an old Steve Reeves movie
I'm glad we caught you at home. Could we use your phone? We're
both in a bit of a hurry.
The opening lines of Sweet Transvestite introduces the character of Dr. Frank-N-Furter, played by Tim Curry in the cult classic film The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The lyrics are directed towards the singer, Brad, and his girlfriend Janet who have stumbled into the eerie castle owned by Dr. Frank-N-Furter. The "faithful handyman" being referred to is Riff Raff, Frank-N-Furter's assistant who is initially suspicious of the couple's arrival. The line "Don't get strung up, by the way I look" speaks to the character's gender-nonconforming appearance and the societal stigma that comes with it. Frank-N-Furter urges people not to judge him based on his appearance, the idea being that there is more to a person than meets the eye.
As the song progresses, Frank-N-Furter reveals himself as a "sweet transvestite from transexual Transylvania" and invites Brad and Janet to explore their sexuality with him. He offers to show them around and play them music, or they could watch an old Steve Reeves movie - an apparent reference to the actor who starred in numerous sword-and-sandal epics in the 1950s and 60s. The line "I'm not much of a man by the light of day, but by night I'm one hell of a lover" plays on the idea of Frank-N-Furter being a vampire-like figure who comes alive at night. The song presents a message of sexual liberation and fluidity, with Frank-N-Furter being a symbol of breaking free from rigid societal norms and exploring one's desires.
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