Richard O'Brien (born Richard Timothy Smith on March 25, 1942 in Cheltenham… Read Full Bio ↴Richard O'Brien (born Richard Timothy Smith on March 25, 1942 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, UK) is a writer and performer. He is best known for writing the musical The Rocky Horror Show and its 1975 film adaptation The Rocky Horror Picture Show, in which he played the character of Riff-Raff. The stage show has been in almost continuous production since, and the cinematic version is one of the best known and most ardently followed cult films of all time.

He is also responsible for the little-known sequel, Shock Treatment.

Rhythm Of The Heartbeat
Richard O'Brien Lyrics

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I'm a sucker for a heartbeat

If ever I wanted to know
The word that occurred on the street
I'd just listen to the heartbeat
To the rhythm of the heartbeat

If ever I wanted to go

And trick a victory out of defeat
I'd just listen to the heartbeat
To the rhythm of the heartbeat

Then if someone that you don't know
Should give you the big hello
Well, you'll never get shaken
Never get taken if you listen to the heartbeat
To the rhythm of the heartbeat

Whatever you want to do
You'd do it better if you did it as you
No, don't follow your nose
Where the sun never goes
Instead of listening to the heartbeat
The rhythm driven by the heartbeat
Whoa, listen to my heartbeat
Whoa, take a lesson from my heartbeat
No no no, there's no messing with my heartbeat
Whoa whoa whoa, what a blessing is a heartbeat

When it gets sentimental and slow
Don't fight it, you might miss a treat
Unless you're listening to the heartbeat
The heady rhythm of the heartbeat

And then when the tempo says 'Go'
And you're yearning to turn indiscreet
Just keep listening to the heartbeat
The steady rhythm of the heartbeat

Then if somebody turns your head
And edges you onto the bed
Just forget you're refined
Stop improving your mind
And listen to the heartbeat
To the rhythm of the heartbeat

No, you don't need a Ph.D.
It may be easier than ABC
You don't have to be smart
You just open your heart
And listen to the heartbeat
I'm gonna give in to the heartbeat
The rhythm driven by the heartbeat
Whoa, listen to my heartbeat
Whoa, take a lesson from my heartbeat
No no no, there's no messing with my heartbeat
Whoa whoa whoa, what a blessing is a heartbeat

Oh, be still my beating heart, enough's enough
Heartbeat

Overall Meaning

In the lyrics to Richard O'Brien's song Rhythm of the Heartbeat, the singer talks about the power of the heartbeat. He says that he is a “sucker for a heartbeat” and that listening to the rhythm of the heartbeat can give him insights on the word on the street or help him achieve victory from defeat. The singer advises that listening to the heartbeat can help one never get taken or shaken, and it can provide a steady rhythm to follow. He suggests that following one's heart, instead of following one's nose or being too intellectual, can lead to a better life. The singer ends by celebrating the beating heart as a blessing.

The song talks about the importance of the heartbeat both literally and metaphorically. On the one hand, the song highlights the importance of listening to one's own heartbeat to stay focused and present. On the other hand, the song also suggests that paying attention to other people's heartbeats, i.e., their emotions and needs, can be helpful. The lyrics encourage the listener to be present, spontaneous, follow their heart, and enjoy the rhythm of life. All in all, the song is an upbeat and fun celebration of the power of the heart and its rhythm.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm a sucker for a heartbeat
I have a great fondness for the sound of a beating heart.

If ever I wanted to know The word that occurred on the street I'd just listen to the heartbeat To the rhythm of the heartbeat
If I ever wanted to know what people were talking about, I could simply listen to their heartbeats and understand the rhythm of their conversation.

If ever I wanted to go And trick a victory out of defeat I'd just listen to the heartbeat To the rhythm of the heartbeat
If I ever wanted to win in a seemingly impossible situation, I could tune in to the rhythm of the heartbeat and find a way to make it work.

Then if someone that you don't know Should give you the big hello Well, you'll never get shaken Never get taken if you listen to the heartbeat To the rhythm of the heartbeat
If a stranger greets you with a big hello, you can avoid being intimidated or fooled by listening to their heartbeat, which will reveal their true intentions.

Whatever you want to do You'd do it better if you did it as you No, don't follow your nose Where the sun never goes Instead of listening to the heartbeat The rhythm driven by the heartbeat Whoa, listen to my heartbeat Whoa, take a lesson from my heartbeat No no no, there's no messing with my heartbeat Whoa whoa whoa, what a blessing is a heartbeat
To succeed in life, one must be true to oneself and not be swayed by trends or opinions that are not in line with one's own values. By listening to my heartbeat, I have learned this lesson and it has become a blessing in my life.

When it gets sentimental and slow Don't fight it, you might miss a treat Unless you're listening to the heartbeat The heady rhythm of the heartbeat
In moments of emotion or when things slow down, it is important to not resist what is happening and to fully embrace the experience. By listening to the heartbeat, I can fully understand and appreciate the intensity of the moment.

And then when the tempo says 'Go' And you're yearning to turn indiscreet Just keep listening to the heartbeat The steady rhythm of the heartbeat
When the situation calls for action and your desires are leading you down a risky path, it is best to remain calm and listen to the steady rhythm of the heartbeat before making any decisions.

Then if somebody turns your head And edges you onto the bed Just forget you're refined Stop improving your mind And listen to the heartbeat To the rhythm of the heartbeat
If someone is enticing you towards intimacy, it may be best to just let go of any reservations and allow yourself to be swept away by the rhythm of the heartbeat.

No, you don't need a Ph.D. It may be easier than ABC You don't have to be smart You just open your heart And listen to the heartbeat I'm gonna give in to the heartbeat The rhythm driven by the heartbeat Whoa, listen to my heartbeat Whoa, take a lesson from my heartbeat No no no, there's no messing with my heartbeat Whoa whoa whoa, what a blessing is a heartbeat
You don't need advanced knowledge or intelligence to understand the power of the heartbeat. By simply opening your heart and letting the rhythm guide you, you can experience the fullness of life. The heartbeat is a powerful force that can't be ignored, and it has been a true blessing in my life.

Oh, be still my beating heart, enough's enough Heartbeat
Sometimes, the intensity of the heartbeat can become overwhelming and it is important to take a step back and calm down. After all, the heart can only handle so much excitement before it needs a break.

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