He is also responsible for the little-known sequel, Shock Treatment.
Science Fiction Double Feature
Richard O'Brien Lyrics
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But he told us where we stand
And Flash Gordon was there in silver underwear
Claude Rains was the invisible man
Then something went wrong for Faye Wray and King Kong
They got caught in a celluloid jam
Then at a deadly pace it came from outer space
And this is how the message ran
Science fiction (uh uh) double feature
Doctor X (uh uh) will build a creature
See androids fighting
Brad and Janet
Anne Francis stars in Forbidden Planet
Oh oh oh oh
At the late night double feature picture show
I knew Leo G. Carrol was over a barrel
When Tarantula took to the hills
And I really got hot when I saw Janette Scott
Fight a triffid that spits poison and kills
Dana Andrews said Prunes gave him the runes
And passing them used lots of skills
But when worlds collide said George Pal to his bride
'I'm gonna give you some terrible thrills'
Like a
Science fiction (uh uh) double feature
Doctor X (uh uh) will build a creature
See androids fighting (uh uh)
Brad and Janet
Anne Francis stars in (uh uh) Forbidden Planet
Oh oh oh oh
At the late night double feature picture show
I want to go oh oh
To the late night double feature picture show
By R.K.O oh oh
To the late night double feature picture show
In the back row oh oh
To the late night double feature show
The lyrics to Richard O’Brien’s song “Science Fiction/Double Feature” describe an exciting compilation of classic sci-fi movies that the singer recalls from their youth. It all starts with a reference to the iconic 1951 film, “The Day the Earth Stood Still,” which features an alien coming to Earth with an important message for humanity. Other classic films mentioned include “Flash Gordon,” “The Invisible Man,” and “King Kong.” However, things quickly take a turn for the worse when Faye Wray’s character is trapped with the giant ape in a “celluloid jam”, followed by the arrival of a deadly alien spacecraft.
The song also references several lesser-known classic sci-fi films, such as “Tarantula,” in which Leo G. Carroll’s character confronts a giant spider, and “The Day of the Triffids,” in which Janette Scott’s character faces off against a poisonous plant monster called a triffid. There are also references to “Doctor X,” a 1932 film in which Lionel Atwill’s character creates a synthetic human, and “Forbidden Planet,” a 1956 film which follows the crew of a starship who investigate the disappearance of an expedition to a distant planet.
Overall, “Science Fiction/Double Feature” is a nostalgic tribute to classic sci-fi movies of the past. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the excitement and thrills of these old films, and the catchy melody of the song captures the spirit of the era.
Line by Line Meaning
Michael Rennie was ill the day the earth stood still
Despite being unwell on the day of a major event, Rennie provided insight into our place in the universe.
But he told us where we stand
Rennie provided guidance on humanity's position in the grand scheme of things.
And Flash Gordon was there in silver underwear
Flash Gordon, dressed flamboyantly in metallic clothing, made an appearance.
Claude Rains was the invisible man
Claude Rains acted as the unseen character in a film.
Then something went wrong for Faye Wray and King Kong
Faye Wray and the giant ape King Kong experienced tragedy.
They got caught in a celluloid jam
Faye Wray and King Kong were trapped in a difficult film production process.
Then at a deadly pace it came from outer space
An extraterrestrial threat arrived suddenly and powerfully.
And this is how the message ran
This is how the story unfolded.
Science fiction (uh uh) double feature
A night of two science fiction films was planned.
Doctor X (uh uh) will build a creature
Doctor X, likely a character in one of the films, will construct a being.
See androids fighting
Artificial beings will engage in battle.
Brad and Janet
Two characters named Brad and Janet will be featured.
Anne Francis stars in Forbidden Planet
Anne Francis will be a lead actor in Forbidden Planet.
Oh oh oh oh
Vocables with no specific meaning.
At the late night double feature picture show
The night's entertainment will feature a pair of films.
I knew Leo G. Carrol was over a barrel
Leo G. Carroll was in a difficult situation beyond his control.
When Tarantula took to the hills
A giant spider (Tarantula) creates chaos in a natural setting.
And I really got hot when I saw Janette Scott
Janette Scott generated excitement among viewers.
Fight a triffid that spits poison and kills
Janette Scott battles a dangerous plant that emits toxic fluids.
Dana Andrews said Prunes gave him the runes
Dana Andrews claimed eating dried plums led to his good fortune.
And passing them used lots of skills
Andrews claims sharing his prunes with others took significant effort.
But when worlds collide said George Pal to his bride
George Pal warned his wife of impending disaster.
'I'm gonna give you some terrible thrills'
Pal promised to deliver shocking experiences through future productions.
I want to go oh oh
Expressing desire for the double feature show.
To the late night double feature picture show
The event in question, a night of two science fiction films.
By R.K.O oh oh
Referring to RKO Pictures, the production company involved in creating the films.
In the back row oh oh
Desiring to sit in the back of the theater during the films.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Richard O'Brien
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind