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.

The Time Warp
Richard O'Brien Lyrics

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It's astounding
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

Drinking those moments when
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 hip

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 on 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 hip

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

Overall Meaning

The song "Time Warp" from The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a classic piece of music that many people can sing along to. It's a lively, fun song that's easy to dance along to, but it also has a deeper meaning. The lyrics, sung by the film's characters, encourage listeners to let go of their inhibitions and embrace a wild, free-spirited lifestyle. The song is about breaking away from the mundane and embracing the unknown, dangerous or uncertain future.

The first verse sets up the basic premise of the song, with the singer noting that time is fleeting and madness can take its toll. The chorus then invites the listener to join in the "time warp" - a phrase that has since entered the cultural lexicon as a description of anything that feels like a wild ride.

The second verse of the song takes things even further, with the listener invited to imagine an alternate dimension where they can experience untameable pleasure and excitement. The line "With a bit of a mind flip / You're into the time slip" is an invitation to let go of one's rational mind and get lost in what might be. The "pelvic thrust" and "knees in tight" are then suggested as ways to fully embrace this alternative reality.

The final verse of the song is pure narrative, telling the story of a character who is led astray by a manipulative stranger. The chorus then returns one last time, urging the listener to join in with the time warp once again. Overall, the song is about breaking free from routine and embracing life's wilder side.

The Time WarpRichard O'Brien Lyrics

The Time Warp
Richard O'Brien Lyrics