The Sword of Damocles
Rocky Horror Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
and I've got the feelin' someone's gonna be cuttin' the thread
Oh, woe is me
My life is a misery
Oh, can't you see
That I'm at the start of a pretty big downer
I woke up this mornin' with a start when I fell out of bed
And left from my dreaming was a feeling of unnameable dread
I'm dressed up with no place to go
And all I know
Is I'm at the start of a pretty big downer
Shalalala that ain't no crime
Shalalala that ain't no crime
Shalalala that ain't no crime
It ain't no crime
The Sword of Damocles is hangin' over my head
And I got the feelin' someone's gonna be cuttin' the thread
Oh, woe is me
My life is a mystery
And, can't you see
That I'm at the start of a pretty big downer?
Shalalala that ain't no crime
Shalalala that ain't no crime
Shalalala that ain't no crime
It ain't no crime
Shalalala that ain't no crime
Shalalala that ain't no crime
Shalalala that ain't no crime
It ain't no crime
Shalala
The song "The Sword of Damocles" from the Rocky Horror Picture Show is essentially about the fear of impending doom. The title references an ancient Greek parable where a powerful ruler named Damocles is given the chance to experience the luxuries of the throne, but with the caveat that a sword is suspended over his head by a single hair, reminding him of the danger and uncertainty that come with power. The lyrics describe the feeling of being at the mercy of some unknown force, with the singer "at the start of a pretty big downer." The sense of dread is all-encompassing, as even the singer's "high is low" and they're "dressed up with no place to go." The repetitions of "Shalalala that ain't no crime" feel like a desperate attempt to reassure oneself in the face of an ominous future.
Musically, the song is a bit of a departure from the more upbeat numbers in Rocky Horror, with a slower tempo and darker, more ominous instrumentation. The vocals are also more restrained, with the occasional explosion of a powerful wail from the singer. The song's placement in the film comes right before the iconic "Time Warp" sequence, serving as a kind of moody counterpoint before launching into the frenetic dance number.
Line by Line Meaning
The Sword of Damocles is hangin' over my head
I feel like something bad is going to happen to me soon.
and I've got the feelin' someone's gonna be cuttin' the thread
I feel like my life is in danger or that I might die soon.
Oh, woe is me
I feel sad and helpless.
My life is a misery
I feel like my life is full of pain and suffering.
Oh, can't you see
Can't you understand how I feel?
That I'm at the start of a pretty big downer
I feel like things are only going to get worse for me.
I woke up this mornin' with a start when I fell out of bed
I had a sudden and scary awakening from my sleep.
And left from my dreaming was a feeling of unnameable dread
I had a feeling of fear and anxiety that I can't even describe.
My high is low
I'm feeling down even though I might have been feeling good before.
I'm dressed up with no place to go
I'm ready to do something but I don't know what to do.
And all I know
The only thing I'm certain of is that I'm feeling bad.
Is I'm at the start of a pretty big downer
I feel like things are only going to get worse for me.
Shalalala that ain't no crime
It's not a bad thing to sing or express myself.
It ain't no crime
It's not a bad thing to feel or think the way I do.
Contributed by Noah E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@5th_cellar
It took me years to realize that Rocky, having half of Eddie's brain, probably woke up with the feeling of dread because he's got half of Eddie's memories. He's still partially Eddie, I think, at this point, remembering the terror, probably knowing what was about to happen to him, and trying to get away. Then, Eddie comes out of the freezer singing about missing his old life and how things basically haven't been the same since he met these aliens. Since "cosmic light came into (his) life." We know he had time to send a note to his uncle begging for help, but the guy who comes out of the freezer is some sort of party zombie, living his last happy memories while also trying to get away from Frank. The two of them literally follow the same path around the ramp with Frank pursuing.
@JustWill6969
I just think it's funny that he's literally just been born and he already wants to die
@johnhareiel5118
Everything's a Downer as well as Party Down At The Frankenstein Place
@DoveCalderwood
I love that Rocky's only about five seconds old and is already having an existential crisis. xP
@ciderfizz7200
Rocky: * born *
Rocky two seconds later: "LIFE IS SHIT-"
@calipurnioelreydelodio7141
Same
@starcatfri
"Do you think it was wrong to split their brains between the two of them?"
Remember guys, he is supposed to have half of Eddie's brain. So he is capable of singing, knowing history (Damocles), and other taught functions. We don't know (I don't atleast) know who the other half of the brain came from, but it all depends on what parts were taken out and added in. Just because he doesn't talk doesn't mean he can't sing. Especially when groovy music suddenly starts playing(he started to dance when Eddie sang, too) But when he was locked in a cage he stopped talking because he didn't want to anger Frank.
Still it's a musical. It's not made to make sense it's just for fun. XD
@ryangunnison38
I never realized this, I always thought frankfurter made him from scratch
@HB-ud5fg
I may have misheard this line but isn’t there a point rocky thinks his name used to be Fred... maybe the other part is some dude named Fred. I probably mis heard the line though.
@bruh-gn5kc
@@HB-ud5fg no, you misheard