Sword of Damocles
Rocky Horror Show Original London Cast Lyrics
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And I've got the feeling someone's gonna be cutting 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 morning with a start when I fell out of bed
And left from my dreaming was a feeling of unnameable dread
My high is low, I'm dressed up with no place to go
Sha-la-la-la that ain't no crime
That ain't no crime
Rocky Horror you need peace of mind
And I want to tell you that you're doing just fine
You're the product of another time
And feeling down, well that's no crime...
The sword of Damocles is hanging over my head
And I've got the feeling someone's gonna be cutting the thread
Oh, woe is me, my life is a mystery
Oh, can't you see that I'm at the start of a pretty big downer?
Sha-la-la-la that ain't no crime
That ain't no crime
The song "Sword of Damocles" in the Rocky Horror Show Original London Cast is a reflection of the feeling of impending doom that the singer is going through. The song starts with the words, "The sword of Damocles is hanging over my head and I've got the feeling someone's gonna be cutting the thread." The story of the song is based on a Greek myth about a man named Damocles who was given the opportunity to sit on the throne of the king for a day. But above his head hung a sword that was tied to a horse's hair. This means that if the hair snapped, the sword would fall and kill him. This hanging sword signifies an impending danger, and in the song, the singer is going through a similar feeling.
The singer of the song is at the start of a "pretty big downer," the feeling of unnameable dread that has left him feeling low. He has "no place to go" and is "dressed up" in his best attire. The chorus of the song, "Sha-la-la-la that ain't no crime," tries to console him by saying feeling down is not bad, and things will get better. The song ends with the singer still feeling the sword of Damocles hanging over his head.
Line by Line Meaning
The sword of Damocles is hanging over my head
I am feeling pressure and fear from an impending threat
And I've got the feeling someone's gonna be cutting the thread
I feel like the danger will inevitably result in a bad outcome
Oh, woe is me, my life is a misery
I am overwhelmed with emotional pain and despair
Oh, can't you see that I'm at the start of a pretty big downer?
I am experiencing strong negative feelings and it feels like it is only the beginning
I woke up this morning with a start when I fell out of bed
I was jolted out of an uneasy sleep and was disoriented
And left from my dreaming was a feeling of unnameable dread
The uneasiness and fear from my dream carried over to my waking state
My high is low, I'm dressed up with no place to go
I feel low and unmotivated, despite putting effort into my appearance
And all I know, is I'm at the start of a pretty big downer...
I sense that things will only get worse from here
Sha-la-la-la that ain't no crime
It's okay to feel down and express it
Rocky Horror you need peace of mind
You could benefit from some mental tranquility and calmness
And I want to tell you that you're doing just fine
I believe you're handling things well considering the circumstances
You're the product of another time
Your behavior and thoughts are influenced by your past experiences
And feeling down, well that's no crime...
It's natural and acceptable to feel negative emotions
Contributed by Scarlett F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.