In 1978, A&M Records released Tim Curry's debut solo album. Entitled Read My Lips, the album featured an eclectic range of songs (mostly covers) performed in diverse genre. Highlights of the album are a reggae version of the Beatles song "I Will", a rendition of "Wake Nicodemus" with full bagpipe backing, and an original bar-room ballad, "Alan".
The following year, Curry's second and most successful album was released. Titled Fearless, the LP was more rock-oriented than Read My Lips and mostly featured original songs rather than cover versions. The record included Tim Curry's only US charting songs: "I Do the Rock" and "Paradise Garage".
Curry's third and final album, Simplicity, was released in 1981, again by A&M Records. This record did not sell as well as the previous offerings, due in part to a less appealing, more maudlin sound. This record combined both original songs and cover versions, and is commonly held to be the weakest of the three albums.
In 1989, A&M released The Best of Tim Curry on CD and cassette, featuring songs from his albums (including a live version of "Alan") and a previously-unreleased song, a live cover version of "Simple Twist of Fate".
Curry toured America with his band through the late 1970s and the first half of the 1980s.
Curry's first full-time role was as part of the original London cast of the musical Hair in 1968. Here he first met Richard O'Brien, who went on to create his next full-time and perhaps still most famous role, that of Frank N. Furter in the Rocky Horror Show.
Originally Curry rehearsed the character with a German accent and peroxide blonde hair, but the character evolved into the sly, very upper-class English (He says 'dine' instead of down, 'brine' instead of brown etc) drag-wearing mad scientist incarnation that carried over to the movie version and made Curry both a star and a cult figure. He continued to play the character in London, Los Angeles and New York until 1975.
For many years, Curry was reluctant to talk about Rocky Horror, feeling that it was a trend that had gone too far and had distracted attention away from his later roles. However, in recent years he has been much more open about discussing the show and now recognises it as a "rite of passage" for many young people.
Dancing In The Streets
Tim Curry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ah yeah!
Calling out around the world
Are you ready for a brand new beat
Summer's here and the time is right
For dancing in the streets
They're dancing in Chicago
Down in New Orleans
All we need is music, sweet music
There'll be music everywhere
There'll be swinging, swaying
Records playing, dancing in the streets
It doesn't matter what hat you wear
Just as long as you are there
Grab a guy, grab a girl
Everywhere around the world
There'll be dancing
Dancing in the streets
It's just an invitation
Across the nation
A chance for folks to meet
There'll be laughing and singing
Music swinging, dancing in the streets
All we need is music, sweet music
There'll be music everywhere
There'll be swinging, swaying
Records playing, dancing in the streets
It doesn't matter what hat you wear
Just as long as you are there
Grab a guy, grab a girl
Everywhere around the world
Dancing, dancing in the streets
The lyrics of the song Dancing in the Streets by Tim Curry celebrate the joy of dancing and the power of music to bring people together. The song opens by calling out to people all over the world, asking if they are ready for a brand new beat, signaling the start of summer and the time for dancing in the streets. The lyrics then describe people dancing in various cities such as Chicago, New Orleans, and New York City. Curry declares that all that is needed to make this happen is sweet music, and indeed, the lyrics state that there will be music everywhere, and everyone will be swinging, swaying, and dancing as records play.
The song's lyrics emphasize the inclusivity of dancing in the streets, stating that it doesn't matter what hat you wear, as long as you are present, and that people should grab a guy or a girl to dance with, no matter where they are in the world. According to the lyrics, this is an invitation for people across the nation to meet, sing, and laugh together. Finally, the song ends on a celebratory note, with the music playing, and everyone dancing and singing together across the globe.
Overall, the lyrics of Dancing in the Streets by Tim Curry celebrate the power of music and dancing to bring people from all walks of life together, emphasizing the importance of togetherness and joy.
Line by Line Meaning
Wow!
Expressing excitement and enthusiasm about the event.
Ah yeah!
Further expressing enthusiasm about the event.
Calling out around the world
Announcing to the whole world.
Are you ready for a brand new beat
Asking if the listeners are ready for a new style of music.
Summer's here and the time is right
It's the perfect time for this event.
For dancing in the streets
Emphasizing that the main activity is dancing.
They're dancing in Chicago
Highlighting a location where the event is taking place.
Down in New Orleans
Mentioning another location where the event is happening.
Up in New York City
Naming a third location for the same purpose.
All we need is music, sweet music
Stressing that the key ingredient for the event is good music.
There'll be music everywhere
The music will be playing everywhere.
There'll be swinging, swaying
People will be moving to the music in different ways.
Records playing, dancing in the streets
The music is played from records, and everyone is dancing outside.
It doesn't matter what hat you wear
What one is wearing isn't important, as people should come as they are.
Just as long as you are there
As long as you're present, that's all that matters.
Grab a guy, grab a girl
Asking people to find a partner to dance with.
Everywhere around the world
This event is happening all over the world.
There'll be dancing
Reasserting that the main activity will be dancing.
It's just an invitation
Clarifying that this event isn't mandatory.
Across the nation
This event is happening throughout the country.
A chance for folks to meet
This event is an opportunity for people to socialize and make new connections.
There'll be laughing and singing
People will be joyfully expressing themselves.
Music swinging, dancing in the streets
The music will be getting people into the dancing groove.
Dancing, dancing in the streets
Repeating that the event is all about dancing with one's fellow humans.
Contributed by William V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
TheGlow1012
Generally, I cannot abide this song but I really like this version. It's a lot of fun. Thanks for posting it!
ravenocisty
Every song becomes HIS. Wow. Tim Curry is simply amazing.
Mister Ameysing
this man is legendary and is the evil unforgettable pennywise the clown it
monica anastasiadis
not my favorite tim curry song but still absolutely listenable..thanks for this whole album, my monster.....
simplicity and betty jean are among my favorites since early teendom
monica anastasiadis
i love you forever tim!
benard kennedy
Wasn't a big Rolling Stones fan so Tim's got another vote for Best Performance.
Mike Maricle
???
Verena
i'm a bowie fan obv and i looove this
monica anastasiadis
anyone notice on this particular track of all his other 3 albums and variously assorted songs he has sung throughout the years he has a higher pitch to his voice..it is deliberate partly and mood induced in other... a confirmed baritone he is sometimes achieving super low almost guttural tones...i m way too into this..time to change what i m doing...oooohhh! self realization that has lead to self actualization in less than 60 seconds.. my we are evolving as a species are we not?