"Sweet Transvestite" is a song from theatrical and cinematographic productions of The Rocky Horror Show since 1973 to this day, including the 1975 original film, the 2015 tribute production celebrating 40 years, and the 2016 reimagining film. Music and lyrics were composed by Richard O'Brien back in 1972 while the original musical arrangements are from Richard Hartley. This is one of the seven songs that appear in every important soundtrack of Rocky Horror productions.
It was originally performed by Tim Curry in the original 1973 stage production, the 1974 Roxy production in Los Angeles, the original Broadway production, and the 1975 original film with talking dialogue by Christopher Malcolm, Bill Miller and Barry Bostwick, respectively. It was also performed by Reg Livermore in the 1974 Australian production, by Tim McInnerny in the 1990 West End Revival, by Tom Hewitt in the 2001 Broadway Revival, by Amber Riley in the 2010 Glee episode, and by Laverne Cox in the 2016 reimagining TV film.
Context[]
Brad Majors and Janet Weiss meet the owner of the castle, Dr. Frank-N-Furter, who makes an introduction to his visitors accompanied by his servants Riff Raff, Magenta, and Columbia. They are also joined the Phantoms (or Transylvanians) as accompaniment.
Lyrics[]
- Lyrics from the 1973 original London stage production:
Frank-N-Furter:
How d'you do, I see you've met my faithful handyman
He's just a little brought down because when you knocked
He thought you were the candyman; Didn't you, freaky?
Don't get strung out by the way that I look,
Don't judge a book by its cover
I'm not much of a man by the light of day,
But by night I'm one hell of a lover
I'm just a Sweet Transvestite
From Transexual, Transylvania
Let me show you around, maybe play you a sound
You look like you're both pretty groovy
Or if you want something visual that's not too abysmal
We could take in an old Steve Reeves movie
Brad (talking):
I'm glad we caught you at home, could we use your phone?
We're both in a bit of a hurry
We'll just say where we are, then go back to our car
We don't want to be any worry
Frank-N-Furter:
You got caught with a flat, well, how about that?
Well babies, don't you panic
By the light of the night when it all seems alright
I'll get you a satanic mechanic
I'm just a Sweet Transvestite; Whip it up Magenta, baby!
From Transexual, Transylvania
Frank-N-Furter (company):
Why don't you stay for the night? (Night) Or maybe a bite? (Bite)
I could show you my favourite obsession (Oh!)
I've been making a man with blond hair and a tan
And he's good for relieving my te-te-te-tension (Oh!)
I'm just a Sweet Transvestite
From Transexual, Transylvania
Hit it, hit it!
I'm just a Sweet Transvestite (Sweet Transvestite)
From Transexual, Transylvania (Transylvania)
Frank-N-Furter:
So come up to the lab
And see what's on the slab
I see you shiver with anticipation
But maybe the rain
Isn't really to blame
So I'll remove the cause
But not the symptom
- Lyrics from the 1974 Los Angeles, USA stage production:
Frank-N-Furter:
How d'you do, I see you've met my faithful handyman
He's just a little brought down because when you knocked
He thought you were the candyman; Didn't you, freaky?
Don't get strung out by the way that I look,
Don't judge a book by its cover
I'm not much of a man by the light of day,
But by night I'm one hell of a lover
I'm just a Sweet Transvestite
From Transexual, Transylvania
Let me show you around, maybe play you a sound
You look like you're both pretty groovy
Or if you want something visual that's not too abysmal
We could take in an old Steve Reeves movie
Brad (talking):
I'm glad we caught you at home, could we use your phone?
You see, we're both in a bit of a hurry
We'll just say where we are, then go back to our car
We don't want to be any worry
Frank-N-Furter:
You got caught with a flat, well, how about that?
Well babies, don't you panic
By the light of the night when it all seems alright
I'll get you a satanic mechanic
I'm just a Sweet Transvestite; Whip it up Magenta, baby!
From Transexual, Transylvania
Frank-N-Furter (company):
Why don't you stay for the night? (Night) Or maybe a bite? (Bite)
I could show you my favourite obsession
I've been making a man with blond hair and a tan
And he's good for relieving my tension
Frank-N-Furter:
I'm just a Sweet Transvestite
From Transexual, Transylvania
Hit it, hit it!
Frank-N-Furter (company):
I'm just a Sweet Transvestite (Sweet Transvestite)
From Transexual, Transylvania (Transylvania)
Frank-N-Furter:
So come up to the lab
And see what's on the slab
I see you shiver with antici- pation
But maybe the rain
Isn't really to blame
So I'll remove the cause
But not the symptom
- Lyrics from the 1975 original film:
Frank-N-Furter:
How d'you do, I see you've met my faithful handyman
He's just a little brought down because when you knocked
He thought you were the candyman
Don't get strung out by the way that I look,
Don't judge a book by its cover
I'm not much of a man by the light of day,
But by night I'm one hell of a lover
I'm just a Sweet Transvestite
From Transexual, Transylvania
Let me show you around, maybe play you a sound
You look like you're both pretty groovy
Or if you want something visual that's not too abysmal
We could take in an old Steve Reeves movie
Brad (talking):
I'm glad we caught you at home, could we use your phone?
We're both in a bit of a hurry (Janet: Right!)
We'll just say where we are, then go back to our car
We don't want to be any worry
Frank-N-Furter:
You got caught with a flat, well, how about that?
Well babies, don't you panic
By the light of the night when it all seems alright
I'll get you a satanic mechanic
I'm just a Sweet Transvestite
From Transexual, Transylvania
Frank-N-Furter (company):
Why don't you stay for the night? (Night) Or maybe a bite? (Bite)
I could show you my favourite obsession
I've been making a man with blond hair and a tan
And he's good for relieving my tension
Frank-N-Furter:
I'm just a Sweet Transvestite
From Transexual, Transylvania
Hit it, hit it!
Frank-N-Furter (company):
I'm just a Sweet Transvestite (Sweet Transvestite)
From Transexual, Transylvania (Transylvania)
Frank-N-Furter:
So come up to the lab
And see what's on the slab
I see you shiver with anticipation
But maybe the rain
Isn't really to blame
So I'll remove the cause
But not the symptom
- Lyrics from the 2001 Broadway Revival:
Frank-N-Furter:
How do you do, I see you've met my faithful handyman
He's just a little brought down because when you knocked
He thought you were the candyman; Didn't you, freaky?
Don't get strung out by the way that I look,
Don't judge a book by its cover
I'm not much of a man by the light of day,
But by night I'm one hell of a lover
Frank-N-Furter (company):
I'm just a Sweet Transvestite (Sweet Transvestite)
From Transexual, Transylvania
Frank-N-Furter:
Let me show you around, maybe play you a sound
You look like you're both pretty groovy
Or if you want something visual that's not too abysmal
We could take in an old Steve Reeves movie
Brad (talking):
I'm glad we caught you at home, could we use your phone?
We're both in a bit of a hurry (Frank: Right!)
We'll just say where we are, then go back to our car
We don't want to be any worry
Frank-N-Furter (company):
So you got (caught) caught with a flat, well, (how) how about that?
(Well) Well babies, don't you panic (panic)
By the light (light) of the night (Oh) it all seems alright
I'll get you a satanic mechanic
(He'll get you a mechanic)
I'm just a Sweet Transvestite (Sweet Transvestite)
From Transexual, Transylvania
Why don't you stay for the night? (Night) Or maybe a bite? (Bite)
I could show you my favourite obsession (Oh!)
I've been making a man with blond hair and a tan (Shut up!)
And he's good for relieving my te-te-te-tension (Tension!)
I'm just a Sweet Transvestite
From Transexual, Transylvania
Hit it, hit it! (Hit it, hit it!)
I'm just a Sweet Transvestite (Sweet Transvestite)
From Transexual, Transylvania (Transylvania)
So come up to the lab
See what's on the slab
I see you shiver with antici- (Say it!) -pation!
But maybe the rain
Is really to blame
So I'll remove the cause
But not the symptom
- Lyrics from the 2010 Glee episode:
Frank-N-Furter:
How d'you do, I see you've met my faithful handyman
He's just a little brought down 'cause when you knocked
He thought you were the candyman
Don't get strung out by the way that I look,
Don't judge a book by its cover
I'm not much of a girl by the light of day,
But by night I'm one hell of a lover
I'm just a Sweet Transvestite
From sin-sational, Transylvania
Let me show you around, maybe play you a sound
You look like you're both pretty groovy
Or if you want something visual that's not too abysmal
We could take in an old Steve Reeves movie
Well you got caught with a flat, well, how about that?
Well babies, don't you panic
By the light of the night when it all seems alright
I'll get you a satanic mechanic
I'm just a Sweet Transvestite
From sin-sational, Transylvania
Frank-N-Furter (company):
Why don't you stay for the night? (Night) Or maybe a bite? (Bite)
I could show you my favourite obsession
I've been making a man with blond hair and a tan
And he's good for relieving my tension
Frank-N-Furter:
I'm just a Sweet Transvestite
From sin-sational, Transylvania
Frank-N-Furter (company):
I'm just a Sweet Transvestite (Sweet Transvestite)
From sin-sational, Transylvania
Frank-N-Furter:
So come up to the lab
And see what's on the slab
I see you shiver with anticipation
But maybe the rain
Isn't really to blame
So I'll remove the cause
But not the symptom
- Lyrics from the 2016 TV reimagination film:
Frank-N-Furter:
How d'you do, I see you've met my faithful handyman
He's just a little brought down because when you knocked
He thought you were the candyman
Don't get strung out by the way that I look,
Don't judge a book by its cover
I'm not much of a man by the light of day,
But by night I'm one hell of a lover
Frank-N-Furter (company):
I'm just a Sweet Transvestite (Sweet Transvestite)
From Transexual Transylvania (Transylvania)
Frank-N-Furter:
Let me show you around, maybe play you a sound
You look like you're both pretty groovy
Or if you want something visual that's not too abysmal
We could take in an old Steve Reeves movie
Brad (talking):
I'm glad we caught you at home, could we use your phone?
We're both in a bit of a hurry
So we'll just say where we are, then go back to our car
We don't want to be any worry
Frank-N-Furter:
You got caught with a flat, well, how about that?
Well babies, don't you panic
By the light of the night when it all seems alright
I'll get you a satanic mechanic
Frank-N-Furter (company):
I'm just a Sweet Transvestite (Sweet Transvestite)
From Transexual Transylvania (Transylvania)
Frank-N-Furter (company):
Won't you stay for the night? Or maybe a bite? (Bite)
I'd show you my favourite obsession
I've been making a man with blond hair and a tan
And he's good for relieving my te-te-tension
Frank-N-Furter (company):
I'm just a Sweet Transvestite (Sweet Transvestite)
From Transexual, Transylvania (Transylvania)
Hey!
I'm just a Sweet Transvestite (Sweet Transvestite)
From Transexual, Transylvania (Transylvania)
Frank-N-Furter:
So come up to the lab
And see what's on the slab
I see you shiver with anticipation
But maybe the rain
Isn't really to blame
So I'll remove the cause
But not the symptom