"Sword of Damocles" 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.
It was originally performed by Rayner Bourton and Jonathan Adams in the original 1973 stage production, by Kim Milford and Graham Jarvis in the 1974 Roxy production in Los Angeles and the original Broadway production, by Graham Matters and Arthur Dignam in the 1974 Australian production, by Trevor White in the 1975 original film (and by an unknow singer in the 2015 remastered version); by Adam Caine and Jonathan Adams in the 1990 West End Revival, by Sebastian LaCause and Dick Cavett in the 2001 Broadway Revival, and by Staz Nair in the 2016 reimagining TV film.
Context[]
Dr. Frank-N-Furter's monster, Rocky Horror, is now alive but he's very confused and anxiously runs all over the lab. Frank's servants and the Phantoms (or transylvanians) perform along with him. In the stage productions, the Narrator has a small talking verse.
Lyrics[]
- Lyrics from the 1973 original London stage production:
Rocky Horror:
The sword of, the sword of, the sword of
The sword of, the -
Sword of Damocles is hanging over my head
And I've got the feeling someone's
Going to 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
Rocky Horror (company):
When I woke up this morning with a start when
I fell out of the bed (That ain't no crime)
And left from my dreaming was
A feeling of unamiable dread (That ain't no crime)
Rocky Horror:
My high is low, I'm dressed up with no place to go
And all I know is I'm at the start of a pretty big downer
Rocky Horror (company):
That ain't no crime, oh no no no no
That ain't no crime, (Sha la la la that ain't no crime) Oh no no no no
That ain't no crime, (Sha la la la that ain't no crime)
No no no! (That ain't no crime)
Narrator (talking):
Rocky Horror you need no peace of mind
I want to tell you that you're doing fine
You're the product of another time
So feeling down well that's no crime
Company:
That ain't no crime
Rocky Horror (company):
The sword of Damocles is
Hanging over my head (That ain't no crime)
And I've got the feeling someone's
Going to be cutting the thread (That ain't no crime)
Rocky Horror:
Oh woe is me — my life is a mistery.
Oh can't you see that I'm at the start of a pretty big downer.
Rocky Horror (company):
That ain't no crime, (Sha la la la that ain't no crime) Oh no no no no
That ain't no crime, (Sha la la la that ain't no crime) Oh no no no no
That ain't no crime, (Sha la la la that ain't no crime)
No no no! (That ain't no crime)
That ain't no crime, (Sha la la la that ain't no crime) Oh no no no no
That ain't no crime, (Sha la la la that ain't no crime) Oh no no no no
That ain't no crime, (Sha la la la that ain't no crime)
No no no! (That ain't no crime, sha la la)
- Lyrics from the 1974 Los Angeles, USA stage production:
Rocky Horror:
The sword of Damocles is hanging over my head
And I've got the feeling someone's
Going to be cutting the thread
Oh wow is me — my life is a misery
Oh can't you see that
I'm at the start of a pretty big downer
Rocky Horror (company):
When I woke up this morning with a start when
I fell out of the bed (That ain't no crime)
And left from my dreaming was
A feeling of unamiable dread (That ain't no crime)
Rocky Horror:
My high is low, I’m dressed up with no place to go
And all I know is I'm at the start of a pretty big downer
Company:
That ain't no crime
That ain't no crime
That ain't no crime
That ain't no - crime
Narrator (talking):
Rocky Horror you need peace of mind
I want to tell you that you're doing just fine
You're the product of another time
So feeling down well that's no crime
Company:
That ain't no crime!
Rocky Horror (company):
The sword of Damocles is
Hanging over my head (That ain't no crime)
And I've got the feeling someone's
Going to be cutting the thread (That ain't no crime)
Rocky Horror:
Oh wow is me — my life is a mystery
Oh can't you see that I'm at the start of a pretty big downer.
Company:
Sha la la la that ain't no crime
Sha la la la that ain't no crime
Sha la la la that ain't no crime
That ain't no crime
Sha la la la that ain't no crime
Sha la la la that ain't no crime
Sha la la la that ain't no crime
That ain't no crime
Sha la la la that ain't no crime
Sha la la la that ain't no crime
Sha la la la that ain't no crime
That ain't no crime – Sha la la
- Lyrics from the 1975 original film
Rocky Horror:
The sword of Damocles is hanging over my head
And I've got the feeling someone's
Going to be cutting the thread
Oh wow is me — my life is a misery
Oh can't you see that
I'm at the start of a pretty big downer
Rocky Horror (company):
I woke up this morning with a start when
I fell out of the bed (That ain't no crime)
And left from my dreaming was
A feeling of unamiable dread (That ain't no crime)
Rocky Horror:
My high is low, I’m dressed up with no place to go
And all I know is I'm at the start of a pretty big downer
Company (Rocky):
Sha la la la that ain't no crime (Oh no, no, no)
Sha la la la that ain't no crime (Oh no, no, no)
Sha la la la that ain't no crime
That ain't no crime
Rocky Horror (company):
The sword of Damocles is
Hanging over my head (That ain't no crime)
And I've got the feeling someone's
Going to be cutting the thread (That ain't no crime)
Rocky Horror:
Oh wow is me — my life is a mystery
Oh can't you see that I'm at the start of a pretty big downer.
Company (Rocky):
Sha la la la that ain't no crime (Oh no, no, no)
Sha la la la that ain't no crime (Oh no, no, no)
Sha la la la that ain't no crime
That ain't no crime
Sha la la la that ain't no crime (Oh no, no, no)
Sha la la la that ain't no crime (Oh no, no, no)
Sha la la la that ain't no crime
That ain't no crime - Sha la la
- Lyrics from the 2001 Broadway Revival:
Rocky Horror:
Oh - The sword of Damocles is hanging over my head
And I've got the feeling someone's
Going to be cutting the thread
Oh wow is me — my life is a misery
And can't you see that
I'm at the start of a pretty big downer
Rocky Horror (company):
I woke up this morning with a start as
I fell out of the bed (That ain't no crime)
And left from my dreaming was
A sense of unamiable dread (That ain't no crime)
Rocky Horror:
My high is low, I’m dressed up with no place to go
And all I know is I'm at the start of a pretty big downer
Company (Rocky):
Sha la la la that ain't no crime (That ain't no crime, no, no, no)
Sha la la la that ain't no crime (No, no crime)
Sha la la la that ain't no crime (No, no, no, no)
That ain't no crime
Narrator (talking):
Rocky Horror you need peace of mind
I want to tell you that you're doing just fine
That you're the product of another time
And feeling down - that's no crime
Rocky Horror (company):
The sword of Damocles is
Hanging over my head (That ain't no crime)
And I've got the feeling someone's
Going to be cutting the thread (That ain't no crime)
Rocky Horror:
Oh wow is me — my life is a mystery
And can't you see that I'm at the start of a pretty big downer.
Company (Rocky):
Sha la la la that ain't no crime (No, no, no)
Sha la la la that ain't no crime (Ain’t no crime)
Sha la la la that ain't no crime
That ain't no crime
Sha la la la that ain't no crime (No, no, no)
Sha la la la that ain't no crime (Ain’t no crime)
Sha la la la that ain't no crime
That ain't no crime - Sha la la
- Lyrics from the 2016 TV reimagination film:
Rocky Horror:
The sword of Damocles is hanging over my head
And I've got the feeling someone's
Going to be cutting the thread
Oh wow is me — my life is a misery
And can't you see
I'm at the start of a pretty big downer
Rocky Horror (company):
I woke up this morning with a start when
I got out of the bed (That ain't no crime)
And left from my dreaming was
A feeling of unamiable dread (That ain't no crime)
Rocky Horror:
My high is low, I’m dressed up with no place to go
And all I know is I'm at the start of a pretty big downer
Company (Rocky):
Sha la la la that ain't no crime (Oh no, no, no)
Sha la la la that ain't no crime (Oh no, no, no)
Sha la la la that ain't no crime
That ain't no crime
Rocky Horror (company):
The sword of Damocles is
Hanging over my head (That ain't no crime)
And I've got the feeling someone's
Going to be cutting the thread (That ain't no crime)
Rocky Horror:
Oh wow is me — my life is a misery
Oh can't you see that I'm at the start of a pretty big downer.
Company (Rocky):
Sha la la la that ain't no crime (Oh no, no, no)
Sha la la la that ain't no crime (Oh no, no, no)
Sha la la la that ain't no crime (Oh no, no, no)
That ain't no crime (Hey!)
Sha la la la that ain't no crime (Oh no, no, no)
Sha la la la that ain't no crime (Oh no, no, no)
Sha la la la that ain't no crime (Oh no, no, no)
That ain't no crime (Sha la la)