"Time Warp" 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 Richard O'Brien, Patricia Quinn, and Little Nell in the original 1973 stage production and the 1975 original film, with Jonathan Adams and Charles Gray respectively. It was also performed by Bruce Scott, Jamie Donnelly, Boni Enten, and Graham Jarvis in the 1974 Roxy production in Los Angeles and the original Broadway production (with O'Brien replacing Scott in Broadway); by Sal Sharah, Kate Fitzpatrick, Maureen Elkner, and Arthur Dignam in the 1974 Australian production, by Edward Tudor-Pole, Mary Maddox, Linda Davidson, and Jonathan Adams in the 1990 West End Revival, by Raúl Esparza, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Kristen Lee Kelly, and Dick Cavett in the 2001 Broadway Revival, by Chris Colfer, Cory Monteith, Dianna Agron, Kevin McHale, Jenna Ushkowitz, and Heather Morris in the 2010 Glee episode, and by Reeve Carney, Christina Milian, Annaleigh Ashford, and Tim Curry in the 2016 reimagining TV film.
Context[]
The servants of Dr. Frank-N-Furter: Riff Raff, Magenta, and Columbia perform this song to the guests Brad Majors and Janet Weiss, joined by the Phantoms (or transylvanians). In early productions, this song was after "Sweet Transvestite", but from the movie and onwards, it's sung before.
Lyrics[]
- Lyrics from the 1973 original London stage production:
Riff Raff:
It's astounding, time is fleeting
Madness takes its toll
But listen closely — not for very much longer
I've got to keep control
I remember doing the Time Warp
Drinking those moments when
The Blackness would hit me, and the void would be calling
Riff Raff, Magenta, Columbia, and company:
Let's do the Time Warp again
Let's do the Time Warp again
Narrator:
It's just a jump to the left
Riff Raff, Magenta, Columbia, and company:
And then a step to the right
Narrator:
And with your hand on your hip
Riff Raff, Magenta & Columbia:
You bring your knees in tight
But it's the pelvic thrust
That really drive you insane
Riff Raff, Magenta, Columbia, and company:
Let's do the Time Warp again
Let's do the Time Warp again
Magenta:
It's so dreamy, oh fantasy free me
So you can't see me, no, not at all
In another dimension, with voyeuristic intention
Well secluded, I'll see all
With a bit of a mind flip
You're into the time slip
Nothing can ever be the same
You're spaced out on sensation
Like you're under sedation
Riff Raff, Magenta, Columbia, and company:
Let's do the Time Warp again
Let's do the Time Warp again
Columbia:
Well I was walking down the street
Just having a think
When a snake of a guy gave me an evil wink
Well it shook me up, it took me by surprise
He had a pick up truck and the devil's eyes
He stared at me and I felt a change
Time meant nothing, never would again
Riff Raff, Magenta, Columbia, and company:
Let's do the Time Warp again
Let's do the Time Warp again
Narrator:
It's just a jump to the left
Riff Raff, Magenta, Columbia, and company:
And then a step to the right
Narrator:
And with your hand on your hip
Riff Raff, Magenta & Columbia:
You bring your knees in tight
But it's the pelvic thrust
That really drive you insane
Riff Raff, Magenta, Columbia, and company:
Let's do the Time Warp again
Let's do the Time Warp again
- Lyrics from the 1974 Los Angeles, USA stage production:
Riff Raff (company):
It's astounding, time is fleeting
Madness takes its toll
But listen closely — not for very much longer
I've got to keep control (Do it!)
I remember doing the Time Warp
Drinking those moments when
The Blackness would hit me, and the void would be calling
Riff Raff, Magenta, Columbia, and company:
Let's do the Time Warp again
Let's do the Time Warp again
Narrator:
It's just a jump to the left
Riff Raff, Magenta, Columbia, and company:
And then a step to the right
Narrator:
With your hands on your hips
Riff Raff, Magenta & Columbia:
You bring your knees in tight
But it's the pelvic thrust
That really drive you insane
Riff Raff, Magenta, Columbia, and company:
Let's do the Time Warp again
Let's do the Time Warp again
Magenta:
It's so dreamy, oh fantasy free me
So you can't see me, no, not at all
In another dimension, with voyeuristic intention
Well secluded, I'll see all
With a bit of a mind flip
You're into the time slip
Yeah that nothing can ever be the same
Riff Raff:
Wow you're spaced out on sensation
You're under sedation
Riff Raff, Magenta, Columbia, and company:
Let's do the Time Warp again
Let's do the Time Warp again
Columbia:
Well I was walking down the street
Just having a think
When a snake of a guy gave me an evil wink
Well it shook me up, it took me by surprise
He had a pick up truck and the devil's eyes
He stared at me and I felt a change
Time meant nothing, never would again
Riff Raff, Magenta, Columbia, and company:
Let's do the Time Warp again
Let's do the Time Warp again
Narrator:
It's just a jump to the left
Riff Raff, Magenta, Columbia, and company:
And then a step to the right
Narrator:
With your hands on your hips
Riff Raff, Magenta & Columbia:
You bring your knees in tight
But it's the pelvic thrust
That really drive you insane
Riff Raff, Magenta, Columbia, and company:
Let's do the Time Warp again
Let's do the Time Warp again
Columbia:
2,4,6,8,10,12,14
Eat your heart out Ann Miller!
Riff Raff, Magenta, Columbia, and company:
Let's do the Time Warp again
Let's do the Time Warp again
Narrator:
It's just a jump to the left
Riff Raff, Magenta, Columbia, and company:
And then a step to the right
Narrator:
With your hands on your hips
Riff Raff, Magenta & Columbia:
You bring your knees in tight
But it's the pelvic thrust
That really drive you insane
Riff Raff, Magenta, Columbia, and company:
Let's do the Time Warp again
Let's do the Time Warp again
- Lyrics from the 1975 original film:
<poem> Riff Raff: It's astounding, time is fleeting Madness takes its toll But listen closely
Magenta: Not for very much longer
Riff Raff: I've got to keep control
I remember doing the Time Warp Drinking those moments when The Blackness would hit me
Riff Raff & Magenta: And the void would be calling
Riff Raff, Magenta, Columbia, and Transylvanians: Let's do the Time Warp again Let's do the Time Warp again
Narrator: It's just a jump to the left
Riff Raff, Magenta, Columbia, and Transylvanians: And then a step to the right
Narrator: With your hands on your hips
Riff Raff, Magenta, Columbia, and Transylvanians: You bring your knees in tight But it's the pelvic thrust That really drive you insane Let's do the Time Warp again Let's do the Time Warp again
Magenta: It's so dreamy, oh fantasy free me So you can't see me, no, not at all In another dimension, with voyeuristic intention Well secluded, I'll see all
Riff Raff: With a bit of a mind flip
Magenta: You're into the time slip
Riff Raff: And nothing can ever be the same
Magenta: You're spaced out on sensation
Riff Raff: Like you're under sedation
Riff Raff, Magenta, Columbia, and Transylvanians: Let's do the Time Warp again Let's do the Time Warp again
Columbia: Well I was walking down the street Just having a think When a snake of a guy gave me an evil wink Well it shook me up, it took me by surprise He had a pick up truck and the devil's eyes He stared at me and I felt a change Time meant nothing, never would again
Riff Raff, Magenta, Columbia, and Transylvanians: Let's do the Time Warp again Let's do the Time Warp again
Narrator: It's just a jump to the left
Riff Raff, Magenta, Columbia, and Transylvanians: And then a step to the right
Narrator: With your hands on your hips
Riff Raff, Magenta, Columbia, and Transylvanians: You bring your knees in tight But it's the pelvic thrust That really drive you insane Let's do the Time Warp again Let's do the Time Warp again
Riff Raff, Magenta, Columbia, and Transylvanians: Let's do the Time Warp again Let's do the Time Warp again
Narrator: It's just a jump to the left
Riff Raff, Magenta, Columbia, and Transylvanians: And then a step to the right
Narrator: With your hands on your hips
Riff Raff, Magenta, Columbia, and Transylvanians: You bring your knees in tight But it's the pelvic thrust That really drive you insane Let's do the Time Warp again
Let's do the Time Warp again
- Lyrics from the 2001 Broadway Revival:
Riff Raff:
It's astounding, time is fleeting
Madness takes its toll
But listen closely
Riff Raff & Magenta:
Oh not for very much longer
Riff Raff:
I've got to keep control
I remember doing the Time Warp
Drinking those moments when
The Blackness would hit me
And the void would be calling
Riff Raff, Magenta, Columbia, and company:
Let's do the Time Warp again
Let's do the Time Warp again
Narrator:
It's just a jump to the left
Riff Raff, Magenta, Columbia, and company:
And then a step to the right
Company:
With your hands on your hips
Riff Raff, Magenta, Columbia, and company:
You bring your knees in tight
But it's the pelvic thrust
That really drive you insane
Let's do the Time Warp again
Let's do the Time Warp again
Magenta:
It's so dreamy, oh fantasy free me
So you can't see me, no, not at all
In another dimension, with voyeuristic intention
Well secluded, I, I'll see all
With a bit of a mind flip
You're into the time slip
And nothing can ever be the same
You're spaced out on sensation
Riff Raff & Magenta:
Like you're under sedation
Riff Raff, Magenta, Columbia, and company:
Let's do the Time Warp again
Let's do the Time Warp again
Narrator:
It's just a jump to the left
Riff Raff, Magenta, Columbia, and company:
And then a step to the right
Company:
With your hands on your hips
Riff Raff, Magenta, Columbia, and company:
You bring your knees in tight
But it's the pelvic thrust
That really drive you insane
Let's do the Time Warp again
Let's do the Time Warp again
Columbia:
Well I was walking down the street
Just having a think
When a snake of a guy gave me an evil wink
He shook me up, it took me by surprise
He had a pick up truck and the devil's eyes
He stared at me and I felt a change
Time meant nothing, never would again
Riff Raff, Magenta, Columbia, and company:
Let's do the Time Warp again
Let's do the Time Warp again
Riff Raff:
It's just a jump to the left
Magenta:
And then a step to the right
Riff Raff:
With your hands on your hips
Columbia:
You bring your knees nice in tight
Riff Raff, Magenta, Columbia, and company:
Oh stop! Oh, oh, oh, oh
Let's do the Time Warp again
Riff Raff:
It's just a jump to the left
Riff Raff, Magenta, Columbia, and company:
And then a step to the right
Riff Raff & Magenta:
With your hands on your hips
Riff Raff, Magenta, Columbia, and company:
You bring your knees in tight
But it's the pelvic thrust
That really drive you insane
Let's do the Time Warp again
Let's do the Time Warp again
Let's do the Time Warp again
- Lyrics from the 2010 Glee episode:
Kurt Hummel (Riff Raff):
It's astounding
Time is fleeting
Madness takes it's toll
But listen closely
Quinn Fabray (Magenta #1):
Not for very much longer
Kurt:
I've got to keep control
Finn Hudson (Brad Majors):
I remember doing the Time Warp
Drinking those moments when
The blackness would hit me
Finn with Quinn:
And the void would be calling
New Directions (Rocky Horror Cast):
Let's do the Time Warp again
Let's do the Time Warp again
Artie Abrams (Narrador):
It's just a jump to the left
New Directions:
And then a step to the right
Artie:
Put your hands on your hips
New Directions:
And bring your knees in tight
But it's a pelvic thrust
That really drives you insane
Let's do the Time Warp again
Let's do the Time Warp again
Quinn:
It's so dreamy
Oh, fantasy, free me
So you can't see me
No, not at all
In another dimension
With voyeuristic intentions
Well secluded
Oh, I'll see it all
Kurt:
With a bit of a mind flip
Quinn:
You're into the time slip
Kurt:
And nothing can ever be the same
Quinn:
You're spaced out on sensation
Finn:
Like you're under sedation
New Directions:
Let's do the Time Warp again
Let's do the Time Warp again
Brittany S. Pierce (Columbia #1):
Well, I was walking down the street
Just a-having a think
When a snake of a guy
Gave me an evil wink
Tina Cohen-Chang (Columbia #2):
He shook-a me up
He took me by surprise
He had a pickup truck
And the devil's eyes
He stared at me and I felt a change
Time meant nothing, never would again
New Directions:
Let's do the Time Warp again
Let's do the Time Warp again
Artie:
It's just a jump to the left
New Directions:
And then a step to the right
Artie:
Put your hands on your hips
New Directions:
And bring your knees in tight
But it's a pelvic thrust
That really drives you insane
Let's do the Time Warp again
Let's do the Time Warp again
- Lyrics from the 2016 TV reimagination film:
Riff Raff:
It's astounding, time is fleeting
Madness takes its toll
But listen closely
Not for very much longer
I've got to keep control
So, I remember doing the Time Warp
Drinking those moments when
Ha! The Blackness would hit me
And the void would be calling
Riff Raff, Magenta, Columbia, and Transylvanians:
Let's do the Time Warp again
Let's do the Time Warp again
Narrator:
It's just a jump to the left
Riff Raff, Magenta, Columbia, and Transylvanians:
And then a step to the right
Narrator:
Put your hands on your hips
Riff Raff, Magenta, Columbia, and Transylvanians:
You bring your knees in tight
But it's the pelvic thrust
That really drive you insane
Let's do the Time Warp again
Let's do the Time Warp again
Magenta:
It's so dreamy, oh fantasy free me
So you can't see me, no, not at all
In another dimension, with voyeuristic intention
Well secluded, I'll see all
Riff Raff:
With a bit of a mind flip
Magenta:
You're into the time slip
Riff Raff & Magenta:
And nothing
Riff Raff:
Can ever be the same
Magenta:
You're spaced out on sensation
Riff Raff & Magenta:
Like you're under sedation
Riff Raff, Magenta, Columbia, and Transylvanians:
Let's do the Time Warp again
Let's do the Time Warp again
Columbia:
Well I was walking down the street
Just having a think
When a snake of a guy gave me an evil wink
He shook me up, it took me by surprise
He had a pick up truck and the devil's eyes
He stared at me and I felt a change
Time meant nothing, never would again
Riff Raff, Magenta, Columbia, and Transylvanians:
Let's do the Time Warp again
Let's do the Time Warp again
Riff Raff:
It's just a jump to the left
Riff Raff, Magenta, Columbia, and Transylvanians:
And then a step to the right
Riff Raff:
Put your hands on your hips
Riff Raff, Magenta, Columbia, and Transylvanians:
You bring your knees in tight
But it's the pelvic thrust
That really drive you insane
Let's do the Time Warp again
Let's do the Time Warp again
Riff Raff, Magenta, Columbia, and Transylvanians:
Let's do the Time Warp again
Let's do the Time Warp again
Let's do the Time Warp again
Let's do the Time Warp again
Riff Raff:
It's just a jump to the left
Riff Raff, Magenta, Columbia, and Transylvanians:
And then a step to the right
Riff Raff:
Put your hands on your hips
Riff Raff, Magenta, Columbia, and Transylvanians:
You bring your knees in tight
But it's the pelvic thrust
That really drive you insane
Let's do the Time Warp again
Let's do the Time Warp again