In 1969 the band were all arrested for possession of marijuana and Roky was incarcerated in Rusk State Hospital for the Criminally Insane where he reportedly underwent electroshock therapy and was placed on Thorazine amongst other controversial treatments. Many claim he has never been the same since. Sadly in the intervening years record execs and managers displayed the bad side of the music business and took full advantage of his condition often leaving him living in poverty while they hoarded all the cash.
In 2001 Roky's youngest brother, Sumner Erickson (ex-tuba player for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra), was appointed his legal guardian and an improvement in Roky's faculties has been reported since, leading to a return to live shows.
An excellent documentary on Roky, "You're gonna miss me" (2005), chronicled his troubled life - his schizophrenia, incarceration for possession of a joint, and talented and eccentric family.
Night of the Vampire
Roky Erickson Lyrics
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Tonight is the night of the vampire
If it's raining and you're running
Don't slip in mud cause
If you do you'll slip in blood
Tonight is the night of the vampire
Tonight is the night of the vampire
The moon may be full, the moon may be white
All I know is you will feel his bite
Tonight is the night of the vampire
Me castle bran Transylvania
On Saint Swithens Day he was born
Eyes stare through the darkness with no form
Maidens his bite horns
Tonight is the night of the vampire
Tonight is the night of the vampire
Never sleeps in the night
Comes out when the moon is bright
Tonight is the night of the vampire
The lyrics of Roky Erickson’s “Night of the Vampire” speak of the titular creature roaming the land on a particular night, a night of dreadful anticipation. It is a warning to the living to beware, especially when running in the rain, lest they slip and fall in blood that will soon be spilled. The lyrics describe the vampire as having eyes that can be seen in the darkness, but with no recognizable form. At his Transylvanian castle, he was born on Saint Swithin’s day, and maidens would surely fall prey to his bite. In essence, the song is a tale of horror, describing the night of the vampire, his powers, and the danger he represents to humanity.
The lyrics of this song have been interpreted in many ways, but the central theme is the danger represented to humans by the vampire. The lyrics evoke a sense of terror and danger, and with his haunting vocals, Erickson takes us deep into the world of the undead. The lyrics use imagery and metaphors to paint a picture of evil, describing how the vampire comes out only when the moon is bright and never sleeps during the night. These lyrics, combined with the eerie instrumental support, create an atmosphere of dread, drawing the listener deeper into the dark world of supernatural horror.
Line by Line Meaning
Tonight is the night of the vampire
The singer is warning that tonight is the night when the vampire is active.
If it's raining and you're running
In case it's raining and you're in a hurry,
Don't slip in mud cause
you should be careful not to slip on mud
If you do you'll slip in blood
because if you do, you may end up slipping on a vampire's blood
The moon may be full, the moon may be white
The moon could be full or white-colored
All I know is you will feel his bite
but what's certain is that you'll feel the vampire's bite
Me castle bran Transylvania
The singer's castle is located in Bran, Transylvania
On Saint Swithens Day he was born
The vampire was born on Saint Swithen's Day
Eyes stare through the darkness with no form
The vampire's eyes seem to stare through darkness without a specific shape
Maidens his bite horns
The vampire's bite causes a mark or wound that resembles horns
Never sleeps in the night
The vampire never sleeps at night
Comes out when the moon is bright
The vampire is active when the moon is bright or full.
Tonight is the night of the vampire
The singer is reiterating that tonight is the night when the vampire is active
Contributed by Cooper T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.