The band rattled to the middle of the Hot 100 in 1966 with You're Gonna Miss Me, anchored by Roky Erickson's unforgettable yelping vocals, Stacy Sutherland's guitar, and Tommy Hall's electric jug runs. According to myth, Tommy's jug was tuned by the amount of marijuana stored in it.
The group pioneered some of the first garage psychedelia on its albums The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators 1966, and the followup Easter Everywhere 1967.
However, Texas at that time was an extremely conservative area that still hadn't come to terms with 50's rock 'n' roll. The authorities and the police set out to bust the entire band for pot (and—not surprisingly—succeeded).
Stacy Sutherland was jailed. To avoid a prison term, Roky pleaded insanity—a misguided ploy that landed him in Rusk State Hospital for the criminally insane for 3 years. That turn of events spelled the end of the band, although there was a posthumous 1968 LP, Bull of the Woods.
Roky Erickson was released from hospital in 1973 and embarked upon a successful solo career that resulted in a CBS album produced by Stu Cook from Creedence Clearwater Revival. During the 1980s he struggled with mental illness and withdrew from public life for many years. However, in the 2000s he has re-emerged with one of his late 70s/early 80s backing bands, The Explosives, playing regular gigs including the Austin City Limits festival in September 2005, as well as Coachella in California, the Hultsfred Festival in Sweden and Montreal World Film festival in Canada.
On May 31, 2019, Roky Erickson passed away.
Don't Fall Down
13th Floor Elevators Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you see her
Don't fall down,
If you're by her side
Don't fall down
When you're near her
Don't fall down
Don't fall down
Don't deceive her
Don't fall down
Tell her what you feel
Don't fall down
She'll precieve you
Don't fall down
If your voice is real
Everytime you need her, she is there
To ease the pain that fogs you
And when you don't need her, from her stare:
She says she's needing you
Don't fall down
As you love her
Don't fall down
She loves only you
Don't fall down
As you lift her
Don't fall down
She believes in you
Don't fall down
From beside her
Don't fall down
Keep behind her eyes
Don't fall down
They're behind you
Don't fall down
As the thought applies
If you want to rise,
You must place someone where you are standing
Everything she learns is on her face
Your strength is all she's demanding
Do you feel it, feel it, feel it?
(Don't fall down)
Do you feel it, feel it, feel it?
(Don't fall down)
Do you feel it, feel it, feel it?
(Don't fall down)
Do you feel it, feel it, feel it?
(Don't fall down)
Do you feel it, feel it, feel it? If you need her
(Don't fall down) Keep your promises
Do you feel it, feel it, feel it? If you see her
(Don't fall down) Give her all your kisses
Do you feel it, feel it, feel it? As you warm her
(Don't fall down) Never disapoint her
Do you feel it, feel it, feel it? As you hold her
(Don't fall down) Do all that you told her
Do you feel it, feel it, feel it?
Everytime you need her, she is there
To ease the pain that fogs you
And when you don't need her, from her stare:
She says she's needing you.
The lyrics to Don't Fall Down by 13th Floor Elevators seem to be about a romantic relationship, with the singer warning himself not to fall down or deceive his lover, and to always be honest about his feelings. The repetition of the lines "Don't fall down" and "If you see her" and "If you're by her side" emphasize the importance of staying grounded and present in the moment, and not letting oneself get carried away with overwhelming emotions. The lines "Your strength is all she's demanding" and "Give her all your kisses" suggest that the singer is willing to make sacrifices and be fully committed to the relationship.
The chorus of "Do you feel it, feel it, feel it?" is a call to action, urging the singer to fully embrace his feelings and not hold back. The final lines of the song, "And when you don't need her, from her stare / She says she's needing you" suggest that the relationship is a mutual one, with both partners needing each other emotionally.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't fall down
Don't mess up
If you see her
If you come across her
If you're by her side
If she's with you
When you're near her
When she's close by
If your voice is tied
If you can't express yourself
Don't deceive her
Don't lie to her
Tell her what you feel
Be honest about your emotions
She'll perceive you
She'll understand you
If your voice is real
If you speak truthfully
As you love her
While you love her
She loves only you
She has no other love interest
As you lift her
As you support her
She believes in you
She trusts you
From beside her
Next to her
Keep behind her eyes
Be aware of her perspective
They're behind you
Her thoughts and feelings are directed towards you
As the thought applies
As the situation demands
If you want to rise,
If you want to succeed
You must place someone where you are standing
You must help lift someone else up
Everything she learns is on her face
Her emotions show clearly on her expression
Your strength is all she's demanding
She needs your support and stability
Do you feel it, feel it, feel it? (Don't fall down)
Are you aware of what's happening? (Don't mess up)
If you need her (Don't fall down)
If you rely on her, keep your promises and don't let her down
If you see her (Don't fall down)
If you encounter her, give her all your affection
As you warm her (Don't fall down)
As you make her happy, don't disappoint her
As you hold her (Don't fall down)
As you embrace her, do everything you promised
Do all that you told her
Fulfill your commitments
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind