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.
Down By The River
13th Floor Elevators Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
late in the evening,
watching the sun go down
Wind keeps blowing,
night time falling,
I see the lights of town
be it for all time,
take it from me
You really should be here.
The lyrics of 13th Floor Elevators' song Down By The River describe a person's experience of being near a river while the sun sets and the town lights up. The lyrics suggest a sense of solitude and contemplation as the person watches the sun go down, and the wind continues to blow. The mention of the lights from town suggests that despite being in a remote location, the person is still connected to the outside world.
The lyrics take a turn towards romantic longing with the lines "If you could be mine, be it for all time, take it from me." The person expresses the desire for a companion to share this experience with and to be with them forever. The final line "You really should be here" reinforces the person's desire for a partner and their wish for the person to be with them in that moment.
Line by Line Meaning
Down on the river,
On the bank of the river,
late in the evening,
As the day draws to a close,
watching the sun go down
Observing the sun disappearing below the horizon
Wind keeps blowing,
The relentless gusts persist,
night time falling,
The night descends,
I see the lights of town
I can see the glowing city lights
If you could be mine,
If only you could be with me,
be it for all time,
Forever,
take it from me
Believe me when I say,
You really should be here.
You truly belong by my side.
Contributed by Ryan H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@billbentley5973
Best drum head in the history of rock & roll!
@SuperBuzzy57
Kick ass from the REAL godfather of Psychedelic
@jameslanning8405
The 60s... If you remember the 60s, you weren't really there!
@peonwarrior
favorite one from 13th floor elevator
@m.e.845
Down on the river Late in the evening Watching the sun go down Wind keeps blowing Night time falling I see the lights of town Well if you could be mine Be it for all time Take it from me You really should be here
@bocphet
The Elevators basically laying down the blueprint for Royal Trux, 30 years prior.
@TheYigg1
Elevators.... rising upp... acid sounds....
@StrummingSparrow
Where can the rest of this be?