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.
Scarlet And Gold
13th Floor Elevators Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A tower in a stream,
See him standing there so all alone
Well I guess he'll keep standing there,
Until he's called for
And tomorrows hurricanes have blown
Its his fate through old
He found no trust to call his own
His way was lost
His spirit was the cost,
He couldn't make up for the loan
But many brave men are returning,
Back to the place where it began
And all our tires are still burning,
When the devils faults lay parching in the sands
And the night man is waiting at the station,
Gathered on the steps one by one
I suggest, that you make a reservation,
Before all these things are done
Upon high the blues
His life was filled with pain
When he heard the news
He lost a line in vain
Someone went for word
His house went up in flames
They didn't need the smoke
To show the cops the blame
All your secrets
They've all been told
Playing in your Scarlet and your Gold
He's a king, he's a poor boy,
A tower in a stream,
See him standing out there so all alone
Well I guess he'll keep standing there,
Until he's called for
And tomorrows hurricanes have blown
But many brave men are returning
Back to the place where it began
And our tires are still burning
When the devils faults lay parching in the sands
And the night man is waiting at the station,
Gathered on the steps one by one
I suggest, that you make a reservation
Before all these things are done
The lyrics of "Scarlet and Gold" by 13th Floor Elevators are complex and multi-layered, with many potential interpretations. One possible theme is the struggle between authority and freedom, with the "king" and the "poor boy" representing opposing forces. The fact that the king is also portrayed as a tower in a stream, standing alone and vulnerable, suggests that even those in power can be subject to turbulent forces beyond their control. The lyrics also suggest that the singer's fate is predetermined by an ancient story, and that he has lost his way and paid a heavy price for it.
The song's title, "Scarlet and Gold," is likely a reference to the traditional colors of royalty and nobility. This further emphasizes the idea of power and authority, and the struggle between those who have it and those who don't. The chorus, which repeats the lines "many brave men are returning" and "our tires are still burning," could be interpreted as a call to action, urging listeners to resist authority and fight for their own freedom.
Line by Line Meaning
He's a king, he's a poor boy,
He is someone with many qualities, but also in need
A tower in a stream,
Stands alone, but resolute in his being
See him standing there so all alone
He is without support from anyone else
Well I guess he'll keep standing there,
He will wait patiently
Until he's called for
Until his presence is needed
And tomorrows hurricanes have blown
After all trials and troubles have passed
Its his fate through old
His destiny has been written long ago
Another story told
His story, like many others, has been told before
He found no trust to call his own
He lacks a foundation to believe in
His way was lost
He is unable to find his path
His spirit was the cost,
His essence was the price he paid
He couldn't make up for the loan
He was unable to repay what he borrowed
But many brave men are returning,
Others who dared are coming back
Back to the place where it began
To where the journey started
And all our tires are still burning,
Our passion still burns bright
When the devils faults lay parching in the sands
When evil's flaws are exposed
And the night man is waiting at the station,
The darkness beckons
Gathered on the steps one by one
Waiting patiently, preparing
I suggest, that you make a reservation,
Be prepared for what is to come
Before all these things are done
Before it is too late
Upon high the blues
There is sadness in the sky
His life was filled with pain
He has suffered greatly
When he heard the news
When he learned of what had happened
He lost a line in vain
He lost something precious
Someone went for word
Someone went to tell the story
His house went up in flames
His world was destroyed
They didn't need the smoke
There was no doubt about what happened
To show the cops the blame
To blame someone else for what happened
All your secrets
Everything hidden away
They've all been told
All is known now
Playing in your Scarlet and your Gold
Living in the glamorous parts of life
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@richiedagger7741
He's a king, he's a poor boy,
a tower in a stream,
see him standing there so all alone
well I guess he'll keep standing there,
until he's called for
and tomorrows hurricanes have blown
its his fate through old
another story told
He found no trust to call his own
His way was lost
his spirit was the cost,
he couldn't make up for the loan
But many brave men are returning,
back to the place where it began
and all our tires are still burning,
when the devils faults lay parching in the sands
and the nightman is waiting at the station,
gathered on the steps one by one
I suggest, that you make a reservation,
before all these things are done
upon high the blues
his life was filled with pain
when he heard the news
he lost a line in vain
someone went for word
his house went up in flames
they didn't need the smoke
to show the cops the blame
all your secrets
they've all been told
playing in your Scarlet and your Gold
He's a king, he's a poor boy,
a tower in a stream,
see him standing out there so all alone
well I guess he'll keep standing there,
until he's called for
and tomorrows hurricanes have blown
But many brave men are returning
back to the place where it began
and our tires are still burning
when the devils faults lay parching in the sands
and the nightman is waiting at the station,
gathered on the steps one by one
I suggest, that you make a reservation
before all these things are done
@OutlandsCommunity
I was lucky enough to have traded a couple of letters with Stacy Sutherland after an hour's phone conversation in 1978 about a month before Bunny killed him. This, along with his "Nobody To Love" he considered to be his best work, so much so that he played them in the band he formed after his release from The Walls, I believe the name was "Tejas." Thanks for posting this, brother, the Elevators are eternal!
@maxgreen2707
OutlandsCommunity always loved the songs Sutherland sang
@LenapeSF
Elevators have left an indelible musical footprint from the first note they played. So glad to still be listening in 2020.
@patrickburke5076
Yes that is Stacy Sutherland singing, im a die hard Elevator fan and have been since I was about 14 or 15 or around 1965. My good friend Chuck R. brother hung around with them over thier house on old galveston road in Houston in the later 60.s I remember meeting them. I wish things would have turned out better for them and they were all playing again. They were so ahead of their time and Roky, Stacey, Tommy and John Ike were genuises in my opionion. God Bless Them all.
@yankeenobonagu6411
ur an astronaut, ill make sure you see the stars below the skies of god, you will be the most high
@StONed-mb1iv
Met Roky at his BD PARTY in '04 in Austin, next to a Bonfire. He calmly said,
'You startled me! I thought you were on fire.' Then stared back into the bonfire's flames...
@Greggo2
This is probably sacrilege, but this is by far my fave 13th Floor Elevators song. I dig the bass- almost Lee Parry in its dubness.
@SChristine60s
Great. And I think this "unwell-mixing" gave a psychedelic flavour to the song! I really love Scarlet & Gold, man, and 13th F.E. was a fantastic band!
@coeurfidele7596
Man, these guys smoked a lot a weed and their music is still a constellation unto itself. Live, they just knew how to jam the night away. One primo band and my headphones are still smokin' !
@philipsmovies
Great song. I love the way Roky sings this in a Texan accent retaining it's Psychedelic feel. The imagery is excellent and makes me want to spin around!!