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.
She Lives
13th Floor Elevators Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Doubtless in everything she knows.
Through time unchecked,
The sureness of her flows.
She leaves herself inside you when she goes.
She lives in a time of her own.
You have always heard her speaking,
Her voice sounds a tone within you,
Listen to the words you hear.
Her time has no past or future,
She lives everything she sees.
Her time doesn't spin outside here,
It's in every breath she breaths.
She lives in a time of her own.
Her love whips hard like wind and stands in eager pain.
She wins your thoughts and drives your inner planes.
She clears and shares a love that never strains.
She lives in a time of her own.
You have always heard her speaking,
She's always been in your ear.
Her voice sounds a tone within you,
Listen to the words you hear.
Her time has no past or future,
She lives everything she sees.
Her time doesn't spin outside here,
It's in every breath she breaths.
She lives in a time of her own.
Her eyes like light reflect the aura of her hair.
She sends, attends, behind an alpha stare.
She seeks the stars and spirals up their stairs.
She lives in a time of her own.
She lives in a time of her own.
She lives in a time of her own.
She lives in a time of her own.
The lyrics of the 13th Floor Elevators song "She Lives" seem to describe a woman who is confident and sure of herself. She has a strong presence, leaving a part of herself behind when she goes, and her voice is always in your ear. The singer encourages the listener to listen closely to her words, as they reveal her unique perspective on life. While time seems to be fluid for her, she lives fully in every moment and breathes her experiences deeply.
The lyrics also suggest that this woman is a force to be reckoned with - her love is fierce, and she has the ability to shape and clear the inner workings of those around her. Her eyes reflect the essence of her being, and she is driven to seek out the mysteries of the universe. Through it all, she lives in a time of her own, detached from the constructs of the past and future that bind so many others.
Overall, the lyrics of "She Lives" seem to celebrate individuality, intuition, and a connection to something greater than oneself. They encourage listeners to appreciate the unique qualities of those around them and to listen carefully to the wisdom that can be found within.
Line by Line Meaning
She lives, no fear
She exists with complete confidence and bravery.
Doubtless in everything she knows.
She is absolutely certain in all of her beliefs and knowledge.
Through time unchecked, The sureness of her flows.
As time passes, her conviction and conviction remain unwavering and strong.
She leaves herself inside you when she goes.
After interacting with her, a part of her remains with you even when she's physically not around.
She lives in a time of her own.
She experiences the world in her own unique way that diverges from common perception of time and space.
You have always heard her speaking, She's always been in your ear.
Her voice has been a constant presence in your mind and thoughts.
Her voice sounds a tone within you, Listen to the words you hear.
Her words and voice resonate within you, and you should heed their importance and message.
Her time has no past or future, She lives everything she sees.
She exists only in the present and fully immerses herself in all she experiences.
Her time doesn't spin outside here, It's in every breath she breaths.
Time is a concept that doesn't constrain her, and is in every moment she lives.
Her love whips hard like wind and stands in eager pain.
Her love is intense and passionate, and she endures pain in pursuit of it.
She wins your thoughts and drives your inner planes.
Her presence has a profound impact on your psyche and mind.
She clears and shares a love that never strains.
She gives love without reservation or stress, and always shares it freely.
Her eyes like light reflect the aura of her hair.
Her eyes mirror the essence of her being as displayed in her hair's aura.
She sends, attends, behind an alpha stare.
She exudes confidence and control with her commanding gaze.
She seeks the stars and spirals up their stairs.
She pursues lofty aspirations and seeks to reach new heights.
She lives in a time of her own.
She lives life on her terms, unconcerned with the perceived rules and pace of the world around her.
She lives in a time of her own.
She lives life on her terms, unconcerned with the perceived rules and pace of the world around her.
She lives in a time of her own.
She lives life on her terms, unconcerned with the perceived rules and pace of the world around her.
She lives in a time of her own.
She lives life on her terms, unconcerned with the perceived rules and pace of the world around her.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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