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.
Through the Rhythm
13th Floor Elevators Lyrics
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Painted black by knowledge crimes
And repetitions pointless mime
Instilling values the sick define
That keeps the fabric that keeps you blind
And ties your hands and cloaks your mind
But on my stilts, I'm above the slime
Who am I? Who am I?
I've smelled the stench from the fumes that rise
From the books that rehash the same old lies
I felt the panic that they disguise
In the forms of laws of every size
I've heard the teachers whine and make me drop out like flies
But you know they teach you nonsense, cause they can't blind your eyes
I've seen the fools gold that they pawn off as their prize
To the average standard the norm supplies, but where am I?
Where am I? Where am I?
You've gobbled all the blessings they caused you to digest
They may be hard to swallow, but they keep your tongue depressed
Your scattered whims were born depressed
So when something slams your chest
You flutter about, you're sleek distressed
And when you stop to ease your breast
A scattered rim leaves you obsessed
While solid thoughts are soon suppressed, but where are you?
Oh, where are you? Hey! Where are you?
Where are you?
Where are you?
The lyrics of "Through the Rhythm" by 13th Floor Elevators describe the singer's disillusionment with the dominant culture and education systems. The first stanza criticizes the "values the sick define" and the repetition of "pointless mime" that perpetuate the narrow worldview promoted by those in power. The singer asserts their own independence and freedom of thought by saying they are "above the slime" on stilts, inviting others to join them if they can "make the climb." However, the repetition of "Who am I?" suggests a doubt in the singer's own ability to lead or effect change.
The second stanza continues with the negative portrayal of education and societal norms, pointing out the stagnation of "the same old lies" and the oppressive nature of laws that restrict freedom. The singer highlights the whining of teachers and the promotion of "fool's gold" as evidence of the inadequacy of mainstream learning. The repetition of "Where am I?" at the end of the stanza suggests a feeling of dislocation from the dominant culture and a search for an alternative.
Overall, the song presents a critique of the dominant culture and education systems as promoting a limited, oppressive worldview. The singer asserts their independence and freedom of thought, but also expresses doubt in their own ability to effect change.
Line by Line Meaning
Thru the rhythm of darkened times
Amidst times of darkness and despair
Painted black by knowledge crimes
Tainted by the suppression of knowledge and truth
And repetitions pointless mime
Repetitive actions that serve no purpose
Instilling values the sick define
Forcing upon people the twisted morals of the corrupt
That keeps the fabric that keeps you blind
Reinforcing a system that intentionally hides the truth
And ties your hands and cloaks your mind
Restricting free will and clouding judgement
But on my stilts, I'm above the slime
However, I have risen above this filth on stilts of truth and knowledge
Come on up if you can make the climb, but who am I?
Come join me in seeking the truth, but who am I to be leading?
I've smelled the stench from the fumes that rise
I have identified the foul odor of deception
From the books that rehash the same old lies
From the books that continuously retell falsehoods
I felt the panic that they disguise
I have experienced the fear that others hide
In the forms of laws of every size
Within the various laws that aim to control us
I've heard the teachers whine and make me drop out like flies
I have heard the complaints of uninspiring teachers who caused me to lose interest in school
But you know they teach you nonsense, cause they can't blind your eyes
However, you know they are teaching you falsehoods since they are unable to fully control you
I've seen the fools gold that they pawn off as their prize
I have witnessed the fake treasures that people falsely believe are valuable
To the average standard the norm supplies, but where am I?
According to society's standard, I may seem out of place, but where do I truly belong?
You've gobbled all the blessings they caused you to digest
You have blindly accepted all that they have given you to consume
They may be hard to swallow, but they keep your tongue depressed
These falsehoods may be difficult to accept, but they leave you feeling disheartened and hopeless
Your scattered whims were born depressed
Your fleeting and irrational desires were never meant to bring true happiness
So when something slams your chest
Therefore, when faced with a challenge
You flutter about, you're sleek distressed
You become anxious and unable to make a sound decision
And when you stop to ease your breast
When you finally stop to breathe
A scattered rim leaves you obsessed
You are left feeling scattered and consumed with thoughts
While solid thoughts are soon suppressed, but where are you?
Meaningful thoughts are quickly silenced, but where are you in this chaos?
Oh, where are you? Hey! Where are you?
Where are you truly standing in this never-ending cycle of deception and corruption?
Contributed by Asher I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.