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.
Till Then
13th Floor Elevators Lyrics
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There's a change coming on, I have a feeling it won't be long
The sound of bells a'ringing, the sound of people singing
Someday, my love, someday
Heals sadness broken hearts and the madness soon departs
We'd knew we found a way as what it takes to say
When each man lends his voice and read his only choice
A change is coming on and you know it won't take long
This is where the laughter plays so to lift your happy ways
As the echo builds and swirls and you know the carpet fills
Then everyone will fly through space and so joins the human race
The new will soon be found as the air fills up with sound
The sound of bells a'ringing, the sound of people singing
And each man lends his voice and read his only choice
Someday, my love, some day
The 13th Floor Elevators' "Till Then" is a song about hope and anticipation for a better future. The lyrics express a sense of awareness towards a societal shift that is bound to happen and that could potentially change the current state of things. The song starts with the sound of feet dancing in the street, indicating the beginning of something new. The lyrics suggest that there is a change coming on and that it won't be long until it takes place. The sound of bells ringing and people singing reflect a joyful mood that is spreading everywhere.
The second verse talks about how this change will heal sadness, broken hearts, and madness. The lyrics hint towards a collective effort where each person lends their voice to make a difference. The idea is that by coming together and working towards a common goal, a better future can be secured. The verse ends with the repetition of "someday, my love, someday," which reaffirms the hope that change will come.
The final verse suggests that this change will bring laughter and happiness. The echo of the sound and the collective dancing reflect a sense of unity and a feeling of joining the human race. The lyrics end by suggesting that the new will soon be found, and each man will lend his voice and make his own choice. The overall message of the song is that change is coming, and with it, a brighter tomorrow.
Line by Line Meaning
I hear the sound of feet, they're dancing in the street
I sense an energy in the air, people are celebrating with dance
There's a change coming on, I have a feeling it won't be long
Transformation is imminent and approaching soon
The sound of bells a'ringing, the sound of people singing
The bells toll and people harmonize, signifying a joyous occasion
Someday, my love, someday
One day, the world will be filled with love and unity
Heals sadness broken hearts and the madness soon departs
Peace will heal the broken and cure madness from the heart
We'd knew we found a way as what it takes to say
We will understand how this transformation was manifested
When each man lends his voice and read his only choice
Everyone will realize their own power and contribute to progress
A change is coming on and you know it won't take long
Everyone perceives the change approaching rapidly
This is where the laughter plays so to lift your happy ways
Happiness is contagious and laughter is a reflection of it
As the echo builds and swirls and you know the carpet fills
The changes amplify and become more profound
Then everyone will fly through space and so joins the human race
People will unite and soar through life with a renewed purpose
The new will soon be found as the air fills up with sound
Innovation and progress will soon emerge, filling the environment with its energy
And each man lends his voice and read his only choice
Everyone has a voice and will contribute to the collective shift
Someday, my love, some day
The world will be transformed with love someday
Contributed by Wyatt V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.