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.
You Don't Know
13th Floor Elevators Lyrics
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There you are again,
Standing down below me,
I honestly believe that there is something,
You could show me
While deep within your mind is what,
You give to even know me
You don't know,
You don't know how young you are
Her eyes are filled with coral snakes
And liquid plastic castles,
Her daily life revolves,
Around a thousand petty hassles,
Twenty dogs and windowpanes,
And papered silver tassels
You don't know
You don't know
You don't know how young you are
If I knew whats right for you,
You would not be without it
And if I knew the truth for you,
I'd surely stand and shout it,
There's better things that you could be,
There is no doubt about it
And you don't know,
You don't know
You don't know how young you are
You don't know, You don't know
How young you are now
You don't know
How young you are now
You don't know
How young you are now
You don't know
How young you are now
You don't know
How young you are now
You don't know
How young you are now
You don't know
You don't know
You don't know.
The lyrics of 13th Floor Elevators’s “You Don’t Know” convey the idea of someone who is potentially more ignorant to their own youth than they should be. The singer is addressing another person, indicating that they are young and have not yet experienced life to its fullest. The line “While deep within your mind is what, You give to even know me,” suggests that the person is not only ignorant of their own youth, but they are also ignorant of the singer's own experience. The singer believes that there is an opportunity for the other person to learn something from them, but that the person is “standing down below” them, indicating that they are not ready to listen.
The second stanza introduces a character with “her eyes filled with coral snakes and liquid plastic castles.” This character appears to live in a world of superficiality, with “petty hassles” like dogs and windowpanes, and “tassels” of papered silver. The singer mentions that there is something better out there for this girl, but she is not yet aware of it. The repetition of the line “You don’t know how young you are” seems to emphasize the notion that someone can be young without fully understanding the vastness of the world and the opportunities that await them.
In conclusion, the lyrics of “You Don’t Know” suggest that youth is not just about age but also about perspective. The singer sees potential in the other person but knows that they have not yet fully grasped their own youth and the opportunities it provides. The repetition of the line “You don’t know how young you are” creates a sense of urgency and emphasizes the idea that youth is fleeting and should be enjoyed and appreciated.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey!
Addressing someone to get their attention
There you are again,
Acknowledging the presence of the person
Standing down below me,
The person is standing below the singer
I honestly believe that there is something,
The artist has a strong conviction that there's something the person could teach them
You could show me
The person has knowledge or experience they could share with the artist
While deep within your mind is what,
The person keeps their thoughts and feelings hidden
You give to even know me
The person doesn't really know the singer despite being familiar with them
While you don't know,
Despite outward appearances, the person lacks understanding
You don't know,
The person lacks a deep understanding of themselves
You don't know how young you are
The person is inexperienced and lacks wisdom
Her eyes are filled with coral snakes
The person has a dangerous and unpredictable disposition
And liquid plastic castles,
The person's environment is artificial and unstable
Her daily life revolves,
The person's routine is centered around unimportant matters
Around a thousand petty hassles,
The person is constantly bothered by trivial things
Twenty dogs and windowpanes,
The person has responsibilities both big and small
And papered silver tassels
The person values superficial things
If I knew whats right for you,
The artist assumes the role of a mentor
You would not be without it
The singer is confident in their ability to guide the person towards success and fulfillment
And if I knew the truth for you,
The singer believes they have insight into the person's true nature
I'd surely stand and shout it,
The artist is eager to share their knowledge with the person
There's better things that you could be,
The artist believes the person isn't living up to their potential
There is no doubt about it
The artist is certain of what they're saying
You don't know how young you are
The person is still immature and inexperienced
You don't know, You don't know
Repeating the previous lines to emphasize the point
How young you are now
The person's youthfulness is emphasized again
You don't know
Reiterating the lack of understanding
You don't know
Repeating for emphasis
You don't know.
The lack of understanding is driven home
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HARRY WAYNE CASEY, RICHARD RAYMOND FINCH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind