In 1969 the band were all arrested for possession of marijuana and Roky was incarcerated in Rusk State Hospital for the Criminally Insane where he reportedly underwent electroshock therapy and was placed on Thorazine amongst other controversial treatments. Many claim he has never been the same since. Sadly in the intervening years record execs and managers displayed the bad side of the music business and took full advantage of his condition often leaving him living in poverty while they hoarded all the cash.
In 2001 Roky's youngest brother, Sumner Erickson (ex-tuba player for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra), was appointed his legal guardian and an improvement in Roky's faculties has been reported since, leading to a return to live shows.
An excellent documentary on Roky, "You're gonna miss me" (2005), chronicled his troubled life - his schizophrenia, incarceration for possession of a joint, and talented and eccentric family.
Can't Be Brought Down
Roky Erickson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the ants were tearing and pulling at my head
When I thought that I would be better off dead
So I decided to have this torture said
Well I found, yes I found, I just can't be brought down
I found, yes I found, I just can't be brought down
I can't try brand like peoples
Look like I was headed straight
For a championship tidal wind and tidal wave
It looked like I was going straight
For an earthquake an earthquake
Someone called out for me
To live underground you must be a mole
But like I always do to despair
I fill it full of holes
Well I found, yes I found, I just can't be brought down
I found, yes I found, I just can't be brought down
I can't try brand like peoples
Texas fever can't bring me around
My eyeballs were wooden vices until tears fell like rain
My eyeglasses were clamps which caused me great pain
I was butted, gutted, false interpretation propaganda I do not need
When I decided to make a minus, minus before minus
In other words what proceed
Well I found, yes I found, I just can't be brought down
I found, yes I found, I just can't be brought down
I can't try brand like peoples
Texas fever can't bring me around
Well I found, yes I found, I just can't be brought down
I found, yes I found, I just can't be brought down
I can't try brand like peoples
Texas fever can't bring me around
The lyrics to Roky Erickson's song Can't Be Brought Down describe the experience of the singer being buried alive in a red man's Dan band (possibly referring to a Native American tribe and their music), and feeling as though he would be better off dead as the ants begin to attack his head. However, he decides to resist this torture and declares that he cannot be brought down by anyone or anything. He mentions "Texas fever" as something that cannot bring him around, perhaps referring to a state of mind or a cultural phenomenon which would try to bring him down.
Despite the despair of the situation he finds himself in, the singer refuses to be defeated and expresses defiance towards anything that would try to bring him down. He uses vivid imagery to describe his physical state, suggesting that his eyeballs were like wooden vices until tears fell like rain and his eyeglasses were clamps causing him great pain. He also speaks of being "butted, gutted" and subjected to false propaganda which he does not need.
The repeated refrain of "I found, yes I found, I just can't be brought down" emphasizes the singer's determination and resilience.
Overall, the song seems to convey a sense of rebellion against oppressive forces, whether they be physical or psychological. It suggests that even when faced with difficult circumstances, it is possible to find inner strength and resilience.
Line by Line Meaning
I was buried in a red man's Dan band
I was in a difficult situation, surrounded by Native American music.
And the ants were tearing and pulling at my head
I was feeling mentally attacked.
When I thought that I would be better off dead
I was considering suicide as a solution to my problems.
So I decided to have this torture said
I chose to express my suffering through music.
I found, yes I found, I just can't be brought down
Despite the difficulties I faced, I discovered my inner strength.
I can't try brand like peoples
I refuse to conform to society's expectations.
Texas fever can't bring me around
Even a serious illness won't break me.
Look like I was headed straight
It seemed like I was on the fast track to success.
For a championship tidal wind and tidal wave
I was competing at the highest level and was ready to ride a big wave of momentum.
An earthquake an earthquake
But instead, my world was shaken and disrupted.
Someone called out for me
In the chaos, I heard a call for help.
To live underground you must be a mole
I was advised to hide and withdraw from society.
But like I always do to despair
Instead, I took my pain head on.
I fill it full of holes
I expressed my despair and frustration through music.
My eyeballs were wooden vices until tears fell like rain
I was emotionally and physically overwhelmed.
My eyeglasses were clamps which caused me great pain
I was experiencing intense pressure and discomfort.
I was butted, gutted, false interpretation propaganda I do not need
I was subjected to criticism and negativity that I chose to reject.
When I decided to make a minus, minus before minus
I turned my pain into art and created something positive out of a negative situation.
In other words what proceed
Or, in simpler terms, I expressed my struggle through my music.
Contributed by Cameron G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@badgerbadger6490
Thas the spirit, brother! You got this!
@stanmenshic8993
Yes YES YES Roky was always a star, Rock in Paradise!