Roky Erickson (born Roger Kynard Erickson on July 15, 1947, died May 31, 20… Read Full Bio ↴Roky Erickson (born Roger Kynard Erickson on July 15, 1947, died May 31, 2019) was an American singer, songwriter, harmonica player and guitarist from Austin, Texas. He was a founding member of the 13th Floor Elevators, who are considered to be one of the first two bands to ever use the word "psychedelic" ( + see The Deep) to describe rock music. See also Roky Erickson & the Aliens and Roky Erickson & The Explosives.

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.

If You Have Ghosts
Roky Erickson Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

If you have ghosts then you have everything
If you have ghosts then you have everything
You can say anything you want
And you can do anything you want
If you have ghosts then you have everything

One never does that
One never does that

If you call it surprise there it is
The moon to the left of me
Is a part of my thoughts
Is a part of me
Is me
One never does that

In the night I am real
In the night I am real
The moon to the left of me
Is a part of my thoughts
Is a part of me
Is me
Forever is the wind
Is a part of my thoughts
Is a part of me
Is me
In the night I am real

I don't want my fangs too long
I don't want my fangs too long
The moon to the left of me
Is a part of my thoughts
Is a part of me
Is me
Forever is the wind
Is a part of my thoughts
Is a part of me
Is me
I don't want my fangs too long

If you have ghosts then you have everything
If you have ghosts then you have everything

If you have ghosts then you have everything
If you have ghosts then you have everything

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Roky Erickson's song "If You Have Ghosts" suggest that ghosts represent something essential to life. They embody a sense of freedom that allows an individual to say and do anything they want. The lines "If you have ghosts then you have everything" are repeated throughout the song, emphasizing its importance. The idea is that those who embrace the supernatural can live their lives freely and unencumbered by societal expectations.

The second verse of the song appears to speak to the experience of seeing the world from a different perspective. The lines "One never does that" repeat, perhaps referring to the notion that most people do not contemplate the supernatural or engage with the mystical world. The presence of the moon suggests that Erickson sees himself as someone who is in tune with the natural world and in harmony with its rhythms.

The third verse appears to continue this theme, with the idea that in the nighttime, the world becomes more real. It is in the darkness that we can feel the pull of the supernatural and connect with it more intimately. This verse suggests that Erickson is someone who is intimately connected with his spiritual and mystical side.

Overall, "If You Have Ghosts" suggests that to live life fully, we must embrace our innermost selves and all aspects of the supernatural world.

Line by Line Meaning

If you have ghosts then you have everything
Having a past that haunts you brings meaning to your life.

If you have ghosts then you have everything
The experience of loss is what makes life rich.

You can say anything you want
Ghosts don't judge or criticize you, so you can confide in them.

And you can do anything you want
Ghosts don't control or limit you, so you can be free.

One never does that
It's rare to be surprised by something anymore.

One never does that
It's difficult to feel overwhelmed by a sense of wonder and awe.

If you call it surprise there it is
You can choose to see things as amazing and magical, if you want to.

The moon to the left of me
Observing nature and the cosmos can give you a sense of perspective.

Is a part of my thoughts
The beauty of the world becomes a part of your psyche, shaping who you are.

Is a part of me
You are not separate from the universe; you are one with it.

Is me
You are as much a part of the cosmos as anything else in it.

In the night I am real
The darkness hides who you truly are, allowing you to be yourself.

The moon to the left of me
Again, observing the natural world can illuminate your path in life.

Forever is the wind
Constant change and motion is a fundamental aspect of existence.

I don't want my fangs too long
I don't want to be too different from other people; I want to be accepted.

Forever is the wind
Again, life and nature is in constant motion and flux.

If you have ghosts then you have everything
The people we have loved and lost are always with us, making us whole.

If you have ghosts then you have everything
The experiences and memories we have shaped us into who we are.

If you have ghosts then you have everything
Our past is what makes us truly alive and gives our present meaning.

Contributed by Thomas O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

LibraZebra

5y↑22

“If you have ghosts then you have everything
If you have ghosts then you have everything
You can say anything you want
And you can do anything you want
If you have ghosts then you have everything
Wine never does that
Wine never does that
If you call it, surprised where it is
The moon to the left of me
Is a part of my thoughts
Is a part of me
Is me
Wine never does that
In the night I am real
In the night I am real
The moon to the left of me
Is a part of my thoughts
Is a part of me
Is me
Forever is the wind
Is a part of my thoughts
Is a part of me
Is me
In the night I am real
I don't want my fangs too long
I don't want my fangs too long
The moon to the left of me
Is a part of my thoughts
Is a part of me
Is me
Forever is the wind
Is a part of my thoughts
Is a part of me
Is me
I don't want my fangs too long
If you have ghosts then you have everything
If you have ghosts then you have everything
If you have ghosts then you have everything
If you have ghosts then you have everything” — Roky Erickson, If You Have Ghosts (Lyrics) R.I.P. Your music will live on within this plain of existence as your soul travels onward to the unknown.

All comments from YouTube:

LibraZebra

5y↑22

______________

1y↑1

The lead on this keeps me coming back. Love this song.

fanch44

4y↑19

PTSD and Bipolar here. This is such a powerful song about mental illness. What a legend.

thelco1 (Deon)

4y↑1

What would you say your interpretation of it is? I have trouble understanding it all in terms of meanings.

Oblio1942

4y↑6

@thelco1 (Deon) Ive got some ptsd, the ghosts are obviously the horrible stuff youve encountered. 'You have everything' i guess you can put it as you have something that'll top most every story you hear, or you have seen everything that will break you and theyre your ghosts youre trying to escape. But you cant, and sometimes your 'fangs get too long' and you lash out and be violent to replace those ghosts, but you cant. They still haunt you when you dont expect it. And then you have more ghosts. And a broken hand.

Lukas F

3y↑1

"If you have ghosts, you have everything" - With all the pains of being ill, there's something strangely liberating about it sometimes. You have a unique perspective on the world and noone can take that away from you.

K M

@Oblio1942i've always thought it was about grief and losing our loved ones, and realizing that death is inevitable and nothing to be afraid of (i don't want my fangs too long) and that the love of our lost loved ones (our ghosts) is everything.