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.
Sputnik
Roky Erickson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴
When it comes to fattening, there
ain't nothing like a cow
When it comes to pleasing, us folks there ain't nothing like a sow
(Verse 1)
Well, the doggies they were howling
At a lonesome Texas prairie moon
While I was high up in my Sputnik
All alone, and way up there too soon
(Chorus)
Now, Sputnik don't you worry, don't you worry, don't you worry
I'm feeling prime
I'm a shooting star leaping through the sky, like a tiger
Defying the laws of gravity
(Verse 2)
Well, the people down below were small
But we did not need them at all
I kissed my love as she stood tall
And I watched the world fall away, hey
(Chorus)
Now, Sputnik don't you worry, don't you worry, don't you worry
I'm feeling prime
I'm a shooting star leaping through the sky, like a tiger
Defying the laws of gravity
In Roky Erickson's song "Sputnik", the lyrics are a mix of different themes - space travel, romance, and cultural references. The first two lines in the intro talk about fattening cows and pleasing folks with sows, which are cultural references, and then the song transitions into a space theme. The main character in the song, presumably Roky himself, is high up in the Sputnik, a Soviet satellite launched in 1957. He's all alone and watching the world fall away, but he doesn't worry since he's feeling prime. The chorus references the Queen song, "Don't Stop Me Now", as it talks about being a shooting star and defying the laws of gravity.
The second verse mentions the people down below being small and not being needed, which could be interpreted as a commentary on the Cold War political tension between the US and the Soviet Union. The singer kisses his love as she stands tall, but the world around them falls away. The song is a mix of different themes, from cultural references to space travel, to political commentary, to romantic love.
Contributed by Bella E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@louispconstant6624
When it comes to fattening, there's no need for an in
And when it comes to herding my creations,
I don't need a space bin
Spelling your theory
Alien I Creator
Spelling your theory
Alien I Creator
Everything started by me, it could end, to begin
It could explode out into the cosmos to begin with nothing on a clear night as I started it, before infinities infinite
Spelling your theory
Alien I Creator
Spelling your theory
Alien I Creator
Spelling your theory
Alien I Creator
The sunset mount the rain
In the right place the trees
At the right time time time the stars
All familiar before me
It was flying, it was flying
Would ultimate space be my replacing friend
Ultimate knowledge theorizes null
It dissolves before it begins
Spelling your theory
Alien I Creator
Spelling your theory
Alien I Creator
Spelling your theory
Alien I Creator
Spelling your theory
Alien I Creator
Spelling your theory
Alien I Creator
Spelling your theory
Alien I Creator
Spelling your theory
Alien I Creator
- Roky Erickson
@Menchi90
When it comes to fattening
There's no need for an end
And when it comes to herding my creations
I don't need a space bend
Spelling your theory
Alien I Creator
Spelling your theory
Alien I Creator
Everything started by me it could end to begin
It could explode into to the cosmos
To begin from nothing on a clear night
As I started in before infinities infinite
Spelling your theory
Alien I creator
Spelling your theory
Alien I creator
Spelling your theory
Alien I creator
The sunset mount the rain
In the right place the trees
At the right time time time the stars
All familiar before me
@slint69
When it comes to fattening
There s no need for an end
And when it comes to herding my creations
I don t need a space bend
Spelling your theory
Alien I Creator
Spelling your theory
Alien I Creator
Everything started by me it could end to begin
It could explode into to the cosmos
To begin from nothing on a clear night
As I started in before infinities infinite
Spelling your theory
Alien I creator
Spelling your theory
Alien I creator
Spelling your theory
Alien I creator
The sunset mount the rain
In the right place the trees
At the right time time time the stars
All familiar before me
It was flying, it was flying
Would ultimate space be my replacing friend
Ultimate knowledge theorizes null
It dissolves before it begins
Spelling your theory
Alien I creator
Spelling your theory
Alien I creator
Spelling your theory
Alien I creator
Spelling your theory
Alien I creator
Spelling your theory
Alien I creator
Spelling your theory
Alien I creator
Spelling your theory
Alien I creator
@louispconstant6624
When it comes to fattening,
there's no need for an in
And when it comes to herding my creations,
I don't need a space bin
Spelling your theory
Alien I Creator
Spelling your theory
Alien I Creator
Everything started by me, it could end, to begin
It could explode out into the cosmos to begin with nothing on a clear night as I started it, before infinities infinite
Spelling your theory
Alien I Creator
Spelling your theory
Alien I Creator
Spelling your theory
Alien I Creator
The sunset mount the rain
In the right place the trees
At the right time time time the stars
All familiar before me
It was flying, it was flying
Would ultimate space be my replacing friend
Ultimate knowledge theorizes null
It dissolves before it begins
Spelling your theory
Alien I Creator
Spelling your theory
Alien I Creator
Spelling your theory
Alien I Creator
Spelling your theory
Alien I Creator
Spelling your theory
Alien I Creator
Spelling your theory
Alien I Creator
Spelling your theory
Alien I Creator
- Roky Erickson
@louispconstant6624
When it comes to fattening, there's no need for an in
And when it comes to herding my creations,
I don't need a space bin
Spelling your theory
Alien I Creator
Spelling your theory
Alien I Creator
Everything started by me, it could end, to begin
It could explode out into the cosmos to begin with nothing on a clear night as I started it, before infinities infinite
Spelling your theory
Alien I Creator
Spelling your theory
Alien I Creator
Spelling your theory
Alien I Creator
The sunset mount the rain
In the right place the trees
At the right time time time the stars
All familiar before me
It was flying, it was flying
Would ultimate space be my replacing friend
Ultimate knowledge theorizes null
It dissolves before it begins
Spelling your theory
Alien I Creator
Spelling your theory
Alien I Creator
Spelling your theory
Alien I Creator
Spelling your theory
Alien I Creator
Spelling your theory
Alien I Creator
Spelling your theory
Alien I Creator
Spelling your theory
Alien I Creator
- Roky Erickson
@slartbarg
Rest easy Roky, you showed a lot of us how to be strong.
@sconni666
Holy fuck. This rules.
@andyfricker32
Roky does Roswell proud... Everything he does makes more sense the more ya listen to it!
@firefly87
gone but never forgotten, Rest In Chaos Rok
@bantom360
Criminally underrated
@poddel
One can hear that Roky got a very good ear for the tone in the music, very melodic and sure voice.
@aaronvonrock
Thanks for posting all of these Roky songs.
@aries55ify
Simply great!
@vdubfester
yeah i agree his work with the 13th floor elevators was classic
@bryanclouse9579
"Spare me your theories on Aliens...and creator"