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.
Two Headed Dog
Roky Erickson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've been working in the Kremlin
With a two-headed dog
Two-headed dog, two headed dog
I've been working in the Kremlin
With a two-headed dog
Relaxed be nyet brought back
Did you dry her out
Wind her out like jerky?
To me she's healed, don't attack
Two-headed dog, two headed dog
I've been working in the Kremlin
With a two-headed dog
Two-headed dog, two headed dog
I've been working in the Kremlin
With a two-headed dog
Children nailed to the cross
Pain does not look our hell
Certainly is not a spell
Sweet waste from a well
Two-headed dog, two headed dog
I've been working in the Kremlin
With a two-headed dog
Two-headed dog, two headed dog
I've been working in the Kremlin
With a two-headed dog
Winds quiet in the night
Her body just blows messiah
Sickening sweet sight left and right
Is all right does not please my appetite
Two-headed dog, two headed dog
I've been working in the Kremlin
With a two-headed dog
Two-headed dog, two headed dog
I've been working in the Kremlin
With a two-headed dog
Two-headed dog, two headed dog
I've been working in the Kremlin
With a two-headed dog
Two-headed dog, two headed dog
I've been working in the Kremlin
With a two-headed dog
The lyrics to Roky Erickson's song "Two Headed Dog" are quite cryptic and open to interpretation. It is possible that the song is about a scientist or researcher who is working in the Kremlin, the center of Soviet power, with an actual two-headed dog. This could be seen as a frightening and unusual experiment, perhaps reflecting the Cold War tensions of the time. The song also references "peace brought back" and "pain does not look our hell," which could be interpreted as commentary on the aftermath of war or political conflict.
The reference to "children nailed to the cross" is particularly haunting, and suggests a grim and violent tone to the song. The lines "sickening sweet sight left and right, is all right does not please my appetite" add to this sense of unease and discomfort. Overall, the song is characterized by its eerie imagery and unsettling atmosphere, which may be intended to reflect the political and cultural anxieties of the time.
Line by Line Meaning
Two-headed dog, two headed dog
The singer is talking about a two-headed dog.
I've been working in the Kremlin
With a two-headed dog
The singer has been working in the Kremlin with a two-headed dog.
Peace brought back, bought back
Peace has been restored or recovered.
Relaxed be nyet brought back
Something has been brought back that causes relaxation or calmness.
Did you dry her out
The singer is asking if someone has cured or sobered up a woman.
Wind her out like jerky?
To me she's healed, don't attack
The singer questions whether the woman has been sobered up harshly, then says that she is healed and should not be criticized.
Children nailed to the cross
The singer is talking about the crucifixion of children.
Pain does not look our hell
Certainly is not a spell
Pain is not something that leads to hell and is not magic or supernatural.
Sweet waste from a well
Something sweet, perhaps from a good source, is being wasted.
Winds quiet in the night
Her body just blows messiah
In the quiet of the night, the body of someone in the song seems to be like a savior.
Sickening sweet sight left and right
Is all right does not please my appetite
The singer finds something that looks nice, but is not satisfying.
Contributed by Gabriella B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
MsNorweg
Naaah, he ain't dead :)
He did his job on Earth, now he departed to his home planet.
And the next jam session on another planet starts soon, so book your rocket ASAP 😎🚀
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FUCK, i would LOVE to see this guy live one more time <333333
Dakota Spruell
Two headed dog
Two headed dog
I've been working in the Kremlin
With a two-headed dog
Two headed dog
Two headed dog
I've been working in the Kremlin
With a two-headed dog
Peace brought back
Bought back
Relaxed be nyet
Brought back
Did you dry her out
Wind her out like jerky?
To me she's healed, don't attack
Two headed dog
Two headed dog
I've been working in the Kremlin
With a two-headed dog
Two headed dog
Two headed dog
I've been working in the Kremlin
With a two-headed dog
Children nailed to the cross
Pain does not look our hell
Certainly is not a spell
Sweet waste from a well
Two headed dog
Two headed dog
I've been working in the Kremlin
With a two-headed dog
Two headed dog
Two headed dog
I've been working in the Kremlin
With a two-headed dog
Alright
Winds quiet in the night
Her body just blows messiah
Sickening sweet sight
Left and right
Is all right?
Does not please my appetite
Two headed dog
Two headed dog
I've been working in the Kremlin
With a two-headed dog
Two headed
Two headed
Two headed dog
I've been working in the Kremlin
With a two-headed dog
Two headed
Two headed
Two headed dog
I've been working in the Kremlin
With a two-headed dog
Two headed
Two headed
Two headed dog
I've been working in the Kremlin
With a two-headed dog
Two headed
Two headed
Two headed dog
Two headed
Two headed
Two headed dog
Stoned Meadow Of Doom
This is a must have album. Seriously one of my favorite recent discoveries. Wish I had found it years ago. This is one of the finest moments on it. Gritty garage psych.
Phillip Sawbridge
Right on. I just discovered this also. Surprised me how much I like it.
Mads Madsen
Truth here
S T
Fabulous.
Chevyman ,
The last vinyl I found of this was almost $2,000
Kennedy Page
@Chevyman , Damn. That's interesting. I guess they don't press them any more or something but that would surprise me.
Matt Mauldin
I love how the lyrics are so abstract and surreal, and how Erickson sings them with so much conviction. A great tune.
Jeanette Wittstein
It's actually about Soviet experiments where they transplanted the head of a puppy onto the body of an adult dog. Don't look it up if you're easily disturbed.
spike6385
I can remember the first time I heard this song - and the whole time I was like, "is he REALLY saying two-headed dog?" yes, he is.
triumphant39
@Jeanette Wittstein Loosely based. It still qualifies as having vague and mysterious lyrics, I mean some of it has religious connotations, and mentions classic rock and roll themes. Clearly not simply about that 😅