Creature With The Atom Brain
Roky Erickson & the Aliens Lyrics
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Creature with the atom brain
Why is he acting so strange
Do you think he's one of them?
Threw the doll right down
Ripped it's guts off
And threw it on the ground
Creature with the atom brain
"I told you I'd come back! Remember Buchanan?"
"But you're not Buchanan!"
"I don't look like him, but I am him.
Don't you recognize the voice Jim?
I promised to see you die, and I will!"
"Hey boss let us in! Boss man, let us in that door!"
"Get in the automobile! Get in the automobile! The automobile!"
No one stitches like that
No one stitches like that
Creature with the atom brain
Creature with the atom brain
"Today's big story centers around the killing
Of District Attorney McGraw, whose body was
Found in his garage, murdered.
Dr. Walker is under the impression that these crimes
Were being perpetrated by dead men charged with atom
Rays, which gives them superhuman strength and makes
Them impervious to bullets.
Well, if you want to believe that story you can."
Creature with the atom brain
Creature with the atom brain
Why is he acting so strange
Do you think he's one of them?
Creature with the atom brain
The song "Creature with the Atom Brain" by Roky Erickson & the Aliens is a haunting tune about a mysterious creature whose behavior is causing concern. The lyrics seem to imply that this creature has some sort of supernatural power or has been infused with atomic energy, hence the phrase "creature with the atom brain." The singer wonders why the creature is acting so strangely and questions whether it could be one of "them" – possibly referring to extraterrestrial life forms or other beings with unusual abilities.
The imagery in the song is dark and unsettling, with references to ripped dolls and mysterious voices. The chorus repeats the phrase "creature with the atom brain" several times, emphasizing the danger and menace posed by this creature. The final lines of the song include a news report about a district attorney who was murdered, with a mention of a scientist who believes the perpetrator may be a dead person charged with atom rays.
The song is open to interpretation, but it seems to suggest a sense of impending doom or the possibility of otherworldly threats. The lyrics and music create a sense of tension and unease, capturing the mood of a science fiction or horror movie.
Line by Line Meaning
Creature with the atom brain
The creature being referred to possesses a brain powered by atoms.
Creature with the atom brain
Repetition of the previous line, emphasizing the strange nature of the creature.
Why is he acting so strange
The singer is questioning the unusual behavior of the creature.
Do you think he's one of them?
The singer is wondering if the creature is part of a group of similar beings.
Threw the doll right down
The singer threw a doll on the ground.
Ripped it's guts off
The singer tore apart the doll's insides.
And threw it on the ground
The singer discarded the doll after destroying it.
Creature with the atom brain
Reiteration of the creature's unusual brain composition.
Creature with the atom brain
Continuing to highlight the strange creature.
"I told you I'd come back! Remember Buchanan?"
The artist is reminding someone of their previous interaction with a person named Buchanan.
"But you're not Buchanan!"
The other person is disputing the singer's claim that they are Buchanan.
"I don't look like him, but I am him.
The artist insists that they are indeed Buchanan, despite not looking the same as before.
Don't you recognize the voice Jim?
The singer is asking Jim if he recognizes their voice from before.
I promised to see you die, and I will!"
The singer is threatening Jim and promising to cause them harm.
"Hey boss let us in! Boss man, let us in that door!"
A group of people are asking their boss to let them through a door.
"Get in the automobile! Get in the automobile! The automobile!"
The artist is urging someone to get into a car by repeating the command multiple times.
No one stitches like that
The singer is admiring someone's skill at sewing or stitching.
No one stitches like that
Repeating the previous line for emphasis.
Creature with the atom brain
Still discussing the unusual creature with atomic brain power.
Creature with the atom brain
Reiteration of the strange creature.
"Today's big story centers around the killing
A news story is being introduced, involving the murder of District Attorney McGraw.
Of District Attorney McGraw, whose body was
Continuing to describe the central figure in the news story.
Found in his garage, murdered.
The details of the murder scene are being shared.
Dr. Walker is under the impression that these crimes
Dr. Walker has a theory about the recent crimes.
Were being perpetrated by dead men charged with atom
The theory involves dead men who are powered by atomic energy.
Rays, which gives them superhuman strength and makes
These atomic rays give the dead men extraordinary abilities.
Them impervious to bullets.
The dead men are immune to gunshots.
Well, if you want to believe that story you can."
The news anchor is expressing skepticism about Dr. Walker's theory.
Creature with the atom brain
The unusual creature with atomic brain power is still the topic of the song.
Creature with the atom brain
Final repetition of the specific creature mentioned in the song.
Contributed by Sebastian I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@SitlerHQ
RIP Roky. This was the song that drew me towards you. Fly high.
@dixgun
such a great song
@SunnysFilms
RIP Roky Erickson. Thank you for making my Halloween seasons awesome.
@terminalpictures
Hard to find a better Halloween album than this one.
@kakstin
Tom Waits's 'Bone Machine' is the only comparable "Halloween album" I can think of.
@craigdamage
Thanks for the tunes Roky. You can't be replaced. R.I.P. brother.
@HypermaxZ
The entire album is fucking solid.
@isaacturner-hall4551
Saw the Elevators, the Sidewalks, years ago, played some bass with Lee Pence before I went to Vietnam, then he had a band called Bolla Hooker in Austin, didn't get to see him, don't know if Cal Stanton was drumming. Cal died. Lee died. They were fantastic players, people and friends. I was lost for a long time. I wish I could have found them after I found myself again. Steven Richard Turner
@TheBabypod
If I remember correctly, 1955 black and white movie "Creature With the Atom Brain" scared the shit out of me when I saw it. I would have been 7 yr old. Love those old B&W B sci-fi movies.
@drewgrows7765
I noticed that movie is here on YT. Is the song related to the movie?