Earthquake
The 13th Floor Elevators Lyrics
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The rhythms that you make,
Are makin' my head shake in two.
Magnetized by you
Your love will pull me through
You pull through earth and stone,
You pull through flesh and bones
The sounds of the earthquake
Are shakin' my head right in two
You know I was never leaving
In each other, we're believin'
Lust will never catch us grieving
Along the way we command it to stay
Every time our fate is taken
All around the ground is breakin'
We're safe!
it's the love we're makin'
It won't fly apart from the beat of our heart
Like the ground and the sound of the earthquake,
And the rhythms that you make,
You're makin' it shakes my head in two
Rivers, waves they burst and pull
The pilot's ways beneath our oars
Canyons, mountain we just swore
We keep our cool inside heart
Through the massive walls that hit us
All this power will never quit us
No result can ever split us in two
The sound of the earthquake,
The exchanges that we make,
are takin' my head right in two
Mmmmmmmmmhmmmmmm!
The sounds!
You know I was never leaving
In each other, we're believin'
Lust will never catch us grieving
Along the way we command it to stay.
Every time our fate is taken
All around the ground is breakin'
We're safe! in the love we're makin'
It won't fly apart from the beat of our heart
Like the ground and the sound of the earthquake,
and the rhythms that you make,
You're makin' it shakes my head in two
Magnetized by you
Your love will pull me through
You pull through earth and stone,
You pull through flesh and bones
The sounds of the earthquake
And the rhythms that you make,
Are shakin' my head right in two
Right in two
Mmmm!
The sounds of
Yeah!
The lyrics to The 13th Floor Elevators' song "Earthquake" express the powerful connection between two people in love, comparing it to the natural force of an earthquake. The singer describes how the rhythms of their partner's movements and the sound of their love-making cause their head to shake in two, indicating the overwhelming intensity of their passion. The singer recognizes that their love can pull them through any obstacle, even an earthquake that can break through earth and stone, and they declare their commitment to each other by commanding their fate to stay.
The lyrics use vivid imagery to convey the theme of unstoppable love. The comparison between the force of their love and an earthquake suggests both the destructive power and life-giving energy that passion can bring. The singer describes how their love is magnetizing, pulling them through even the most solid barriers. The use of natural imagery, such as rivers and mountains, emphasizes the idea that their love is part of a larger, cosmic force that cannot be separated by external circumstances.
Overall, the lyrics to "Earthquake" showcase the psychedelic rock style of The 13th Floor Elevators, which mixed rock and roll with trippy, spiritual themes. The song is a powerful tribute to the strength of passion and connection in the face of adversity, and showcases the unique poetic style of lead singer Roky Erickson.
Line by Line Meaning
The sound of the earthquake,
The intense and forceful sound of the earthquake is a metaphor for the passionate and powerful emotions that the singer is feeling.
The rhythms that you make,
The rhythms that the singer's lover creates represent the movements they make together, and how the singer is reacting to their partner's actions.
Are makin' my head shake in two.
The singer is so overwhelmed by these strong feelings that they feel as if their head is splitting in two from the intensity of it all.
Magnetized by you
The singer is so drawn to their lover that they feel as if they are literally being pulled in by a magnetic force.
Your love will pull me through
The singer feels that their lover's love and support will help them overcome any difficulties they may face.
You pull through earth and stone,
The singer's lover is so powerful that they can pull through anything, even solid objects like earth and stone.
You pull through flesh and bones
The singer's lover is so strong that they can even pull through their physical body and influence their thoughts and emotions.
You know I was never leaving
The singer is committed to their partner and is reassuring them that they will always be there for them.
In each other, we're believin'
The singer and their partner have a strong mutual belief in each other's abilities and support each other wholeheartedly.
Lust will never catch us grieving
The singer and their partner's connection is based on deep love and affection, not just lust, so they will never be unhappy or suffer from excessive desire.
Along the way we command it to stay
The singer and their partner are consciously choosing to stay together and make their relationship work, despite any challenges they may face.
Every time our fate is taken
No matter what fate has in store for them, the singer is confident that they can overcome it together with their partner.
All around the ground is breakin'
The chaos and destruction of an earthquake is another metaphor for how the singer feels inside, but they are still safe and secure with their partner.
We're safe! in the love we're makin'
The singer feels safe and secure in their relationship and the love they share with their partner.
It won't fly apart from the beat of our heart
As long as their hearts are beating in sync, the singer and their partner's love will remain strong and unbreakable, even in the face of adversity.
Rivers, waves they burst and pull
The natural forces of rivers and waves represent the ups and downs of life, but the singer is confident that they can weather any storm with their partner by their side.
The pilot's ways beneath our oars
The singer is navigating the turbulent waters of life with their partner, using their love and support as a compass to guide them.
Canyons, mountain we just swore
The singer and their partner have made a promise to each other to conquer any challenges, no matter how big or small.
We keep our cool inside heart
The singer and their partner remain calm and level-headed, even in the face of adversity, because they know they have each other's love and support.
Through the massive walls that hit us
The singer and their partner are strong enough to overcome any obstacles that come their way, no matter how big or daunting they may seem.
All this power will never quit us
The strength and power of their love will never fade or disappear, even in the face of adversity or the passage of time.
No result can ever split us in two
No matter what happens in their lives, the singer and their partner will remain united and their love will remain unbroken.
The exchanges that we make
The interactions and exchanges between the singer and their partner are full of love, passion, and mutual support.
Mmmmmmmmmhmmmmmm!
A nonverbal expression of the singer's deep feelings of love and passion.
The sounds!
A continuation of the metaphor comparing their love to the sound of an earthquake, emphasizing how intense and all-consuming their feelings are.
Right in two
The singer feels as if their head is splitting in two from the intensity of their emotions.
Mmmm!
Another nonverbal expression of the singer's passion and love.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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