The 13th Floor Elevators
Thru the Rhythm (Stereo LP Version)
[Verse 1]
Through the rhythm of darkened times
Painted black by knowledge crimes
And repetition's pointless mime
Instilling values the sick define
That weaves the fabric that keeps you blind
And ties your hands and cloaks your mind
But on my stilts, I'm above the slime

[Chorus]
Come on up if you can make the climb
But who am I?
Who am I?
Who am I?

[Verse 2]
I've smelled the stench from the fumes that rise
From the books that rehash the same old lies
I've felt the panic that they disguise
In the forms of laws of every size
I've heard the teachers whining, make you drop out like flies
But you know they teach you nonsense 'cause they can't blind your eyes
I've seen the fool's gold they pawn off as their prize

[Chorus]
To the average standard the norm supplies
But where am I?
Where am I?
Where am I?
[Verse 3]
You've gobbled all the blessings they caused you to digest
They may be hard to swallow, but they keep your tongue depressed
Your scattered whims were born depressed
So when something slams your chest
You flutter about, you're sleek distressed
And when you stop to ease your breast
Its scattered rim leaves you obsessed

[Chorus]
While solid thoughts are soon suppressed
But where are you?
Oh, where are you?
Hey, where are you?

[Outro]
Oh, where are you?
Where, oh, where are you?
Baby, where are, are you?
Where are you?
Where are you? Babe, where are you?
Where are, oh, oh, where are you?
Oh, where, where are you?
Where?