John's Children, formerly The Silence, were a 1960s proto-punk band from Le… Read Full Bio ↴John's Children, formerly The Silence, were a 1960s proto-punk band from Leatherhead, Surrey (UK) that existed from 1964 to 1968. Its members were Andy Ellison (vocals), Geoff McLelland (guitar, 1964-67), Chris Townson (drums, guitar), John Hewlett (bass), Marc Bolan (guitar, 1967, later of T. Rex fame) and Chris Colville (drums).

Their manager was Simon Napier-Bell, who devised white stage outfits and an outrageous stage act which included fighting each other and Bolan whipping the stage with a chain. Their 1967 single "Desdemona" was banned by the BBC for the 'controversial' lyric, "Lift up your skirt and fly".

Bolan was with the band for about four months. His main roles were to be the band's composer and play electric guitar (until then, he only played acoustic guitar). His singing voice is sometimes lead in "unofficial" recordings only (demos, BBC radio sessions). After he left, Townson switched to guitar and former roadie Chris Colville took over on drums.

John's Children recorded another single, "Go Go Girl", a Bolan composition he later recorded with Tyrannosaurus Rex as "Mustang Ford". John's Children also performed Bolan's "Mustang Ford" version of the song. The band released one more single, "It's Been a Long Time" (issued as an Andy Ellison solo single) and then embarked on a "disastrous" tour of Germany. Their last performance was at the Star-Club in Hamburg, Germany (substituting for the Bee Gees), after which they split up in 1968. Ellison went on to make several solo singles. before resurfacing in Jet in 1974, along with drummer Chris Townson. Jet metamorphosed into Radio Stars in the mid-Seventies.

Hot Rod Mama
John's Children Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hot rod mama moving like a motor cycle devil in a race
Blown out my mind, I can't keep up the pace
I'm selling all my midnight, still broke and living on the ground
My gone little mama cut out without a sound

With my greased-up levis,
Baseball boots above my head
If it wasn't such a tragedy

I might wish I was dead

She took my ice-cream mustang

And my purple coloured dodeville
She even took my panpipes and my elixir of life pill

Overall Meaning

The song "Hot Rod Mama" by John's Children is a rock song with lyrics that describe the singer's lover as a wild and rebellious woman who moves like a "motor cycle devil" and has blown his mind. He reveals that he cannot keep up with her pace and that he is selling all that he has just to survive. The lyrics then take a darker turn, as he expresses more despair, saying that his girlfriend has left him without a sound. He describes his own appearance as disheveled, with "greased-up levis" and "baseball boots above [his] head." He even hints at suicidal tendencies, saying that if it wasn't such a tragedy, he might wish he was dead.

The lyrics of "Hot Rod Mama" can be seen as a reflection of the counterculture movement of the 1960s. The singer's lover represents the rebellious spirit of the era, and the singer himself represents the disillusionment and despair experienced by many during this time. The lyrics also suggest a sense of nihilism, as the singer seems to have given up on everything, even his own life. The song is characterized by its fast pace, heavy guitar riffs and screaming vocals, which add to its chaotic, frenzied feel.

Line by Line Meaning

Hot rod mama moving like a motor cycle devil in a race
The woman John is referring to is moving fast and recklessly, like a devil on a motorcycle speeding in a race.

Blown out my mind, I can't keep up the pace
The situation has overwhelmed John, and he cannot keep up with his woman.

I'm selling all my midnight, still broke and living on the ground
John is trying to sell all of his belongings, but he remains impoverished and grounded.

My gone little mama cut out without a sound
John's woman left him without a word, like a stealthy little girl.

With my greased-up levis, Baseball boots above my head If it wasn't such a tragedy I might wish I was dead
John paints a picture of himself as a disheveled man in greasy jeans and sporty shoes. The situation is so dire that he would rather be dead than not have his woman by his side.

She took my ice-cream mustang And my purple coloured dodeville She even took my panpipes and my elixir of life pill
John's woman took everything he owns, including his prized possessions like his ice-cream-colored Mustang, his purple Dodeville, his panpipes, and even his elixir of life pill.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: BOLAN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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