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.
Sarah Crazy Child
John's Children Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With her pastel tortured dress
And her seductive bongo beat
Her skin's wild like the olives
And her Body's bitter sweet
Still she's only just thirteen
And she's forgotten how to dream
With his venom mouthy sting
And his knowledge twisted hair
And his 1920's stare
He lives beneath the roadway
In a Minotaur's lair
In summer he's a young boy
But in winter he's a bear
Broken dusty mama
Her face melted just like wax
Her once gazelle like features
Bloodied by the age axe
Sepia picture postcard
Of the twosome of their home
Soulessly they submitted to
The guillotine of their own
The lyrics of John's Children's "Sara Crazy Child" are haunting and poetic, painting a vivid picture of a young girl who is lost and a family that is broken. The opening lines describe Sara as "devouring all the street" with her "pastel tortured dress" and "seductive bongo beat." She is wild and bitter, with skin like olives and a body that is both sweet and twisted. Despite being only thirteen, she has forgotten how to dream.
The second verse introduces Sara's brother, the Juke Box King, who is equally troubled. With his "venom mouthy sting" and "knowledge twisted hair," he lives underneath the roadway in a Minotaur's lair. In the summer, he is a young boy, but in the winter he turns into a bear. The final verse describes their broken, dusty mama, whose face has melted like wax and whose once-gazelle-like features have been "bloodied by the age axe." A sepia picture postcard of their home serves as a reminder of the family's submission to "the guillotine of their own" existence.
Line by Line Meaning
Sara Crazy Child is devouring all the street
Sarah is dominating the street with her presence and energy
With her pastel tortured dress
Her dress is colorful but appears to be in a state of distress
And her seductive bongo beat
Her rhythm and music are alluring and captivating
Her skin's wild like the olives
Her skin is untamed and unfiltered like wild olives
And her Body's bitter sweet
Her body represents both pleasure and pain
Still she's only just thirteen
She is a young adolescent despite her intense demeanor
And she's forgotten how to dream
She has lost her ability to imagine and aspire
Her brother the Juke Box King
Her brother is the ruler of music and entertainment
With his venom mouthy sting
He speaks harshly and critically
And his knowledge twisted hair
His hair is intricate and unconventional, reflecting his experience and unconventional knowledge
And his 1920's stare
His gaze is fixed and intense, reflecting a bygone era
He lives beneath the roadway
He resides in a hidden, underground world
In a Minotaur's lair
His home is a frightening and confusing place, like a labyrinth
In summer he's a young boy
He appears youthful and carefree in warmer months
But in winter he's a bear
In colder months he is angry and intimidating, like a bear
Broken dusty mama
Her mother is defeated and lacking vitality
Her face melted just like wax
Her mother's face is distorted and aging
Her once gazelle like features
Her mother's beauty has faded and she appears more like a tired animal
Bloodied by the age axe
Her mother's looks have been ravaged by the effects of time
Sepia picture postcard
A nostalgic image of the past, faded by time and wear
Of the twosome of their home
A photo of her parents when they were together in their house
Soulessly they submitted to
They gave in to their fate without resistance or spirit
The guillotine of their own
Their own choices and actions led to their downfall
Contributed by Christopher A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
raul macias
One of Marc Bolan's best compositions and lyrics! John Hewlett and ChrisTownson play some inventive Rhythm all the while improvising.
Marc plays some cool licks on his Gibson SG and sings a nice Lead Vocal during the fade-out!
Lastly, Andy Ellison sings a very soulful Lead Vocal!
Fortunately, Manager and Producer Simon Napier Bell didn't tamper with this classic and overdub his silly vocals like he did when he ruined the John's Children classic "Midsummer Night's Scene"!
What Bell did was simply unforgivable!
bolanbabe
love it!!!! andy sang it well at marcs celebration!..
GuTWorm68
It's Sara. Not Sarah.
charles Busby
don't know if I like this
johnny cardboard
Gotta hear Bolan sing it.