Marc had played guitar since the age of 9, but started to pursue music more seriously around 1964, when he became Toby Tyler, covering songs by Bob Dylan, and Dion.
(A track recorded around this time as Mark Feld, "All At Once" has recently been discovered will be released soon.) In his teen years, Marc became known as one of the first "mods". This led him to a brief stint as a model, and he chose to leave school when he was 14 years old. He also played guitar in a band called John's Children. Marc was needed for this group as a 'Pete Townshend' figure, but after 3 months, he left the band.
Together with Steve Peregrin Took, he formed his own duo Tyrannosaurus Rex, which quickly gained a large underground following. After 3 successful albums, Steve Peregrin Took's drug habits and suggestion of doing some of his own songs was enough for Marc to kick him out of the duo. Mickey Finn quickly replaced Steve, and the new duo recorded the album A Beard Of Stars, with Marc replacing Steve's backing vocals on the tracks they already began recording.
On Marc's second album with Finn, he decided to shorten the name of the band to T. Rex, and found fame and chart succes in 1970 with Ride a White Swan.
Following that success, Marc wrote several more top 10 hits and albums, Electric Warrior(1971), The Slider (1972), Tanx(1973), Zinc Alloy and the Hidden Riders of Tomorrow Or a Creamed Cage In August)(1974), Bolan's Zip-Gun(1975), Futuristic Dragon(1976) and the final album
Dandy In the Underworld(1977).
Marc Bolan tried to make it clear during his lifetime that he was NOT to be grouped in the lot called Glam Rock. In 1973, he appeared under the headline "Glam Rock Is Dead: Says Marc" - he felt he was not being treated seriously as an artist, so with Zinc Alloy onward, he moved into a Rock & Soul sound, radically different than what was the musical trend at the time. Many of Marc's fans stayed behind with the Glam movement, but Marc pursued further into less commercial music adventures, with the help of his soul-singer girlfriend, Gloria Jones. Together they had a son, Rolan Bolan, in 1975.
Tragically, Marc died in a car crash on 16 September 1977 in a purple Mini driven by Gloria Jones.
Beyond the Rising Sun
Marc Bolan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where people walk hand in hand,
I tell you I know where it is
It's past the Apples of the Sun
Near the Land of the Golden One,
Far beyond the rising sun
You pass the oceans of this land
Pass the man with the golden hand
And play upon the golden shore
And bang upon his magic door
Behind which people never die
When finally you make the scene
You see things you never dream
You thought they were only in your mind
Where Unicorns and young Gods play
From the break of dawn to the end of day
Always happy and kind in their minds.
The lyrics of "Beyond the Risin' Sun" by Marc Bolan transport the listener to a mythical world of happiness, magic, and endless possibilities. Bolan tantalizes the imagination with images of a place called Fairyland where people walk hand in hand. He then claims to know where this magical world is - past the Apples of the Sun and near the Land of the Golden One, far beyond the rising sun. The journey to Fairyland is not easy, but as you cross oceans and encounter strange characters like the man with the golden hand, you can't help but smile as you watch dragons fly and play on the golden shore. Finally arriving at Fairyland, you are greeted with the sight of unicorns and young gods playing together in a harmonious paradise where people never die.
Bolan's lyrics are a peaceful escape from the chaotic real world where pain and suffering are all too common. He creates a utopian world where happiness reigns supreme, and everyone is accepted and respected. The imagery, like the golden hand and magic door, add to the otherworldly feel of the song, and it allows the listener to fully immerse themselves in the lyrics. Although the song might seem nonsensical at first, upon closer examination, it's clear that Bolan is trying to emphasize the importance of imagination, magic, and spiritualism in a world where it's easy to feel trapped in the mundane.
Line by Line Meaning
You've heard about the Fairyland
You have probably heard of a place called Fairyland
Where people walk hand in hand,
In that place, people walk holding hands
I tell you I know where it is
I am saying that I know the location of that place
It's past the Apples of the Sun
It's located beyond the Apples of the Sun
Near the Land of the Golden One,
It is situated close to the Land of the Golden One
Far beyond the rising sun
It is very far, beyond where the sun rises
You pass the oceans of this land
In order to reach it, you travel across the oceans of this land
Pass the man with the golden hand
You pass by the man with a golden hand
You smile as you watch the Dragons fly
Watching the dragons fly makes you smile
And play upon the golden shore
They fly and play by the golden shore
And bang upon his magic door
They loudly hit the magic door
Behind which people never die
The Door leads to a place where people never die
When finally you make the scene
When you finally reach there,
You see things you never dream
You get to see things you never could have imagined
You thought they were only in your mind
The things you see were things you thought were only in your imagination
Where Unicorns and young Gods play
It is an enchanted place where unicorns and young gods play
From the break of dawn to the end of day
They play endlessly from morning till evening
Always happy and kind in their minds.
Always happy and gentle in their thoughts
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Marc Bolan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
JC
Can’t believe this wasn’t a hit. It’s fantastic
wega43
Słucham tego utworu w kółko już chyba ponad godzinę i nie mogę przestać....... Niesamowite!!!!! Genialne!!!! eh
Don't Shoot the Messenger
This song just makes me so happy! 🥰🥰
Kelli Contreras
I have a lot of Marc in my heart!
Don't Shoot the Messenger
💗💗💗💗
Marc Hartley
OH SUCH BLISS! ONE OF OUR FAVOURITE BOLAN COMPOSITIONS........WE OFTEN DRIFT AWAY LISTENING TO THIS LOVELY LITTLE SONG. ROCK ON MARC! REMEMBER HIM THIS SEPT 16TH 2007 ON THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS SAD PASSING . CELEBRATE HIS LIFE, HIS MUSIC AND HIS CONTINUED LEGACY!!!!!!!!! ALSO MARC WOULD HAVE BEEN 60 ON SEPT 30TH. WE MISS YA MARC! Delf and Kaz x
ripoffhotlove Ratman
Beautiful, Thanks. Remembering Marc every day. Sadly missed.
Carol Runham
This is fantastic song
TheMassaCrew
Before he got his magical, psychedelic vibrato voice.
Robert Perkin
I prefer this version to the later acoustic one, good stuff.