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.
Dock Of The Bay
Marc Bolan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Sitting, sitting, sitting on the dock of the bay)
(I'm just a-sitting now)
(Sitting, sitting on the dock of the bay)
(I'm just a-sitting now).
I'm just sittin' on the dock of the bay
Sittin' on the dock of the bay, wasting time.
Sittin in the morning sun
I`ll be sittin' when the evening comes
Watching the ships roll in
And I'll be watchin' roll away again.
I'm just sittin' on the dock of the bay
Watching the tides roll away
Sittin' on the dock of the bay, watching time.
(Sitting, sitting, sitting on the dock of the bay)
(I'm just a-sitting now)
(Sitting, sitting on the dock of the bay)
(I'm just a-sitting now).
I'm just sittin' on the dock of the bay
Watching the tides roll away
Sittin' on the dock of the bay, wasting time.
Left my home in Georgia
Headed for the Frisco Bay
I've got nothing to live for
Look like nothings gonna come my way.
I'm just sittin' on the dock of the bay
Watching the tides roll away
Sittin' on the dock of the bay, wasting time.
I'm just sittin' on the dock of the bay
Watching the tides roll away
Sittin' on the dock of the bay, wasting time.
The lyrics to Marc Bolan's song "Dock Of The Bay" are about a person who is feeling lost and aimless, leading them to sit idly by the ocean, wasting time. The opening lines suggest that the person is stuck in one place, simply sitting on the dock of the bay without any particular reason or purpose. The lyrics then describe the person's perspective as they watch the tides roll in and out, indicating that time is passing by without any real direction or intention.
The lyrics go on to describe the person's routine of sitting in the sun during the morning and continuing to sit even as evening approaches. The ships rolling in and out of the bay further emphasize the passage of time and the person's ongoing sense of stagnation.
The final lyrics suggest that the person has left their home in Georgia and come to the Frisco Bay, likely looking for a fresh start or new opportunities, but feeling as though they have nothing to live for and that nothing is coming their way. The repetition of the chorus emphasizes the person's aimless and unfulfilling existence.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm just sittin' on the dock of the bay
I am currently seated on a pier by the bay
Watching the tides roll away
Observing the ebb and flow of the water
Sittin' on the dock of the bay, wasting time.
Spending my time idly without any specific purpose or goal
Sittin in the morning sun
Occupying the dock during the early hours of daylight
I`ll be sittin' when the evening comes
I plan to remain in my seated position until the evening arrives
Watching the ships roll in
Observing vessels as they enter the bay area
And I'll be watchin' roll away again.
I will also be observing these same ships as they depart once more
Left my home in Georgia
I departed from my residence located in the state of Georgia
Headed for the Frisco Bay
My intended destination is the bay located near San Francisco
I've got nothing to live for
I lack a sense of purpose or reason to continue living
Look like nothings gonna come my way.
It appears likely that I will not experience any positive outcomes in my life
(Sitting, sitting, sitting on the dock of the bay)
I remain stationary in my seated position
(I'm just a-sitting now)
I am presently inactive and relaxed
(Sitting, sitting on the dock of the bay)
My current location is a pier near the bay
(I'm just a-sitting now).
No significant activity is currently taking place
Contributed by Christian C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.