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.
Elemental Child
Marc Bolan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Her kiss is a whip of the moon
Dawn's damsels are dancing
To the hum of her sunny young tune
Gems hemmed in the heart's head
The shield of the rivers is hers
She one told me to think white
Hold the glove of gold behind you
Love the love of Truth.
In the song Elemental Child, Marc Bolan poetizes a torch girl of the marshes, whose kiss is a whip of the moon. She seems to have an irresistible power that draws the attention of everyone around her. Dawn's damsels are dancing to the hum of her sunny young tune, suggesting that she might be linked to the cycle of the day and the light. The girl also possesses a kind of magic that allows her to make the night disappear like a bird simply by telling someone to think white. Bolan's lyrics offer a cryptic and mysterious vision of this feminine figure, and it is up to the listener to unravel the symbolism of her gems and the shield of rivers.
The second part of the song seems to address the listener directly, or perhaps all humanity, with the words "Hold the glove of gold behind you, Love the love of Truth." Here, Marc Bolan seems to be suggesting that we need to let go of material possessions and focus on the truth that surrounds us. The glove of gold could represent wealth, power, or any other superficial attribute that distracts us from connecting with the essential elements of our existence. By emphasizing the importance of truth and love, Bolan may be hinting at a more profound way of being, one that transcends the limitations of the physical world.
Line by Line Meaning
Torch girl of the marshes
A girl who embodies fire and light in the midst of the swampy darkness
Her kiss is a whip of the moon
Her passionate love is fierce, strong and controlling like the moon's gravitational pull
Dawn's damsels are dancing
As the sun rises, the girls are moving gracefully
To the hum of her sunny young tune
They are dancing to the cheerful and bright melody she brings
Gems hemmed in the heart's head
Jewels or treasures are embedded in one's thoughts, hopes, and desires
The shield of the rivers is hers
She has protection of the flow of life and emotions, such as a shield against danger
She once told me to think white
She gave me advice to focus on purity, innocence, and goodness
And the night disappeared like a bird
It was as if darkness vanished quickly and swiftly just as a bird takes flight.
Hold the glove of gold behind you
Keep your riches or achievements hidden from others,
Love the love of Truth
Cherish and embrace the love for knowledge, wisdom, and what is real.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MrSirDrew
Lyrics
Torch girl of the marshes
Her kiss is a whip of the moon
Dawn's damsels are dancing
To the hum of her sunny young tune
Gems hemmed in the heart's head
The shield of the rivers is hers
She one told me to think white
And the night disappeared like a bird
Hold the glove of gold behind you
Love the glove of Truth.
@winfriedrempe5947
Einfach spitze. Einfach T Rex. Fan für immer. Bin 63 und noch immer tolal begeistert.
@stephenvine3104
There is a lot of good stuff of marc bolan live and this is one of them a great live 8mins + of great guitar work by Marc and bass by the very underrated Steve currie . We miss all of you marc mickey Steve Steve took and Dino dines god bless all of you ❤
@gerryradford4812
Saw Tyrannosaurus Rex 🦖 in the 6o s ….. Marc a great guitarist,,,, they were so different to anything at the time ,,,, still listen to all their albums,,,, STILL KOOL. G
@philiphaley5414
Brilliant off the cuff bass line by Steve; that guy was a master of his craft yet never got any credit except from Tony Visconti, a bass player himself, who was in awe of Steve.
@caryheuchert
Steve Currie was certainly an underrated talent, much like Dee Murray, bassist with Elton John. It just proves that behind most major stars, there was an equally great band.
@zincalloy2213
I think Marc really did know Steve’s worth - to fill the void when Steve quit the band just look who was brought in to fill his shoes 🎸🎸🎸
@JohnChalmers617
Wow ! I just gained a hell of it of respect for Marc Bolan and T-REX.
@saxa21
This is why Bolan is the template for the future including Prince.
They were all watching.
@waynetaylor4995
Fantastic.!! Amazing Steve Currie on Bass again.!!
@twisttrax
wow now that's a popstar , i will never understand how the USA missed out on Bolan.