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.
Get It On
Marc Bolan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well you're dirty and sweet clad in
A...........................e........
Black don't look back and I love you
.......a..................e......
You're dirty and sweet oh yeah
E......................................
A...................e......
Teeth of the hydra upon you
.......a..........................e..
You're dirty sweet and you're my girl
E......g.......
Get it on
.......a.......
Bang a gong
.......e.......
Get it on
Marc Bolan's "Get It On" is a classic rock song from the early 70s, featuring a repeating guitar riff and a playful, seductive tone. The lyrics themselves are simple but effective, using suggestive wordplay to convey the singer's desire for a particular woman.
The opening line, "Well you're dirty and sweet clad in black," suggests that the woman in question is both alluring and dangerous, like a dangerous animal or a tempting forbidden fruit. The ambiguity of the phrase "dirty and sweet" adds to this sense of intrigue and danger.
The later line "You're slim and you're weak, you got the teeth of the hydra upon you" is a bit more enigmatic, but seems to imply that the woman has some kind of power or influence over the singer. The image of the hydra, a multi-headed serpent from Greek mythology, suggests both danger and strength.
Overall, "Get It On" is a rock classic that uses suggestive language and playful innuendo to create an air of playful sexual tension.
Line by Line Meaning
Well you're dirty and sweet clad in
You have a mixture of impurity and innocence in your personality.
Black don't look back and I love you
You're fearless and that makes me love you more.
You're dirty and sweet oh yeah
You have a unique charm to yourself despite having contradicting qualities.
You're slim and you're weak you got the
You may seem frail and powerless, but you possess multiple strengths.
Teeth of the hydra upon you
You have a fierce and intimidating aura despite your outward appearance.
You're dirty sweet and you're my girl
You may have a rough exterior, but you have a kind and loving heart, and I'm grateful to have you.
Get it on
Let's take action and do something exciting.
Bang a gong
Make a loud and celebratory noise.
Get it on
Let's have fun and be spontaneous.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRIAN RAYMOND ALLEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind