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.
Groove A Little
Marc Bolan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You can call somebody captain
Under pressure you can flip
You can be a rock commando
But you can't pilot the ship
Groove a little baby, groove a little now
what you want
But I'll show you how *
You can trip the light fantastic
Become a space grotesque
You can fossilize your thought dreams
Behind a rusty desk
* Repeat
You might know what you want
But I'll show you how
You can read the works of Shakespeare
In the Academy of Life
You can punk the skunks of freedom
With you jeweled Etruscan knife
* Repeat twice
The opening line of Marc Bolan's song "Groove A Little" suggests that to groove is to lubricate your imagination. The song is all about breaking free from societal norms and restrictions and allowing oneself to groove and explore. Bolan gives examples of different ways to do this - one can call oneself a captain, become a rock commando, trip the light fantastic, or punk the skunks of freedom. These are all ways to push boundaries and explore new territory. Bolan also suggests that one's thought dreams can fossilize behind a rusty desk, and encourages the listener to groove a little instead.
The repeating chorus, "groove a little baby, groove a little now," drives home the message of the song. Bolan urges the listener to let go and embrace their inner groove. He acknowledges that the listener may think they know what they want, but he'll show them how to groove and find true freedom. Ultimately, "Groove A Little" is a call to break free from societal constraints and explore one's own creativity and imagination through the act of "grooving."
Line by Line Meaning
To groove is to lubricate your imagination
To get into the groove is to allow your imagination to flow freely and easily.
You can call somebody captain
You have the power to grant others leadership titles or to be a follower.
Under pressure you can flip
You may react unpredictably or erratically when feeling overwhelmed or stressed.
You can be a rock commando
You can be a fearless and unstoppable force, much like a soldier on the front lines.
But you can't pilot the ship
You don't have complete control over your life or destiny.
Groove a little baby, groove a little now
Let yourself flow and embrace the moment.
Groove a little baby, you might know what you want
Let yourself get into the groove, even if you have a clear idea of what you want.
But I'll show you how *
But I can teach you how to let loose and groove with abandon.
You can trip the light fantastic
You can dance and move with grace and style.
Become a space grotesque
You can create an otherworldly persona that may seem strange or bizarre.
You can fossilize your thought dreams
You can become stuck in unchanging ideas or thoughts.
Behind a rusty desk
Confined to a mundane or unfulfilling job or situation.
You can read the works of Shakespeare
You can appreciate the classics and seek knowledge and wisdom.
In the Academy of Life
In the school of hard knocks, where life teaches you its lessons.
You can punk the skunks of freedom
You can fight against oppression or resistance to change.
With your jeweled Etruscan knife
With your unique and dazzling approach to life.
* Repeat twice
Repeating the call to get into the groove and let loose.
Lyrics © Spirit Music Group
Written by: MARC BOLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
shirl stetson
He had the songs, the hair, the looks but dayum, his smile is what trapped me.
Ugly Custard
Brilliant bassline from Herbie Flowers,makes the song
steve8869
@Susan Kirkland I think does a similar bass line on the David Live Album. He also played the amazing bass line on Space Oddity.
Susan Kirkland
Steven Sawyer do I recognise that base from a Bowie track?
steve8869
Amazing the way Flowers can inject a sense of humour into a bassline :)
backpages98
So great to see performance by Marc, just before his death. He was looking really good again and things were looking up.
man ray
Marc is fabulous, much missed talent, can perform a track only he could, shows todays artists how to do it.
Alan Johnston
The song runs chills down my back. Absolute Fire 🔥🎸🔥🎸
Dyn Jarren
Marc had the Boogie!
Groove a Little, baby!
Dave Dill
very cool! love that last chord in the chorus...genius