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.
Metropolis
Marc Bolan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Metropolis.
[ ... ]
Oh, teenage angel
Oh, teenage child
Don′t you know you're gonna drive me wild?
You′re gonna drive me wild.
Oh, juvenile delinquent
Oh, juvenile
Oh, juvenile delinquent
What's in your head? What is your food?
What is your food?
Oh, teenage angel
Oh, teenage child
Oh, teenage angel
Don't you know you′re gonna drive me wild?
You′re gonna drive me wild.
Yeah!
Angel, juvenile deliquent
Angel, juvenile deliquent
Angel, juvenile deliquent
...
[ ... ]
In the song 'Metropolis' by Marc Bolan, he addresses a teenage angel and a juvenile delinquent. He asks the angel if she knows that she drives him wild, and questions the delinquent about what's in his head and what he feeds on. Bolan seems to be addressing the confusion and chaos that comes with adolescence. The song is filled with energetic and catchy guitar riffs that highlight the wildness and free-spiritedness of youth.
The lyrics of 'Metropolis' have been interpreted in different ways by fans and critics alike. Some view it as a critique of the societal norms and expectations that teenagers have to conform to, while others see it as a celebration of teenage rebellion and nonconformity. Regardless of the interpretation, the song is a powerful expression of the energy and passion that comes with being a teenager.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, teenage angel
Addressing a young, attractive individual with an angelic demeanor
Oh, teenage child
Reinforcing the young, immature nature of the individual being addressed
Oh, teenage angel
Repeating the first line for emphatic effect
Don't you know you're gonna drive me wild?
Expressing the artist's intense infatuation and attraction towards the teenage angel
You're gonna drive me wild.
Stressing the enormity of the artist's emotions towards the teenage angel
Oh, juvenile delinquent
Addressing an underage individual with a history of criminal behavior
Oh, juvenile
Referencing the individual as youthful and immature, yet still troubled
Oh, juvenile delinquent
Repeating the first line for emphasis
What's in your head? What is your food?
Questioning the motives and influences behind the juvenile delinquent's behavior
What is your food?
Asking what nourishes and fuels the juvenile delinquent's negative actions
Yeah!
An exclamation of approval or excitement
Angel, juvenile deliquent
Reiterating the earlier comparison between the two individuals being addressed
Angel, juvenile deliquent
Repeating the previous line for emphasis
Angel, juvenile deliquent
Repeating the previous line yet again for emphasis
Writer(s): Marc Bolan
Contributed by Mila G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@michaelfoley4781
Marc was a genius this is moody its absolutely brilliant shame not here anymore he was the greatest of all time
@JillDinardo
Perfect blending,great job on the editing! ROCK ON!!!
@andytrex
Fantastic editing. Loved the merge from Marc's image to the female robot. Bizarrely when I first saw Metropolis (the movie) I thought the hero (the man in jodhpurs) looked like Marc Bolan in his 1976 short hair phase. The music and the images go together perfectly.
@susankirkland3852
Andy T.Rex I agree with your description. Really great video
@tmslab
Great song and cool vid again:)
@delflord
Another superb vid Larry! Delf n Kaz x
@Bolanicboogie
TY D&K!
@Bolanicboogie
Ty once again MM!
@Bolanicboogie
Cheers Ace!
@Bolanicboogie
cheers!