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.
Sally Was an Angel
Marc Bolan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But angel's are a fake
Could she just be a yesterday's scene
Trying to make a break
But I'm so lonely, mama
But I'm so lonely
This fallen woman,
Sally was a girl child
When I first knifed her heart
Now she's dead, but whose this head
Speaking of things apart
But I'm so lonely, mama
But I'm so lonely
This fallen woman
In my mind, the death of me
Sally was a girl child
When I first knifed her heart
Now she's dead, but whose this head
Speaking of things apart
Well I'm so lonely, mama
Well I'm so lonely
This fallen woman
Gonna be in my mind, the death of me
Ahhh, Mama
The song "Sally Was an Angel" by Marc Bolan is a mesmerizing piece of music that can be interpreted in many ways. The song essentially narrates the story of a man, who in his loneliness and isolation, reminisces about a girl named Sally, who he deems was an angel but who, according to him, wasn't really an angel since angels are a fake. It is suggested that the woman has left him, and the singer seems to have difficulty accepting this truth. 'Trying to make a break' means that Sally was making an attempt to break out from the singer's life, but he is still holding onto the memory and can't seem to get over her.
The song presents a complex and melancholic image of a man who has lost his love and is ultimately consumed by his own grief. The singer speaks of Sally as a girl child, indicating that she was young, perhaps younger than him. The singer mentions having once "knifed her heart" in the past, suggesting that he may have hurt her in the past, possibly leading to the breakdown of their relationship. Now that she's gone, he wonders whose head is speaking about things apart, indicating his confusion and mental turmoil.
Overall, the song paints a picture of a man who is tormented by loneliness and despair, memories of past love and loss, and his inability to move on. The toll of his romantic loss can be seen in the repeated wail of "But I'm so lonely," which echoes the singer's state of mind.
Line by Line Meaning
Sally was an angel
Despite her angelic appearance, Sally was not as genuine as she appeared
But angel's are a fake
The idea of angels is not real
Could she just be a yesterday's scene
Perhaps Sally is just reminiscent of past trends and fads
Trying to make a break
Attempting to leave or move on from her current situation or lifestyle
But I'm so lonely, mama
The artist is deeply lonely and seeks comfort from their mother
But I'm so lonely
Reiteration of the singer's loneliness
This fallen woman,
Sally has strayed from what is considered virtuous or acceptable
In my mind, the death of me
Sally's memory haunts the artist and causes them great pain
Sally was a girl child
Sally was a young girl when the artist hurt her emotionally
When I first knifed her heart
The artist caused Sally great emotional pain, as if stabbing her heart with a knife
Now she's dead, but whose this head
Sally has passed away, but the singer still hears her voice in their mind
Speaking of things apart
Sally's voice in the artist's mind is disjointed and fragmented
Well I'm so lonely, mama
Reiteration of the singer's deep sense of loneliness and need for comfort
Well I'm so lonely
Further emphasis on the singer's loneliness
Gonna be in my mind, the death of me
Sally's memory will remain with the singer and cause them great pain, possibly leading to their own downfall
Ahhh, Mama
The artist calls out to their mother for comfort once more
Lyrics © NORTH HUDSON MUSIC
Written by: MARC BOLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@antoniomoreno2117
To me, this song shows years ahead, the transition of Tyrannosaurus Rex to T.Rex.
@lastrada52
Oh boy... the ghost of Heartbreak Hotel for sure. Nice percussion and guitars though.
@pwatts8846
This is reputed to have been recorded in 1965, when Marc was just 16, long before T.Rex or Tyrannosaurus Rex for that matter. Rather derivative of Elvis' first big hit, Heartbreak Hotel this one.
@carltroia6235
+P Watts it was recorded in 1967 when he was19