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.
Satisfaction Pony
Marc Bolan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Satisfaction pony
Satisfaction pony
Satisfaction pony
Doug the bug's an eggman
Doug the bug's an eggman
Doug the bug's an eggman
Doug the bug's an eggman
Like a jungle cut
Oh my
Satisfaction pony
Satisfaction pony
Satisfaction pony
Satisfaction pony
Fall into the rainbow
Fall into the rainbow
Funky creole gumbo
Funky creole gumbo
Like a jungle cut
Like a jungle cut
Oh my
Satisfaction pony
Satisfaction pony
Life's the same, it will always be
Ohhh could it be
Life's the same, it will always be
Yeah
Yeah
Yeah
Yeah
Yeah
Yeah
Yeah
Yeah
Satisfaction pony
Dali bop horizon
Dali bop horizon
Is your life an inkwell
Will it make your head swell
Like a jungle cut
Like a jungle cut
Oh my
Satisfaction pony
Satisfaction pony
Life's the same, it will always be
Ohhh could it be
Life's the same, it will always be
Satisfaction pony
Satisfaction pony
Satisfaction pony
The lyrics of Marc Bolan's song "Satisfaction Pony" are cryptic and open to interpretation. It seems to be a stream-of-consciousness kind of writing, with phrases and words thrown together seemingly at random. The repeated phrase "satisfaction pony" could refer to a search for happiness and fulfillment, while the line "life's the same, it will always be" suggests a resignation to the idea that things will never change. The imagery of a "jungle cut" and "funky creole gumbo" could represent the chaos and confusion of life, while "fall into the rainbow" might be a call to embrace the beauty and wonder of the world.
The verses containing "Doug the bug's an eggman" and "Dali bop horizon" are particularly enigmatic. "Doug the bug's an eggman" seems to be a reference to John Lennon's song "I Am the Walrus," which contains the line "I am the eggman, they are the eggmen, I am the walrus." As for "Dali bop horizon," it could be a nod to surrealist painter Salvador Dali, known for his warped and dreamlike images.
Overall, the song's meaning remains elusive, but the playful and quirky lyrics fit well with Bolan's style and the glam rock movement of the 1970s.
Line by Line Meaning
Satisfaction pony
The repeated phrase likely refers to a person or thing that brings a sense of satisfaction or contentment.
Doug the bug's an eggman
This line doesn't have an immediately clear meaning, but could refer to characters or people that the songwriter knows.
Like a jungle cut
This line likely refers to something that is wild, untamed, or dangerous.
Oh my
An expression to show surprise or awe.
Fall into the rainbow
A poetic line that could refer to experiencing a range of emotions or sensations.
Funky creole gumbo
Another line that doesn't immediately make sense, but could refer to a type of music or cultural mashup.
Life's the same, it will always be
A philosophical statement that life is predictable and doesn't change much over time.
Ohhh could it be
An expression of doubt or wonder, questioning whether anything could be different.
Yeah
An affirmation or agreement with a preceding statement.
Dali bop horizon
A surrealist image that doesn't have an immediate meaning or connection to the rest of the song.
Is your life an inkwell
A metaphorical question about the state of one's life, asking if it is full of creative potential or empty.
Will it make your head swell
Another metaphorical image, asking if success or achievement will lead to ego inflation or arrogance.
Contributed by Max T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@michaelcameron2292
Gloria Jones was a terrific singer and musician She added so much to Marcs songs A lovely lady too
@teawarlock
Marc Bolan saved my life 💜
@Nowaytootsie
Dude... Gloria's vocals add SO MUCH to a lot of these songs. Her voice forces a sassy look on my face. I LOVE THIS SONG.
@chantelleadlington
In my opinion, her vocals just make it worse 🤷♀️
@delflord
The much derided satisfaction pony was the B side to the teenage dream single which was released in 1974 in the U.K. It's not rated as one of Marc's best by many fans but as you can hear it has some amazing guitar work in it! Rock on Bolan! Delf and Kaz x
@davidmark3788
its a real strange song this one.wasnt sure on first listen but its a real grower.lovely energy .brilliant song.what a wonderful songbook Marc left us
@MsRomancik
Great great great song of T Rex! Like many...
@zincalloy2213
One of Marc’s many strengths was to take a very very simple riff and expand around it to create something quite magical - case in point 🎸🎸🎸
@slider28
Im in Texas! But this is one of my favorites songs! Delflord is right it was a single.
@Grogster2
Great track. I couldn't stand this when i first heard it many years ago.......now i love it