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.
Teenage Dream
Marc Bolan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Haha
What ever happened to the teenage dream?
Surprise, surprise
The boys are home
My guardian angel's run down my telephone
Can't you hear them scream?
What ever happened to the teenage dream?
The curfew comes at the crack of night
The sad old wino aches to dissipate the fright
The jet jump jiver speeds past in his machine, but
What ever happened to the teenage dream?
A broken god from a musty world
Sweetly mouth touched him on its spur
His prison guards were very hard to clean, but
What ever happened to the teenage dream? (Oh)
(Yeah)
Do it, do it, do it to me, babe
Do it to me babe
What ever happened to the teenage dream?
The Wizard of Oz
And the bums and thieves
Ruled my girl
With Teutonic teeth
But all was lost
When her mouth turned green
What ever happened to the teenage dream?
Silver surfer
And the ragged kid
Are all sad and rusted, boy, they don't have a gift
Believe me Pope Paul, my toes are clean
What ever happened to the teenage dream?
Black is black
And white is white
Some go to heaven And some get it night
The bomb was a brute
But his winged screams
What ever happened to the teenage dream? (Yeah)
Oh
Haha (okay, yeah we'll start there)
I'm talking teenage to you woman, yeah
I'm talking to you
Ow, there you go
Play them blues to me, boy
Ay, yeah-yeah
Ride it off
The song "Teenage Dream" by Marc Bolan & T. Rex is a nostalgic look back at the golden glorification and ultimate loss of the teenage dream. The opening lyrics start off with a taunting laughter that leads into questioning what has happened to the teenage dream. The song seems to be lamenting over the loss of innocence and youth, wondering where the thrill of life has gone. The next verse describes a chaotic world where even the guardian angel is struggling to keep up with the calls, and the streets are overrun with chaos, creating a sense of upheaval and unexpected change. This track appears to center around the idea that time and growing up brings new struggles and responsibilities; it's linked to the idea that the excitement of being young and having endless possibilities is now a distant memory. Bolan's delivery is captivating, and the melancholic sound with the lyrics about lost youth perfectly captures the sadness of lost youth.
"Teenage Dream" was released as a single in 1974, a year after the album "Zinc Alloy and the Hidden Riders of Tomorrow" on which it appeared. This song was T. Rex's twelfth UK Top 20 hit, peaking at number 13. Bolan was frequently asked about the meaning behind the lyrics of "Teenage Dream," and he explained that it was about not looking back to the good old days because they never existed.
Line by Line Meaning
What ever happened to the teenage dream?
Wondering whatever happened to the dreams of youth.
Surprise, surprise, the boys are home
I didn't expect to see these boys return.
My guardian angel's run down my telephone
I'm getting unexpected phone calls from someone looking out for me.
The heats on, mister, can't you hear them scream?
People are getting excited about something and can't contain themselves.
The curfew comes at the crack of night
It's nighttime, and there are rules about when you need to be inside.
The sad old wino aches to dissipate the fright
An old, alcoholic man is scared and trying to calm himself down.
The jet jump jiver speeds past in his machine, but
A cool guy in a fast car zooms past, but then something happened.
What ever happened to the teenage dream?
Repeats the desire to know what happened to the dreams of youth.
A broken god from a musty world
A deity from an old, stuffy place was damaged somehow.
Sweetly mouth touched him on its spur
The damaged god was helped by someone's gentle touch.
His prison guards were very hard to clean, but
The gods keepers were difficult to keep in order.
What ever happened to the teenage dream? (Oh)
Asking the question again, with an exclamation of surprise.
The Wizard of Oz and the bums and thieves
The famous characters and the unsavory folks were involved in something.
Ruled my girl with Teutonic teeth
A powerful figure exerts control over a woman with their strength.
But all was lost when her mouth turned green
Something went wrong, and it seemed a moment of hope was doomed.
Silver surfer and the ragged kid are all sad and rusted, boy, they don't have a gift
Comic characters are down on their luck; nothing special about them.
Believe me Pope Paul, my toes are clean
The singer is assuring someone else that they are innocent or pure.
What ever happened to the teenage dream?
The question again, revisiting the theme.
Black is black and white is white
Things are either one way or the opposite; no in between.
Some go to heaven and some get it night
Some people have a good ending in life, while others do not.
The bomb was a brute but his winged screams
The explosion was terrible, but it had an unexpected result.
What ever happened to the teenage dream? (Yeah)
The final expression of the question, once again setting the overarching theme.
Lyrics © Spirit Music Group
Written by: Marc Bolan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@timoconnor2866
Great song. Thank you for posting it.
Strange to hear Marc *squeezing* out the words again: "His prison bars are very **hard to clean**".
Whatever happened to the Teenage Dream? Quoting from Midnight Cowboy: "It's taking a leak up in Central Park" 😎
Tim
@1stMistyMist1
"Teenage Dream"
Whatever happened to the Teenage Dream
Surprise surprise, the boys are home
My guardian angel's rung down my telephone
The heat's on mister, can't you hear them scream
Whatever happened to the Teenage Dream
The curfew comes at the crack of light
The sad old wino aches to dissipate the fright
The jet junk jiver speeds past in his machine
Whatever happened to the Teenage Dream
A broken god from a musty world
Sweetly mouthed touched an onyx girl
His prison bars were very hard to clean
Whatever happened to the Teenage Dream -Yeah
The Wizard of Oz and the bronzen thief
Ruled my girl with teutonic teeth
But all was lost when her mouth turned green
Whatever happened to the Teenage Dream
Silver Surfer and the Ragged Kid
Are all sad and rusted boy, they don't have a gig
Believe me Pope Paul my toes are clean
Whatever happened to the Teenage Dream
Black is black and white is white
Some go to Heaven and some get it light
Nobody disapproves but his wicked screams
Whatever happened to the Teenage Dream -Yeah
@nightburgers3670
Been a Marc fan for 26 years. For me this is the best thing he ever wrote. A travesty it is not very well known outside Bolan circles.
@1stMistyMist1
Gorgeous track I know My Main Man <3
So happy you like him !!!
@poopstain5216
What are your other favorites? Would love to know seriously
@andrewelkin6543
I have been a fan since 1991 this is my favourite Bolan track can't believe this isn't on more radio stations
@1stMistyMist1
@poopstain as i say i am a real nerd ...almost
@1stMistyMist1
@Andrew Elkin people do not give it enought attention if you do they wil l
@realplaygamespodcast1990
This song gives major chills every time you hear it!
@vince9694
Man, I've listened to marc for ages. I heard this on Scott pilgrim and I knew that it was marc bolan instantly, no one is remotely like him, he's amazing
@JacobRClark
Thank god I can still listen to Marc Bolan even though he's gone for almost 40 years now. Still sounds better than much of the treacle being hosed into the masses these days. And actually has a message....
@1stMistyMist1
+Jacob Clark Sure does !!!