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.
The Wizard
Marc Bolan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Spun in lore from Dagamoor
The skull of jade was pearl inlaid
The silks, skin spun, repelled the Sun
A tusk of boar with dwarfish awe
Sobs on the door where stood before
A mountain man with sky-blue teeth
A deer he slew in the dawning's dew
Her heart was a dagger for a murderer's brew.
A toad of jet on a sill cast in brass
Portrayed for his sight mysteries of the past
A yellow orphan dancer rich in Nature's costly gold
Wept for the jailer of time to bless her old
But his kiss he held and shadowed for the spell of nights are strong
And spiralled like a whirlwind in the childhood of a song
Catblack the wizard's back
Daubed in doom in his tongue tombed room
We of the wind must rejoice and speak
And kiss all our starbrowed brothers on the cheek.
The song "The Wizard" by Marc Bolan tells the story of a wizard, Catblack, who wears a hat spun in lore from Dagamoor. The wizard's hat is adorned with a skull of jade that is pearl inlaid. The wizard's silks and skin repel the sun, and he carries a tusk of boar with dwarfish awe. He sobs on the door where a mountain man with sky-blue teeth once stood, wearing a python's wreath on his head. The wizard killed a deer in the dawning's dew, and her heart was a dagger for a murderer's brew.
The song also depicts a toad of jet on a sill cast in brass, portraying mysteries of the past for the wizard's sight. A yellow orphan dancer rich in nature's costly gold cries for the jailer of time to bless her old. However, the wizard holds back his kiss and shadows her, for the spell of nights are strong, and he spirals like a whirlwind in the childhood of a song. The wizard is daubed in doom in his tongue-tombed room.
The song concludes with a call for us to rejoice and speak as we kiss all our starbrowed brothers on the cheek. It's a complex song, and the lyrics suggest that the wizard may be conflicted, as he holds back his kiss even as he's surrounded by magic and beauty.
Line by Line Meaning
Catblack the wizard's hat
The hat of the wizard, Catblack
Spun in lore from Dagamoor
The hat was made with magic from the legendary Dagamoor
The skull of jade was pearl inlaid
The hat was decorated with pearls and the skull of a jade
The silks, skin spun, repelled the Sun
The materials used to make the hat were of high quality and could protect from the sun
A tusk of boar with dwarfish awe
The wizard had a small boar's tusk as a symbol of his power and it inspired fear among the dwarfs
Sobs on the door where stood before
The boar tusk was hung on the door, where the wizard would stand before entering his room
A mountain man with sky-blue teeth
A man from the mountains with teeth as blue as the sky
Upon his head a python's wreath
He wore a wreath made of a python's skin on his head
A deer he slew in the dawning's dew
He killed a deer at dawn
Her heart was a dagger for a murderer's brew.
The deer's heart was used to create a potion for murderers
A toad of jet on a sill cast in brass
A black toad was placed on a brass windowsill
Portrayed for his sight mysteries of the past
The toad revealed ancient secrets to the wizard
A yellow orphan dancer rich in Nature's costly gold
A poor, yellow-colored dancer with natural grace and beauty
Wept for the jailer of time to bless her old
She prayed for time to be kind to her in her old age
But his kiss he held and shadowed for the spell of nights are strong
The wizard refused to give her his magical kiss because he was afraid of the power of the night
And spiralled like a whirlwind in the childhood of a song
The wizard's thoughts spiraled like a whirlwind as he reminisced about a childhood song
Catblack the wizard's back
The wizard, Catblack has returned
Daubed in doom in his tongue tombed room
The wizard's room was filled with ominous energy and he spoke in a foreboding tone
We of the wind must rejoice and speak
We should speak and rejoice in the wind
And kiss all our starbrowed brothers on the cheek.
We should embrace and be kind to all of our fellow human beings
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: MARC BOLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Susan Kirkland
It's great to hear this version. So talented 👍 RIP Marc Bolan ❤️🎶🎸
aiden a jarvis
Marc was going into early phsychedelic music, I really want to write a decent book about Marc, but I feel that everything has been said.
raul macias
Great track!
This is not Tyrannosaurus Rex but Bolan's first Single "A",Side for Decca.
Marc sounds a lot like Bobby Dylan!
I wish Marc would have continued singing exactly like this throughout his career with John's Children and Tyrannosaurus Rex.
Snake Whitcher
All wizardry aside. This is probably my favorite version of this tune. Maybe more that the Johnny Thunders version.
MarieRChild
Thank Maria for this ! Yesterday I'm watching the Born to Boogie special edition and it was so wonderfull with the 2 concerts ^^ I'm happy too see Rolan and Tony, Bill, Catweazle starr, wonderfull moment :)
pattarasila kantamara
Marc Bolan's great gem. Great video too. Thanks for this great share maria.
scawt
i love this version. but i also love the version on the first trex album....
Bryan Ladd Productions
Fantastic!
nikgml
Beautiful video for a great song!
JC
Should have been a hit