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.
Zip Gun Boogie
Marc Bolan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
boogie
Oh no, oh no
Have you ever seen anyone do the low slung
boogie
Oh no, oh no
The zip gun boogie's comin' down to get ya,
The zip gun boogie's is comin' on strong
Zip gun boogie's comin' to get ya people
The zip gun boogie's is comin' on strong.*
Have you ever seen anyone do the back street
boogie
Oh no, oh no
Have you ever seen anyone do the back street
boogie
Oh no, oh no
*Repeat
Have you ever seen anyone do the zip gun
boogie
Oh no, oh no
Have you ever seen anyone do the zip gun
boogie
Oh no, oh no
*Repeat
*Repeat
*Repeat
Well the zip gun boogie's comin' on strong
Zip gun boogie's comin' on strong
Repeat four times
The song Zip Gun Boogie by Marc Bolan is a groovy rock track that portrays a scene of people dancing in a specific way known as the “low slung boogie.” This dance move is described with the lyrics “Have you ever seen anyone do the low slung boogie?” It seems that this dance style is the perfect match for the upbeat rhythm of the song, as the singer exclaims that it’s "comin' on strong." Zip gun boogie is a term Bolan created to describe a specific rush of excitement that he often experienced. The lyrics "Zip gun boogie's comin' to get ya people" seem to suggest a sudden burst of energy or emotion.
The song has a repetitive structure where each verse follows the same pattern, and this repetitive pattern contributes to the overall feeling of energy and excitement that runs through the entirety of the song. Bolan also describes other types of dances such as the backstreet boogie and zip gun boogie. It is possible that these are just more ways of describing the same dance, or Bolan is referring to other ways of dancing that he had seen people do.
Interestingly, the lyrics of Zip Gun Boogie do not have a clear message but instead act as a channel to unite people in a singular form of expression. It can be seen as an abstract concept of togetherness where people forget their worries and dance in unison. Overall, Zip Gun Boogie is a fun and groovy song that has a rhythmic beat that encourages people to dance together in a carefree, wild expression of pure joy.
Line by Line Meaning
Have you ever seen anyone do the low slung
boogie
Have you ever witnessed someone dancing seductively and sensuously with their hips lowered
The zip gun boogie's comin' down to get ya,
people
The fast-paced and powerful dance called zip gun boogie is arriving with full force
The zip gun boogie's is comin' on strong
The tempo of zip gun boogie is rapidly increasing
Have you ever seen anyone do the back street
boogie
Have you ever observed someone dancing with a rough and raw style on the streets
Have you ever seen anyone do the zip gun
boogie
Have you ever witnessed someone doing the intense and fast-paced dance called zip gun boogie
Well the zip gun boogie's comin' on strong
Zip gun boogie's comin' on strong
Repeat four times
The energetic tempo of the dance form, zip gun boogie is picking up with great intensity and speed
Lyrics © Spirit Music Group
Written by: MARC BOLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Angela Kim
Brilliant video, man! Perfect for this tune. Awesome album! Great video editing.
leeloutheriot92
how could 1 person possibly dislike this amazing song ! ):
Mary Shupe
Love this. Nice touch with the "Zip Gun Boogie" note.
1stMistyMist1
How on earth did I miss this one !?????? Thanks for the upload not many uploads of this one for sure !! thumbs up and fav !!! xxx
MOJOPIN1960
DYNAMITE ! Fantastic video ! Bolan coming on strong !
CliveX Caligula
Clearly the best video I have seen regarding this track, from my Favorite LP and the best LP Bolan ever made, you got it so so right, Bolan would have loved this and I knew Marc Bolan.
CliveX
p online
Of course
Darryl Crickmore
AWESOME! Love the end bit.
Ava Marie
Very creative! Well done.
TonyHiscoxHISAT
excellent work - great - thanks