T.Rex was a primary force in glam rock, thanks to the creative direction of guitarist/vocalist Marc Bolan (born Mark Feld). Bolan created a deliberately trashy form of rock and roll that was proud of its own disposability, which stood in contrast to the low-key whimsical poetry of the earlier duo. T.Rex's music borrowed the underlying sexuality of early rock & roll, adding dirty, simple grooves and fat distorted guitars, as well as an overarching folky/hippie spirituality that always came through the clearest on ballads. While most of his peers concentrated on making cohesive albums, Bolan kept the idea of a three-minute pop single alive in the early 1970s. In Britain, he became a superstar, sparking a period of "T.Rextacy" among the pop audience with a series of Top Ten hits, including four number one singles. Over in America, the group only had one major hit -- the Top Ten "Bang a Gong (Get It On)" -- before disappearing from the charts in 1973. T.Rex's popularity in the U.K. didn't begin to waver until 1975, and they retained a devoted following until Marc Bolan's death in 1977. Over the next three decades, Bolan has emerged as a cult figure and the music of T.Rex has proved quite influential on hard rock, punk, new wave, and alternative rock.
Following a career as a teenage model, Marc Bolan began performing music professionally in 1965, releasing his first single, "The Wizard," on Decca Records. Bolan joined the psychedelic folk-rock combo John's Children in 1967, appearing on three unsuccessful singles before the group disbanded later that year. Following the breakup, he formed the folk duo Tyrannosaurus Rex with percussionist Steve Peregrine Took. The duo landed a record deal with a subsidiary of EMI in February 1968, recording their debut album with producer Tony Visconti. "Debora," the group's first single, peaked at number 34 in May of that year, and their debut album, "My People Were Fair and Had Sky in Their Hair...But Now They're Content to Wear Stars on Their Brow", reached number 15 shortly afterward. The duo released their second album, "Prophets, Seers & Sages, the Angels of the Ages", in November of 1968.
By this time, Tyrannosaurus Rex was building a sizable underground following, which helped Bolan's book of poetry, The Warlock of Love, enter the British best-seller charts. In the summer of 1969, the duo released their third album, "Unicorn", as well as the single "King of the Rumbling Spires," the first Tyrannosaurus Rex song to feature an electric guitar. Following an unsuccessful American tour that fall, Took left or as is often stated by people close to the band, was sacked. He was replaced by Mickey Finn, previously linked to the band Haphash and the coloured coat.(There are a few more artists using the name Mickey Finn, though that is where the connection ends)! The new duo's first single did not chart, yet their first album, 1970's "A Beard of Stars", reached number 21.
The turning point in Bolan's career came in October of 1970, when he shortened the group's name to T.Rex and released "Ride a White Swan," a fuzz-drenched single driven by a rolling backbeat. "Ride a White Swan" became a major hit in the U.K., climbing all the way to number two. The band's next album, T.Rex, peaked at number 13 and stayed on the charts for six months. Encouraged by the results, Bolan expanded T.Rex to a full band, adding bassist Steve Currie and drummer Bill Legend (born Bill Fifield). The new lineup recorded "Hot Love," which spent six weeks at number one in early 1971. That summer, T.Rex released "Get It On" (retitled "Bang a Gong (Get It On)" in the U.S.), which became their second straight U.K. number one; the single would go on to be their biggest international hit, reaching number ten in the U.S. in 1972. "Electric Warrior", the first album recorded by the full band, was released in the fall of 1971; it was number one for six weeks in Britain and cracked America's Top 40.
By now, "T.Rextacy" was in full swing in England, as the band had captured the imaginations of both teenagers and the media with its sequined, heavily made-up appearance; the image of Marc Bolan in a top hat, feather boa, and platform shoes, performing "Get It On" on the BBC became as famous as his music. At the beginning of 1972, T.Rex signed with EMI, setting up a distribution deal for Bolan's own T.Rex Wax Co. record label. "Telegram Sam," the group's first EMI single, became their third number one single.
"Metal Guru" also hit number one, spending four weeks at the top of the chart. The Slider, released in the summer of 1972, shot to number one upon its release, allegedly selling 100,000 copies in four days; the album was also T.Rex's most successful American release, reaching number 17. Appearing in the spring of 1973, Tanx was another Top Five hit for T.Rex; the singles "20th Century Boy" and "The Groover" soon followed it to the upper ranks of the charts. However, those singles would prove to be the band's last two Top Ten hits. In the summer of 1973, rhythm guitarist Jack Green joined the band, as did three backup vocalists, including the American soul singer Gloria Jones; Jones would soon become Bolan's girlfriend. At the beginning of 1974, drummer Bill Legend left the group and was replaced by Davy Lutton, as Jones became the group's keyboardist.
In early 1974, the single "Teenage Dream" was the first record to be released under the name Marc Bolan and T.Rex. The following album, Zinc Alloy and the Hidden Riders of Tomorrow, was the last Bolan recorded with Tony Visconti. Throughout the year, T.Rex's popularity rapidly declined -- by the time "Zip Gun Boogie" was released in November, it could only reach number 41. Finn and Green left the group at the end of the year, while keyboardist Dino Dines joined. The decline of T.Rex's popularity was confirmed when 1975's Bolan's "Zip Gun" failed to chart. Bolan took the rest of the year off, returning in the spring of 1976 with "Futuristic Dragon", which peaked at number 50. Released in the summer of 1976, "I Love to Boogie," a disco-flavored three-chord thumper, became Bolan's last Top 20 hit.
Bolan released "Dandy in the Underworld" in the spring of 1977; it was a modest hit, peaking at number 26. While "The Soul of My Suit" reached number 42 on the charts, T.Rex's next two singles failed to chart. Sensing it was time for a change of direction, Bolan began expanding his horizons in August. In addition to contributing a weekly column for Record Mirror, he hosted his own variety television show, Marc. Featuring guest appearances by artists like David Bowie and Generation X, Marc helped restore Bolan's hip image. Signing with RCA Records, the guitarist formed a new band with bassist Herbie Flowers and drummer Tony Newman, yet he never was able to record with the group. While driving home from a London club with Bolan, Gloria Jones lost control of her car, smashing into a tree. Marc Bolan, riding in the passenger's seat of the car, was killed instantly.
While T.Rex's music was intended to be disposable, it has proven surprisingly influential over the years. Hard rock and heavy metal bands borrowed the group's image, as well as the pounding insistence of their guitars. Punk bands may have discarded the high heels, feather boas, and top hats, yet they adhered to the simple three-chord structures and pop aesthetics that made the band popular, as they still are today 30 years after Marc's death.
Baby Boomerang
T. Rex Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Angel of the night
Riding like a cowboy
In the graveyard of the night
New York witch in the dungeon
Of the day
I'm trying to write my novel
Mince pie dog-eye
Eagle on the wind
I'm searching through this garbage
Looking for a friend
Your uncle with an alligator
Chained to his leg
Dangles you your freedom
Then he offers you his bed
It seems to me to dream
Is something too wild
In Max's Kansas City
You a belladonna child
Riding on the highways
On the gateways to the south
You're talking with your boots
And you're walking with your mouth
Baby Boomerang
Baby Boomerang
You never spike a person
But you always bang the whole gang
Thank you ma'am
The lyrics to T. Rex's "Baby Boomerang" can be viewed as a psychedelic exploration of counterculture figures and experiences. The opening lines describe a "slim lined sheik faced angel of the night" who is "riding like a cowboy in the graveyard of the night." This could be interpreted as someone who is living on the edge, perhaps a drug user or someone who engages in risky behavior. The next line describes a "New York witch in the dungeon of the day" who is distracting the singer from writing their novel. This could be seen as a reference to writer's block or the pressures of conformity in society.
The following lines are a surreal collection of images, including a "mince pie dog-eye eagle on the wind," suggesting that the singer is searching for something but cannot find it. The reference to a "garbage" may indicate that the search is futile or that the object of their search is not worth finding. The uncle with an alligator chained to his leg is another bizarre and seemingly meaningless image.
The chorus, "Baby Boomerang, you never spike a person, but you always bang the whole gang," seems to suggest that the singer is observing someone who is a non-violent troublemaker, or perhaps that they themselves are the baby boomerang. Overall, "Baby Boomerang" is a weird and wonderful exploration of the strange and unusual aspects of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Slim lined sheik faced
Describing someone as being thin and sharp looking, like a fashionable Middle Eastern man.
Angel of the night
Someone who is like a guardian or savior figure during the dark hours of the night.
Riding like a cowboy
Moving as if on a horse, with a sense of recklessness and freedom.
In the graveyard of the night
Being in a place that is associated with death and darkness at night.
New York witch in the dungeon
A woman who looks like she could cast spells, trapped in a dark and oppressive place like a dungeon.
Of the day
Referring to a time of light and activity, in contrast to the darkness and inactivity of the night.
I'm trying to write my novel
The singer is attempting to create something new and artistic, possibly as a reflection of their own experiences.
But all you do is play
The addressee is not taking things seriously and is instead engaging in frivolous activities.
Mince pie dog-eye
A description of something unappetizing or unpleasant to look at.
Eagle on the wind
An image of strength and grace in motion, like a bird soaring through the air.
I'm searching through this garbage
Looking for something worthwhile or valuable in a place that is inherently dirty and unpleasant.
Looking for a friend
Seeking someone to connect with or spend time with.
Your uncle with an alligator
A relative who is unconventional or strange, as represented by the exotic pet they bring with them.
Chained to his leg
Being associated or bound to something that is difficult or inconvenient to carry around.
Dangles you your freedom
Offers the prospect of becoming free or independent, but in a way that is precarious or risky.
Then he offers you his bed
Promising comfort or security, but at the cost of intimacy or vulnerability.
It seems to me to dream
Suggesting that the act of dreaming is perceived as being unrealistic or unpractical.
Is something too wild
Being too uncontrolled or chaotic.
In Max's Kansas City
Referring to a specific location that is associated with chaos and rowdiness in the New York art scene.
You a belladonna child
Being someone who is both dangerous and alluring, like the poisonous plant belladonna.
Riding on the highways
Traveling long distances by car, often taking advantage of the freedom and speed that highways offer.
On the gateways to the south
Moving towards or through regions that are associated with warmth and a relaxed lifestyle.
You're talking with your boots
Acting or communicating in a way that is more noticeable or significant than what is being said.
And you're walking with your mouth
Moving or acting in a way that is considered unconventional or nontraditional.
Baby Boomerang
An expression of surprise or admiration at something unexpected or impressive.
You never spike a person
Not being someone who is violent or dangerous towards others.
But you always bang the whole gang
Being someone who is able to impress or influence a large number of people through their charismatic personality or actions.
Thank you ma'am
An expression of gratitude or appreciation for something that has been done or said.
Lyrics © Spirit Music Group
Written by: Marc Bolan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind