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.
Casual Agent
T. Rex Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I want to be your casual agent
Casual agent moving by the sand
Cosmetic Betty stealing from the skull
Madonna dollar destroyed by the holy roof
I know to move my child to switch
Without your tooth
Distorted contortionist barely
Saved his cool
As he rubberized Hannah by the `lectric school
With the planetary pearl
And the magnetic fool who were
Both told and rolled to look alike
And welded to a stool
Wind of illusion came darkly down my street
Lead were my eyelids, demented were my feet
And the two faced detector from the
Malibu beach, dejected like Delilah she
Sucked upon my perch
All night worker for the missionary stand
I seldom drip glue, in the video grand
Tiger tongued tinse, see the old queens
Of the night, were stone cold stiletto-toed
Stone mama`s alright
The lyrics of T.Rex's song "Casual Agent" are full of obscure and surreal images that are difficult to parse at first glance. The song starts with a declaration of the singer's desire to be a "casual agent," an enigmatic phrase that could refer to espionage or some other kind of secret agent work. As the lyrics continue, they become more and more disjointed, with lines like "cosmetic Betty stealing from the skull" and "wind of illusion came darkly down my street" adding to the sense of confusion.
Despite this confusion, there are a few thematic threads that can be discerned. One is the idea of transformation or disguise - several lines refer to people being "told and rolled to look alike" or "welded to a stool." Another is the sense of detachment or disconnection - lines like "lead were my eyelids" and "seldom drip glue, in the video grand" seem to suggest a sense of apathy or resignation.
Ultimately, though, the meaning of the song is somewhat elusive. The surreal images and non-sequiturs make it difficult to pinpoint a clear narrative or message, and the repetition of the phrase "casual agent" only adds to the sense of ambiguity.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh I want to be your casual agent
The singer desires to be the one who subtly influences or carries out secret tasks for their lover.
I want to be your casual agent
The singer reiterates their desire to be their lover's discreet accomplice or confidant.
Casual agent moving by the sand
The singer imagines themselves as a secret agent or spy moving stealthily through a beach environment, possibly to complete a task for their lover.
Cosmetic Betty stealing from the skull
The character Cosmetic Betty is stealing or removing makeup or other cosmetics from a skull, either as a symbolic or literal act.
Madonna dollar destroyed by the holy roof
A Madonna-themed dollar being destroyed or devalued by a religious or sacred structure or influence.
I know to move my child to switch
The singer knows how to subtly change or manipulate their behavior or that of another person (the child referred to) to accomplish their goals.
Without your tooth
The singer is capable of achieving their aims even if their lover is not present or available to help.
Distorted contortionist barely saved his cool
A performer who can contort their body in unusual ways managed to keep their composure despite difficult circumstances.
As he rubberized Hannah by the `lectric school
The contortionist may have applied a rubber-like substance to a female character named Hannah near an electric school or location.
With the planetary pearl
A rare or valuable object, possibly an extraterrestrial pearl, is involved in the story.
And the magnetic fool who were
A character who can attract or manipulate others is introduced, referred to as the magnetic fool.
Both told and rolled to look alike
Two characters are given instructions to appear the same, possibly for some sort of deception or disguise.
And welded to a stool
These two characters are physically attached to a stool, perhaps as a form of punishment, bondage or confinement.
Wind of illusion came darkly down my street
An imaginary wind that carries illusions or deceitful influences descends upon the singer's location.
Lead were my eyelids, demented were my feet
The singer feels sluggish or weighed down, possibly through the effects of the illusionary wind or some other mental or emotional state.
And the two faced detector from the Malibu beach
A double-crossing individual or device from the area around Malibu beach is introduced.
dejected like Delilah she sucked upon my perch
The two-faced detector is depicted as being depressed or despondent and clinging to the artist's figurative 'perch' or position of influence.
All night worker for the missionary stand
The singer describes themselves as an industrious worker at a missionary organization, possibly as a cover or front for their secret operations with their lover.
I seldom drip glue, in the video grand
The singer doesn't often make mistakes or show their true intentions while in a grand or public location like a video set.
Tiger tongued tinse, see the old queens
A metaphorical description of something or someone crafty or sly, accompanied by other characters who are past their prime or past their glory days.
Of the night, were stone cold stiletto-toed
These older queens have cold, hard and fierce appearances, symbolized through the sound and image of their high-heeled shoes.
Stone mama`s alright
Despite the challenges and dangers faced by the secret agents, the artist assures their lover that all is well and they can handle the situation.
Lyrics © Spirit Music Group
Written by: MARC BOLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind