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.
Chateau in Virginia Waters
T. Rex Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She had a chateau in Virginia Waters
Free from all those culture vultures
Her silver car a silver cloud cloaked the air in a shroud
Her pearly author's teeth tore the seasoned cedar coloured pheasant
Her one rich wish is to write a book about
A Venetian mother's problems on a barge in little Venice
She peers at the portrait of her poetess grandmother
Who's theatrical in character
Wise just like Socrates
She sinks her nails into the aged canvas
But the power from the wordster's head was cool and shrill and frightening
Miss Drag is intermingled with the powder-blue chaise lounge
She types some acid words to her hairless Havana art dealer
Her one rich wish is to write a book about a chateau in Virginia Waters
Free from all those culture vultures
The lyrics to T. Rex's song Chateau in Virginia Waters describe the life of a wealthy woman who lives in a mansion, free from what she considers to be the pretentiousness of society. The song refers to her as Miss Drag, and she is portrayed as a writer with a desire to create a Venetian-inspired novel. However, her writing is interrupted by her interactions with an art dealer and her contemplation of a portrait of her poetess grandmother.
The opening lines of the song use broken English words to convey a sense of confusion and chaos. This is then contrasted with the image of the chateau in Virginia Waters, which is described as a serene and somewhat magical place. The woman's car, a "silver cloud," suggests that she is living in a dream-like state, disconnected from the world around her.
The reference to the cedar coloured pheasant and the nails being sunk into the aged canvas suggest that the woman is both creative and destructive. She has a desire to write and to express herself, but there is a sense of frustration that comes through in her actions. The song portrays her as someone who is not content to simply live in her luxurious surroundings but who is constantly seeking something more.
Overall, the lyrics suggest that the woman in Chateau in Virginia Waters is living in a world of her own creation, one that is both beautiful and unsettling. The song encourages listeners to question the nature of wealth and success, and to consider the price that is paid for living a life that is removed from reality.
Line by Line Meaning
Broken English words cracked the air like a bell
The woman spoke with imperfect English, creating a distinct sound like a bell ringing.
She had a chateau in Virginia Waters
The woman owned a large estate in the area of Virginia Waters.
Free from all those culture vultures
The woman's estate was free from people who exploit and consume culture without understanding or appreciating it.
Her silver car a silver cloud cloaked the air in a shroud
The woman's luxurious silver car moved gracefully, covering the air in a veil of mist.
Her pearly author's teeth tore the seasoned cedar coloured pheasant
The woman's white teeth, likely from years of writing and expression, effortlessly pulled apart a richly-colored pheasant.
Her one rich wish is to write a book about A Venetian mother's problems on a barge in little Venice
The woman's biggest dream was to write a book about the challenges of a Venetian mother living on a barge in the small neighborhood known as Little Venice.
She peers at the portrait of her poetess grandmother Who's theatrical in character
The woman looked intensely at a painting of her grandmother, who was a poetess and had a dramatic personality.
Wise just like Socrates
The grandmother was very intelligent, like the famous Greek philosopher Socrates.
She sinks her nails into the aged canvas
The woman dug her fingers into the old painting, possibly out of frustration or emotion.
But the power from the wordster's head was cool and shrill and frightening
The woman was scared of the linguistic and creative abilities of her grandmother and the potential impact it could have on her own work.
Miss Drag is intermingled with the powder-blue chaise lounge
A person known as Miss Drag was sitting on a powder-blue chaise lounge, possibly in the woman's estate.
She types some acid words to her hairless Havana art dealer
Miss Drag uses harsh language in a message to an art dealer who holds no hair (or value) in her eyes and is from Havana.
Her one rich wish is to write a book about a chateau in Virginia Waters Free from all those culture vultures
The woman's dream was to write a book about her estate in Virginia Waters, which she wanted to keep away from those who exploit culture for their own gain.
Contributed by Connor V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@carolineandshaunreilly1353
Marc is often an underated song writer..its wonderfull new generations are discovering his wonderfull music
@Neodude12
lyrics
Broken English words cracked the air like a bell
She had a chateau in Virginia waters
Free from all those culture vultures
her sliver car a sliver cloud cloaked the air in a shroud
her pearly author’s teeth tore the seasoned
cedar coloured pheasant
Her one rich wish is to write a book about
A venetian mother’s problems on a barge in little Venice
she peers at the portrait of her poetess grandmother
Who’s theatrical in character
Wise just like Socrates
she sinks her nails into the aged canvas
But the power from the wordster’s head was cool and shrill and frightening
Miss Drag is intermingled with the powder-blue chaise lounge
She types some acid words to her hairless Havana art dealer
Her one rich wish is to write a book about a chateau in Virginia Waters
Free from all those culture vultures
@ilovesmysangsomsangsom3500
At his awesome Best here
@lowersaxon
Ich hab das Original des Albums.🤓
@Paul.West_Videographer
The town in Surrey has no "S" - it's Virginia Water. ;-)
@PokeEyeSlapSlap
No S in knob either…..,😂