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.
Frowning Atahuallpa
T. Rex Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sitting all alone, looking at the throne of the one I used to love
Sitting all alone, looking at the stone of my lovely inca love
The huntress stands, with peacock hands she'd take me to where she lie
She sighs so deep, it rocks the river of her stomach sky
The oval moon, it tans the faun who holds grapes for my love
Hare krishna
Kingsley Mole
(Story read by DJ John Peel)
Kingsley Mole sat high on a windy knoll, his eyes consuming the silent midnight woods. He nuzzled his long molish snout deep inside the heart of a marigold and let his molish imagination skip to and fro over sunken galleons and pirate pictures of rusted doubloons and deep-water cabins stacked to the brim with musty muskets and goldfish gauntlets, once worn by Henry Morgan.
The lark awoke and doffed its plumed three cornered hat to its own sleepy-eyed reflection, then it hopped past the crested nest of the snoring cuckoo, and flew off into the Lionel Lark morning looking for friend Mole. Mole was on a marigold come down and sulkily scraped bluebeat rhythms with his ground-digging paw.
"Yes," he whispered, "Me and Li are going a-questing for the Lily Pond of Fox Necks. Li'll know all the mapping gen"
So the Mole, kneeling on the soft soil, said a morning prayer to Ra, not even caring if he dirtied his yellow Rupert trousers because his molish mind knew that praying was special...
My People Were Fair
I come from a time where the burning of trees was a crime
I lived by a sea where to be was a thing of true joy
My people were fair and had sky in their hair
But now they're content to wear stars on their brows.
In "Frowning Atahuallpa," T. Rex's Marc Bolan sings about lost love and longing for a former partner of Inca descent. The opening lines see the singer sitting alone, gazing at the throne of this former love who has seemingly left them. As the song progresses, Bolan's dreamy lyrics describe his former partner, who is portrayed as a goddess-like figure ("the huntress") with "peacock hands." He longs to be taken back to her, as she "sighs so deep, it rocks the river of her stomach sky." The oval moon, tanning the faun, holds grapes for his love, and he continues to sit alone on the throne of his Inca queen.
The song's title, "Frowning Atahuallpa," refers to the last Incan emperor, Atahualpa. His frown has been interpreted as a symbol of resistance and stubbornness, which the singer seems to echo as he pines for his former love. The song is steeped in references to Inca mythology and Bolan's trademark surrealist imagery. The lyrics paint a picture not just of love and loss but also of yearning for a place in a mythical and mystical past. The dreamy, melancholy tone of the song is complemented by its gentle melody and Bolan's distinctive vocals.
Line by Line Meaning
Sitting all alone, looking at the throne of the one I used to love
Feeling heartbroken, sitting all alone and looking at the throne where my lovely Inca love used to sit
Sitting all alone, looking at the stone of my lovely inca love
Feeling heartbroken, sitting all alone and looking at the stone where my lovely Inca love was buried
The huntress stands, with peacock hands she'd take me to where she lie
Thinking about my past love, I remember her grace and beauty, and how she used to lead me to where she rested
She sighs so deep, it rocks the river of her stomach sky
I remember how deeply and passionately she used to sigh, so much so that it felt like the skies within her were shaking
The oval moon, it tans the faun who holds grapes for my love
Under the gentle light of the moon, I see the faun who used to hold grapes for my love, and remember the sweet moments of our past
Sitting all alone, sitting in the throne of my lovely inca love
Feeling heartbroken, sitting all alone and imagining myself sitting on the throne where my lovely Inca love used to sit
Hare krishna
End of the song
Kingsley Mole sat high on a windy knoll, his eyes consuming the silent midnight woods.
A tale of Kingsley Mole, sitting on a windy knoll, gazing into the silent darkness of the midnight woods
Yes, me and Li are going a-questing for the Lily Pond of Fox Necks. Li'll know all the mapping gen.
Kingsley Mole decides to go on a quest to find the Lily Pond of Fox Necks, with the help of his friend Li who knows everything about maps
So the Mole, kneeling on the soft soil, said a morning prayer to Ra, not even caring if he dirtied his yellow Rupert trousers because his molish mind knew that praying was special...
Kingsley Mole kneels on the soft soil and says a morning prayer to Ra, not caring about getting his trousers dirty because he believes that praying is special
I come from a time where the burning of trees was a crime
Talking about a time when nature was respected, and burning trees was considered a crime
I lived by a sea where to be was a thing of true joy
Living by the sea where simply existing was a great source of joy and contentment
My people were fair and had sky in their hair
Remembering a people who were beautiful and had hair as bright as the sky
But now they're content to wear stars on their brows.
Reflecting on how things have changed, and how people are now happy to settle for materialistic symbols of success, like wearing stars on their forehead
Contributed by Alyssa V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@garymorris9571
Mesmerizing. Bolan was a genius. His melodies are unique.
@starsinmybeard
Marc was unique, and a true musical genious. T.Rex was one of the greatest rock bands.
@donalmccloskey9801
LYRICS, SOUNDs, IMAGES etc. music OF GOD
@TWD66
Hail, they're all coming down to us today.
@ObregonRocio
This man was so creative......
@tina.singh27
Miss you Marc 😭
May Krishna console me 🙏❣️
@tilmanshaw3631
beautiful end to a beautiful album, Hare Krishna
@xzclaire
Tilman Shaw agreed what an ace album
@malcolmgold8310
Tilman Shaw .hippy.old.an.gold
@RickGibbonsOfficial
Beautiful music, spirits soar when this penetrates the ears.