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.
Jeepster
T. Rex Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're so fine
I want you all and everything just to be mine
'Cause you're my babe
'Cause you're my love
Girl, I'm just a Jeepster for you love
You slide so good
You've got the universe reclining in your hair
'Cause you're my babe
Yes, you're my love
Girl, I'm just a Jeepster for you love
Just like a car
You're pleasing to behold
I'll call you Jaguar if I may be so bold
'Cause you're my babe
Yes, you're my love
Girl, I'm just a Jeepster for you love
The wild winds blow
Upon your frozen cheeks
The way you flip your hip it always makes me weak
'Cause you're my babe
Yes, you're my love
Girl, I'm just a Jeepster for you love
Your motivation is so sweet
Your vibrations are burning up my feet
'Cause you're my babe
Yes, you're my love
Girl, I'm just a Jeepster for you love
I said, girl I'm just a vampire for your love
And I'm going to suck you
The song "Jeepster" by T. Rex is a love song that expresses the singer's intense desire for his beloved. The lyrics describe the woman as sweet, fine, and the singer's entire world. He portrays himself as a Jeepster, someone who will do anything for her love. The woman's beauty is highlighted in the song with references to the bones in her body, the universe in her hair, and her ability to make the singer weak just by flipping her hip. The singer even compares her to a car, calling her pleasing to behold, and boldly calling her a Jaguar. He fantasizes about being a vampire who will suck her and claims that her motivation and vibrations are burning up his feet.
The lyrics in "Jeepster" are a reflection of the glam rock era of the early 1970s, where flamboyant and androgynous styles and lyrics celebrating sexual freedom and liberation were popularized. The song conveys a sense of hedonistic pleasure and rock and roll rebellion, with its references to fast cars, vampires, and burning desires. The repeated refrain of "Cause you're my babe, Yes, you're my love, Girl, I'm just a Jeepster for you love" reinforces the singer's total devotion to his lover.
Line by Line Meaning
You're so sweet
You are kind and lovely
You're so fine
You are beautiful and attractive
I want you all and everything just to be mine
I desire to have you completely for myself
'Cause you're my babe
Because you are my significant other
'Cause you're my love
Because I love you
Girl, I'm just a Jeepster for your love
I am completely devoted to you and your love
You slide so good
You move smoothly and gracefully
With bones so fair
With a body so attractive and appealing
You've got the universe reclining in your hair
Your hair is so beautiful and mesmerizing that it seems like the entire universe rests within it
Just like a car
Similar to a vehicle
You're pleasing to behold
You are delightful to look at
I'll call you Jaguar if I may be so bold
I would like to give you a nickname related to a powerful car if you allow me to
The wild winds blow
The winds are strong and intense
Upon your frozen cheeks
On your cold and pale cheeks
The way you flip your hip it always makes me weak
Your movement when you sway your hips weakens me
Your motivation is so sweet
Your drive and ambition are admirable
Your vibrations are burning up my feet
Your energy and passion are infectious and overwhelming
I said, girl I'm just a vampire for your love
I am so drawn to and dependent on your love that I am like a vampire thirsting for blood
And I'm going to suck you
And I will consume you completely with my love
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: MARC BOLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gee5264
oh padfoot, bless u and ur greatass taste in music.
@jimtrack3786
Mark was never meant to be here long. He knew it. He said it, but his memory is all the stronger within us as a result. A truly phenomenal musician. A true electric warrior.
@Joseph-vl7ik
Yes indeed. So true!! X
@michaelplatter3281
Released in 1971 - Who is rocking to this in 2023 ?
@Dave-pi8co
Rocking to this song,and especially electric warrior album,since 2008 circa
@stanpurser7631
This ol' boy rocked to it in 1971 and he's still rockin' it 50 years later.
@chasepool1709
Definitely
@williamfluck148
I am and was in 70&s!
@tobietera
Michael stop it, you type the same comment on every video just to get likes. You're an adult, why are you so desperate for attention and validation from strangers. It's just weird dude.
@teemoney2975
This was my dads favorite song of all time. He passed 2 years ago and on my way home this song came on while driving in my jeep. Rip my daddy