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.
Mad Donna
T. Rex Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Would take a rocket ship, to let me get my thighs on you.
I`m gonna change Mad Donna, l`m gonna change Mad Donna,
I`m gonna change Mad Donna, for you.
In a coach of blue I`m gonna love you too,
Like the gods of old, I`m gonna get my teeth into you.
I`m gonna change Mad Donna, I`m gonna change Mad Donna,
I`m gonna change.
I`m a foxy man, don`t you understand,
Like the gods of old, I`m gonna get my mouth on you.
I`m gonna change Mad Donna, I`m gonna change Mad Donna,
I`m gonna change Mad Donna for you,
I`m gonna change Mad Donna, I`m gonna change Mad Donna,
I`m gonna change Mad Donna for you,
I`m gonna change Mad Donna, I`m gonna change Mad Donna,
I`m gonna change Mad Donna for you.
The lyrics to "Mad Donna" by T. Rex are quite straightforward, and depict the desire of the singer towards a woman named Mad Donna. The lyrics are composed of a repetitive chorus where the singer is expressing his intention to change Mad Donna for his own pleasure. In the first stanza, the singer describes himself as a "foxy man" who is irresistible to women but knows that it would take something as wild as a rocket ship to get to Mad Donna. This portrays him as confident and unyielding in his desire to possess her.
In the second stanza, the singer goes on to describe himself as being capable of loving Mad Donna like the gods of old, indicating his primal instincts towards her. He also emphasizes that he is going to change her and make her his own. The repetition of the chorus lends itself to the idea of obsession, as the singer is consumed with the idea of acquiring and controlling Mad Donna.
Overall, the lyrics of "Mad Donna" are fairly simple and straightforward, expressing the desire of a persistent singer towards a woman named Mad Donna. The lyrics are somewhat assertive and forceful in nature, demonstrating the singer's unyielding need to possess his desire.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a foxy man, don't you understand,
I am an attractive man and I hope you can perceive that.
Would take a rocket ship, to let me get my thighs on you.
I find you very desirable and would travel any distance to be with you.
I'm gonna change Mad Donna, I'm gonna change Mad Donna, I'm gonna change Mad Donna, for you.
I'll do anything to win your heart and please you, even if it means changing who I am and how I act.
In a coach of blue I'm gonna love you too,
I'll love you passionately and relentlessly, as if we were in a magical blue carriage.
Like the gods of old, I'm gonna get my teeth into you.
I'll take control of our relationship like a powerful god and fully engage with you in every way imaginable.
I'm gonna change Mad Donna, I'm gonna change Mad Donna, I'm gonna change Mad Donna lor you.
I'm deeply committed to changing myself for you and our relationship because I value you so much.
I'm a foxy man, don't you understand,
I'm still trying to communicate to you how much I find myself attractive.
Like the gods of old, I'm gonna get my mouth on you.
I want to explore and use my sexuality like the gods of mythology did and I want to do that with you.
I'm gonna change Mad Donna, I'm gonna change Mad Donna, I'm gonna change Mad Donna for you,
I'll keep repeating this because I truly mean it and I want you to see that I'm serious about changing myself for you.
I'm gonna change Mad Donna, I'm gonna change Mad Donna, I'm gonna change Mad Donna for you,
I'll keep repeating this because I truly mean it and I want you to see that I'm serious about changing myself for you.
I'm gonna change Mad Donna, I'm gonna change Mad Donna, I'm gonna change Mad Donna for you.
I'll keep repeating this because I truly mean it and I want you to see that I'm serious about changing myself for you.
Lyrics © Spirit Music Group
Written by: MARC BOLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tim Terry
Got fresh legs because of the new TV commercial for something or the other. Another "20th Century Boy." Keep Marc alive for new generations.
Dag Nabbit
There are others that can do it but you have to be a genius to pull it off. What is it ? The ability to take a formulaic riff and twist and bend it into something fresh & original and put your stamp on it make it uniquely yours. No doubt Marc had that ability & now he is being honored by the RocknRoll Hall of Fame & that really is a tough USA Institution for a Brit of Marc ‘s caliber to get into
jupitorman
Just love this
Martin Law
Pure class t.rex fan
Paul jones
Flo and Eddie a genius introduction by Visconti
robert schmahl
just the way he says ,,,," EAGLE On THE WIND "
robert schmahl
DAM THE MAN IS SO FRIGGN GOOD ,,,,,AHEAD OF HIS TIME ,,,MIMMICKED BY MANY ,,,,MATCHED BY NONE ! U GO kORKSCREW!!!!
Philip Johns
There nearly wasn't a t.rex couldn't keep up payments on gear so it was reprocessed so glad he persisted .
jessie ward
Canon brought me hear
Markku Manninen
this one plays too slow