Despite coming only ten months after the success of "Get It On", it failed to chart in the United States. The song reached #45 in Canada in July 1972.
Bolan himself described the song's apparent religious references as this:
Is a festival of life song. I relate 'Metal Guru' to all Gods around. I believe in a God, but I have no religion. With 'Metal Guru', it's like someone special, it must be a Godhead. I thought how God would be, he'd be all alone without a telephone. I don't answer the phone any more. I have codes where people ring me at certain times.
Metal Guru
T. Rex Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Metal Guru, is it you?
Sittin' there in your armor-plated chair, oh yeah
Metal Guru, is it true?
Metal Guru, is it true?
All alone without a telephone, oh yeah
You're gonna bring my baby to me?
She'll be wild
You know, a rock 'n' roll child, oh yeah
Metal Guru, has it been
Just like a silver-studded sabre-tooth dream?
I'll be clean, you know
Pollution machine, oh yeah
Metal Guru, is it you?
Metal Guru, is it you? Oh yeah
Metal Guru, could it be
You're gonna bring my baby to me?
She'll be wild
You know, a rock 'n' roll child, oh yeah
Metal Guru, is it true?
Metal Guru, is it true?
All alone without a telephone, oh
Metal Guru, could it be
You're gonna bring my baby to me?
She'll be wild
You know, a rock 'n' roll child, oh yeah
Metal Guru, is it you?
Metal Guru, is it you? Yeah, yeah, yeah
Metal Guru, is it you? Yeah, yeah, yeah
Metal Guru, is it you? Yeah, yeah, yeah
Metal Guru, is it you? Yeah, yeah, yeah
Metal Guru, is it you? Yeah, yeah, yeah
Metal Guru, is it you? Yeah, yeah, yeah
Metal Guru, is it you? Yeah, yeah, yeah
Metal Guru, is it you? Yeah, yeah, yeah
The lyrics to T. Rex's song "Metal Guru" touch on themes of mythology, fame, and longing. The song's protagonist sings to a figure called "Metal Guru," asking if they are the one who can bring their lover back to them. Metal Guru is depicted as a powerful, almost god-like figure, sitting in an "armor-plated chair" and possessing the ability to grant the singer's wish. The lyrics also play with the idea of pollution, with the singer referring to themselves as a "pollution machine" – perhaps a reference to the idea of rock and roll music as something pure and raw, but also potentially destructive.
The song has been interpreted in a number of ways, with some seeing it as a nod to T. Rex frontman Marc Bolan's own fame and fortune, while others see it as a commentary on the music industry as a whole. The use of a mythical figure like Metal Guru adds to the song's mystique, and the repeated refrain of "Metal Guru, is it you?" adds to the sense of longing and desire expressed in the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Metal Guru, is it you?
Asking if Metal Guru is present
Metal Guru, is it true?
Asking if something heard about Metal Guru is true
Sittin' there in your armor-plated chair, oh yeah
Describing Metal Guru sitting in a chair that is strong and protective
All alone without a telephone, oh yeah
Describing Metal Guru as being isolated without a way to communicate
Metal Guru, could it be
You're gonna bring my baby to me?
She'll be wild
You know, a rock 'n' roll child, oh yeah
Asking if Metal Guru will help bring a wild, rock-and-roll girlfriend to the artist
Just like a silver-studded sabre-tooth dream?
I'll be clean, you know
Pollution machine, oh yeah
Comparing a possible experience with Metal Guru to a dream, and stating that the singer will be cleaned up and better after the experience
All alone without a telephone, oh
Repeating the earlier line of Metal Guru being isolated without a way to communicate
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Repeating a phrase that doesn't necessarily have a specific meaning, but adds emphasis or excitement to the song
Lyrics © Spirit Music Group
Written by: Marc Bolan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
YVES
Metal guru, is it you?
Metal guru, is it you?
Sitting there in your armour plated chair
Metal guru, is it true?
Metal guru, is it true?
All alone without a telephone
Metal guru could it be
You're gonna bring my baby to me
She'll be wild you know
A rock 'n' roll child
Metal guru has it been
Just like a silver-studded sabre-tooth dream
I'll be clean you know
Pollution machine
Metal guru, is it you?
Metal guru, is it you?
Metal guru could it be
You're gonna bring my baby to me
She'll be wild you know
A rock 'n' roll child
Metal guru, is it you?
Metal guru, is it you?
All alone without a telephone
Metal guru could it be
You're gonna bring my baby to me
She'll be wild you know
A rock'n'roll child
Metal guru, is it you?
Metal guru, is it you?
Metal guru, is it you?
Metal guru, is it you?
Metal guru, is it you?
Metal guru, is it you?
Metal guru, is it you?
Metal guru, is it you?
Metal guru, is it you?
Aadya Imperium
"Metal Guru"
Metal Guru is it you
Metal Guru is it you
Sitting there in your armour plated chair
Metal Guru is it true
Metal Guru is it true
All alone without a telephone
Metal Guru could it be
You're gonna bring my baby to me
She'll be wild you know
A rock'n'roll child
Metal Guru has it been
Just like a silver-studded sabre-tooth dream
I'll be clean you know
Pollution machine
Михаил Сергопольцев
Эквиритмический перевод песни “Metal Guru” британской группы T.Rex с альбома "The Slider" (1972).
С 20 мая 1972 года песня возглавляла британский чарт "UK Singles Chart" в течение 4 недель.
Это четвёртый и последний хит группы, возглавлявший британский чарт. Марк Болан так прокомментировал содержание песни:
"Это песня о празднике жизни. Я соотношу "Металлического гуру" со всеми богами. Я верю в Бога, но у меня нет религии. "Металлический гуру" - это нечто особенное, это, пожалуй, Божество. Я думал, каким Бог должен быть, он должен быть одиноким без телефона. Я больше не отвечаю по телефону. У меня есть номера, по которым люди мне звонят в определённое время."
МЕДНЫЙ ГУРУ
(перевод Евгения Соловьева)
Медный Гуру, это ты,
Медный Гуру, это ты
Помещён
На бронированный трон? О, да!
Медный Гуру, правда ты,
Медный Гуру, правда ты
Одинок,
А телефон далёк? О, да!
Медный Гуру, мог бы ты,
Медный Гуру, мог бы ты
Мою девчонку мне привезти?
Пусть дика,
Как рок-н-ролла дитя. О, да!
Медный Гуру, может, он
Всего лишь саблезубый в серебре сон?
Буду чист*,
Знай, скверны пропагандист. О, да!
Медный Гуру, это ты?
Медный Гуру, это ты?
Ла ла ла ла
Ла ла ла ла
Ла-ла-ла-ла
Медный Гуру, мог бы ты,
Медный Гуру, мог бы ты
Мою девчонку мне привезти?
Пусть дика,
Как рок-н-ролла дитя. О, да!
Медный Гуру, правда ли,
Медный Гуру, правда ли
Одинок,
А телефон далёк? О, да!
Медный Гуру, мог бы ты,
Медный Гуру, мог бы ты
Мою девчонку мне привезти?
Пусть дика,
Как рок-н-ролла дитя. О, да!
Медный Гуру, это ты?
Медный Гуру, это ты? Да, да, да
Медный Гуру, это ты? Да, да, да
Медный Гуру, это ты? Да, да, да...
*clean - чистый, не употребляющий наркотики
Andy Richards
This is my favourite single by t.Rex. Absolutely brilliant.
Alain Moris
so is mine mate
WH Email
Mine to love the start and his smile when sang it class act
Peter Horsfall
A truly great band sadly taken too soon. There will never be a band like them
patrieva dominguez
Perhaps yeees.
John Hughes
Peter Horsfall Wern't they great peter, what classic tunes by the genius that was Marc Bolan. Ihave all the original singles in their original colured T.rex sleeves. What great memories they are!
Andy Richards
Possibly T.Rex best single. Terrific. Great song. Great band. R.i.p. Marc Bolan.
The Lizard King Channel
Brilliant pop song. Pure genius was Marc Bolan.
Fishponds Fox
Lizard King Vinyl , I agree !
Admirał Hax
*glam rock
I agree with everything else.