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.
Mystic Lady
T. Rex Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You do own my night
Put my dogs to fright
Yea yea yea yea yea
Riding sliding sorceress
In your dungarees
Got me on my knees
The people in your life are cruel
Keep on riding that hard road
The lovers in you life are few
Keep on riding that hard road
Pleasant crescent moon
Fills my heart with pain
Fills my toes with rain
Oh bobby you're hobby
With the learned ones
Like a setting sun
The lyrics of T. Rex's song Mystic Lady, from the 1972 album "The Slider", is a vivid description of a woman who is both mystifying and enchanting. The opening line "Baby mystic lady, you do own my night" suggests that this lady possesses a unique kind of power that can engulf and dominate one's thoughts and feelings. The line "put my dogs to fright" possibly refers to her ability to intimidate even the fiercest of beings.
The second verse, "Riding sliding sorceress in your dungarees, got me on my knees," portrays an image of the lady as a sorceress, empowered and free in her movements with a sense of danger and mystery. In contrast, the third verse suggests that the lady’s life is not an easy one, with cruel people and few lovers. The repetitive line "keep on riding that hard road" probably symbolizes her persistence in the face of the difficulties she faces.
Overall, the lyrics of "Mystic Lady" portray a mythical, almost otherworldly figure, who is somehow aligned with the forces of nature and magic. The use of vibrant and seemingly contrasting imagery, such as the "pleasant crescent moon" filling the singer's "heart with pain" and "toes with rain," amplifies the mystical quality of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby mystic lady
Addressing a woman who possesses mystical qualities
You do own my night
You have complete control over me, especially during the night
Put my dogs to fright
My guards or protectors are scared of you
Yea yea yea yea yea
Expressing agreement, enthusiasm, or excitement
Riding sliding sorceress
Describing the woman's magical abilities while riding or moving around
In your dungarees
While wearing casual clothing made of denim material
Got me on my knees
You have complete control over me, to the point of submission
The people in your life are cruel
Referring to the harsh treatment the woman has experienced from others in her life
Keep on riding that hard road
Encouraging the woman to persist and persevere despite the difficulties she faces
The lovers in your life are few
Acknowledging the scarcity of romantic partners the woman has had
Keep on riding that hard road
Encouraging the woman to stay persistent in searching for love despite the lack of success
Pleasant crescent moon
A poetic way of describing the shape of the moon and its light
Fills my heart with pain
The beauty of the moon causes a sense of longing or sadness in the singer
Fills my toes with rain
Using metaphorical language, expressing the heavy emotions the singer feels throughout their body
Oh bobby you're hobby
Referring to someone named Bobby and mocking them for their intellectual pursuits
With the learned ones
Referring to Bobby's association with highly educated individuals
Like a setting sun
Comparing Bobby's relevance or importance to that of a sunset, which marks the end of a day
Lyrics © Spirit Music Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MARC BOLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dianamar9115
Lyrics 🎼
Baby Mystic Lady
You do own my night
Put my dogs to fright
Yea Yea Yea Yea Yea
Sliding riding Sorceress
In your dungarees
Got me on my knees
The people in your life are cruel
Keep on riding that hard road
The lovers in you life are few
Keep on riding that hard road
Baby, baby, baby
Baby, baby, baby
Pleasant crescent moon
Fills my heart with pain
Fills my toes with rain, yeah, yeah, yeah
Oh Bobby you're a hobby
With the learned ones
Like a setting sun
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Oh, the people in your life are cruel
Keep on riding that hard road
The lovers in you life are few
Keep on riding that hard road.
Baby, baby, babe-bu-badadadada (repeat)
@pwatts8846
This song often passes unnoticed on The Slider, but I regard it as close to the best on the album. It harks back to his earlier work, to which he would never return.
@linrhys438
I agree!
@RSBurgener
This song has always made me a little sad. It speaks of an innocence that's just gone now, and I don't know where it went.
@gotdaryldixon8976
This song is hypnotic. So much great stuff written in the 1970's. Vintage Elton John and Pink Floyd are also great musicians of this era.
@PedroOrdep-kv5vw
You described it perfectly, this is one Hypnotic song.
@sladeippie5841
@@PedroOrdep-kv5vw Not surprised it's hypnotic, it just repeats for over a minute. Hot Love, repeats for nearly 3 minutes, it's ridiculous
@annesidderley7292
I can't believe he didn't make it big in America. He is truly talented
@ricj7517
This is one American that truly loved him
@lowersaxon
Anne. Look above...
@babbybobabs8701
Maybe that's why I haven't heard of him until recently. His music is really good!