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.
Observations
T. Rex Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We'll meet up with the guys who
Make love to Barbara Striesand
Then we'll all split the scene
Make it like a dream
West Side Brighton, or we're just ridin'
Turn on the chicks and then we'll blow our kicks
And we'll fly high
See ya later, alligator, throw away your Zip Gun
Dance instead of walking, feel like I'm the best one
Smokin' charges and ridin' barges, cutting out high strung
Sleeping on the beaches and make like a teacher
Turned on beggar, say he's a rockin' preacher
Steeling or feeling and make like a rocker
Then you'll fly high
Met her in the corner [?], King jiving on the sidwalk
Intellectual put down all I wanna do is talk
Chelsea cats groovin' and provin' that they're all men
Callin' up your lost baby, shoutin' out "Remember when.."
On a scene with the guys, see the paintings in their eyes
Driving through the crazy night
Looking for a chick to fight
Had a seed and made a veil [?]
Blew some smoke and leave a trail
And fly high
I'm wearin' shades and diggin' spades
I'm takin' in the night life
Crazy Sally in the alley, playing with a filck-knife
Met a chick, got a flat
Got a cat with one leg
I bought a Jeep, nice and cheap
For cutting out right now
Made it to the sea, just the chick, the cat, and me
Everybody's laughing 'cause the Jeep's cost money
Nice and easy baby said, come and sit down with me
And we'll fly hiiiiigh.
The lyrics to T. Rex's song Observations are a chaotic and stream-of-consciousness description of a wild and free lifestyle in the 1970s. The song paints a picture of living in a car, meeting up with friends, and indulging in vices such as smoking and drinking. The lyrics are filled with cultural references and slang, and the singer seems to be reveling in the counterculture of the time.
The chorus of the song, "And we'll fly high," is a common refrain throughout the song, suggesting that the singer is escaping the everyday and transcending into a different state of mind. The lyrics move from one scene to the next, from Brighton to Chelsea, from meeting women to getting into fights with them. In a way, the song feels like a glimpse into a wild, carefree life that is both exhilarating and dangerous.
Line by Line Meaning
Livin' in the car, make it to the bar
Living in the car, going to the bar
We'll meet up with the guys who make love to Barbara Striesand
Meeting up with guys who are fans of Barbara Streisand
Then we'll all split the scene
Leaving the bar
Make it like a dream
Making it a great experience
West Side Brighton, or we're just ridin'
Driving around West Side Brighton
Turn on the chicks and then we'll blow our kicks
Flirting with girls and having fun
And we'll fly high
Feeling great and having a good time
Boppin' and shoppin' and makin' it in West One
Having fun and shopping in West One
See ya later, alligator, throw away your Zip Gun
Goodbye and get rid of your weapon
Dance instead of walking, feel like I'm the best one
Dancing and feeling confident
Smokin' charges and ridin' barges, cutting out high strung
Smoking and relaxing
Sleeping on the beaches and make like a teacher
Sleeping on the beach and pretending to be a teacher
Turned on beggar, say he's a rockin' preacher
A beggar pretending to be a preacher
Steeling or feeling and make like a rocker
Stealing or feeling like a rockstar
Then you'll fly high
And feel great
Met her in the corner [?], King jiving on the sidewalk
Meeting someone in a corner and seeing someone else dancing on the sidewalk
Intellectual put down all I wanna do is talk
Feeling challenged by an intellectual
Chelsea cats groovin' and provin' that they're all men
Seeing people in Chelsea dancing and proving themselves
Callin' up your lost baby, shoutin' out "Remember when.."
Calling an ex-partner and reminiscing
On a scene with the guys, see the paintings in their eyes
Hanging out with friends and seeing their passion
Driving through the crazy night
Driving around at night
Looking for a chick to fight
Looking for a fun fight with a girl
Had a seed and made a veil [?]
Possibly referring to making a drug deal
Blew some smoke and leave a trail
Smoking and leaving a scent
And fly high
And feeling great
I'm wearin' shades and diggin' spades
Wearing sunglasses and enjoying the night
I'm takin' in the night life
Enjoying the nightlife
Crazy Sally in the alley, playing with a flick-knife
Seeing a woman named Sally play with a knife in an alley
Met a chick, got a flat
Meeting a girl and getting a flat tire
Got a cat with one leg
Possibly referring to a missing pet or injury
I bought a Jeep, nice and cheap
Buying a cheap Jeep
For cutting out right now
For leaving immediately
Made it to the sea, just the chick, the cat, and me
Making it to the sea with a girl and a cat
Everybody's laughing 'cause the Jeep's cost money
People laughing at the cheap Jeep
Nice and easy baby said, come and sit down with me
A girl asking to relax with the singer
And we'll fly hiiiiigh
And feel great
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, NORTH HUDSON MUSIC
Written by: MARC BOLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind