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.
Rip-Off
T. Rex Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fighting with the night
It's a rip-off
Kissing all the slain
I'm bleeding in the rain
It's a rip-off
Such a rip-off
I'm feeling such a dude
It's a rip-off
Dancing in the dark
With the tramps in the park
It's a rip-off
Such a rip-off
See your baby's stud
Sliding in the mud
It's a rip-off
Bleached on the beach
I want to tickle your peach
It's a rip-off
Such a rip-off
See the girl dance
In her man-skin pants
It's a rip-off
Terraplane Tommy
Wants to bang your gong
It's a rip-off
Such a rip-off
Gypsy girl's good
People treat her like a fool
It's a rip-off
The President's weird
He's got a burgundy beard
It's a rip-off
Such a rip-off
I'm the King of the highway
I'm the Queen of the hop
You should see me
At the Governors ball
Doing the rip-off bop
I'm a social person
I'm the creature in disguise
There's a man with a whip
On his silver lip
Living inside my eyes
I'm the cat from the alley
I'm the fleetfoot vodoo man
There's very little that's ever said
All of which I understand
Caught like a skunk
In space and time
It's a rip-off
If it's her's
Well it must be mine
It's a rip-off
Such a rip-off
The lyrics to T.Rex's "Rip Off" are full of strange and surreal imagery that invites interpretation. The song opens with the singer fighting with the night and bleeding in the rain, which immediately sets a dark and moody tone. The repeated refrain of "It's a rip-off" suggests that there is something unjust or unfair about the situation, although it's not entirely clear what that might be. The singer seems to be experiencing various pleasures and indulgences, from rocking in the nude to dancing in the dark with tramps in the park. The image of a "baby's stud sliding in the mud" adds a hint of danger and excitement to the proceedings.
The final verses of the song introduce some new characters, including Terraplane Tommy and a gypsy girl who is mistreated by others. The line "I'm the King of the highway, I'm the Queen of the hop" is a play on the dual nature of the singer's persona, as well as a nod to rock 'n' roll's obsession with cars and dancing. The repeated references to a "rip-off" suggest that the singer is aware of some underlying injustice or deception, but it's left to the listener to guess what that might be.
Overall, "Rip Off" is a murky and enigmatic song that invites multiple interpretations. The lyrics are full of vivid and sometimes bizarre images that create a dreamlike atmosphere, while the repetition of the phrase "It's a rip-off" suggests a sense of disillusionment or discontent.
Line by Line Meaning
In the moonlight
Under the bright moonlight
Fighting with the night
Engaging in a conflict with darkness
It's a rip-off
It's unfair
Kissing all the slain
Embracing those who have been defeated
I'm bleeding in the rain
I'm wounded while standing in the rain
Such a rip-off
So unjust
Rocking in the nude
Dancing without clothes
I'm feeling such a dude
I'm feeling really cool
Dancing in the dark
Dancing in the absence of light
With the tramps in the park
With the homeless people in the park
See your baby's stud
See your partner's good qualities
Sliding in the mud
Slipping in the mud
Bleached on the beach
Whitened by the sun on the beach
I want to tickle your peach
I want to sexually please you
See the girl dance
See the woman dancing
In her man-skin pants
Wearing pants that look masculine
Terraplane Tommy
Name of someone
Wants to bang your gong
Wants to have sex with you
Gypsy girl's good
The gypsy woman is talented
People treat her like a fool
People disrespect her
The President's weird
The President is strange
He's got a burgundy beard
He has a reddish-brown beard
I'm the King of the highway
I'm the ruler of the road
I'm the Queen of the hop
I'm the female leader of dancing
You should see me
You need to watch me
At the Governors ball
At a formal event with politicians
Doing the rip-off bop
Dancing to this song
I'm a social person
I'm a person who enjoys socializing
I'm the creature in disguise
I'm the person hiding my true self
There's a man with a whip
A man carrying a whip
On his silver lip
On his metallic lips
Living inside my eyes
Existing within my consciousness
I'm the cat from the alley
I'm the feline from the street
I'm the fleetfoot vodoo man
I'm the quick and agile magic user
There's very little that's ever said
Very few words are spoken
All of which I understand
I understand everything that's being said
Caught like a skunk
Trapped like an unclean animal
In space and time
In the universe
If it's her's
If it belongs to her
Well it must be mine
Then it's mine now
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: MARC BOLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind