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.
Sailors of the Highway
T. Rex Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sailors of the highway, come to me in my dreams
C..............b........bb...............g.....
Sailors of the highway, come to me in my dreams
G.......d.......................
I might look you in the face but
Cmaj7.....................d7......
Lifes not what it seems
G..................................................
Sailors of the highway, come to me and be my friend
C..............b........bb...................g.....
Sailors of the highway, come to me and be my friend
D......................
Swing like a willow but
Cmaj7.....................d7......
My soul she wont bend
G................................................
Sailors of the highway, cloak me in midnight rags
C...............b................bb..........................g.....
Dress me in the vineyards of the changeable witch of new york
D...........................
And I see like the blind and
Cmaj7..........................d7........
They will play the highmoon(? ) talk , wow
G.............................................
Baby of the highway take me to the unknown sea
.........c...............b...........bb........................g.
For I'll kiss you and caress you and make you look-a just like me
D....................................
Then the lions of the night will drop
Cmaj7.....................d7......
You and set you free
In T. Rex's song Sailors of the Highway, the lyrics seem to be the singer's desire to have contact with, or perhaps become one of, the enigmatic and free-spirited travelers of the highway. The sailor of the highway symbolism references the idea of wanderlust and the allure of the open road. The singer calls out to them to come to them in their dreams, suggesting they are not part of the same world as the sailors but long to be around them. The line "I might look you in the face but life's not what it seems" implies that the sailors represent something greater and that the singer wants to understand them better. The chorus initially repeats the request but changes focus subtly in the final line, asking the sailors to be their friend instead of just coming to them.
The second verse of the song moves to a focus on the singer's soul, which "won't bend" - implying that perhaps the sailor's lifestyle appeals to them but is difficult for them to adopt. The following line suggests that the singer wants to have the freedom that comes with that way of life but is struggling to find it. The next verse builds on this, with the singer asking the sailors to "cloak me in midnight rags" and dress them to look like a wanderer too. The line about the witch of New York is an interesting one, and the idea of the vineyards of the changeable witch may be a reference to a New York-based coven known as the Witches' Anti-Defamation League. The singer wants to be able to see like the blind (perhaps a reference to a heightened spiritual awareness) so that they can understand the sailors more fully.
Line by Line Meaning
Sailors of the highway, come to me in my dreams
I want to dream about the thrill of the open road that your kind represents
Sailors of the highway, come to me and be my friend
I find comfort in the company of those who are always on the move like yourself
I might look you in the face but
Lifes not what it seems
I may give the appearance of understanding your free-spirited lifestyle, but in reality, it is unfamiliar to me
Swing like a willow but
My soul she wont bend
I admire your carefree attitude, but I am not capable of embodying it myself
Sailors of the highway, cloak me in midnight rags
Dress me in the vineyards of the changeable witch of new york
I want to be immersed in the mystery and unpredictability of your way of life
And I see like the blind and
They will play the highmoon(? ) talk , wow
Despite my lack of understanding, I am fascinated by the unique perspectives and conversations of those who travel the roads
Baby of the highway take me to the unknown sea
For I'll kiss you and caress you and make you look-a just like me
Take me on an adventure to uncharted territories, where I can attempt to emulate your free spirit and energy
Then the lions of the night will drop
You and set you free
When you have fully embraced the freedom of the open road, even the most dangerous obstacles will be no match for you
Lyrics © Spirit Music Group
Written by: MARC BOLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dimitri Tyler
Just defines Blues and Glam all in one! Brings a tear to my eye. Just an indicator of what was around the corner by this great artist! Miss you Marc, Miss you T*REX!!!!
Mona mona
Bardzo ladna piosenka!! Marc forever!
Jon Flynn
Excellent work as always and yes a truly gorgeous song.
Stephen Vine
Just listen to this guitar on an oft overlooked song by Marc. Recorded at the electric warrior sessions but never released during his lifetime pure genius 🌟
1964jtk
Piękna piosenka***
Donatka Bet
Fantastic song 🎸 Rock On King glam Rock-Bolan ✌️🎩⭐
Marc Bolan & T. Rex
Super piosenka:)))*
Groovy Guru
Love T Rex,this is new to me,its great (
Belper5
Think it came from some BBC recordings.... Smashin'
Martin Kerry
Beautiful. Would have made a great single