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.
Salamanda Palaganda
T. Rex Lyrics
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Bridled with an orchid ribbon
His curved brow in Scarlatti fashion
Boots that ride the night sky eagle
An old crone squirms upon a cushion
Made from Madras silk and satin
Her steel eyes hold a scimitar passion
For the skull hewn in Scarlatti fashion.
Slaughtered a Malayan sun bear
Night stood erect with brozen haunches
Zapped the seer and gave the bear back to us
Salamanda Palaganda Oh Palamino Blue
Salamanda Palaganda June's Buffalo too In the Parisian zoo.
The lyrics of T. Rex's song "Salamanda Palaganda" describe a surreal scene that borders on the absurd. The imagery is vivid and strange, depicting a small girl with a smiling "gibbon" (perhaps a monkey) wearing an orchid ribbon and boots that ride the night sky eagle. Next, an old woman with steel eyes and a passion for a skull hewn in Scarlatti fashion is introduced, adding an eerie element to the scene. Finally, a cobra seer who has slaughtered a Malayan sun bear is zapped by "Night" (who is personified with brozen haunches) and the bear is given back to the group.
While the overall meaning of these lyrics is hard to discern, it seems that the song is meant to be a surrealistic exploration of the subconscious mind, with each image representing various aspects of that inner realm. The repeated phrase "Salamanda Palaganda" reinforces this idea, as it is a nonsensical phrase that has no literal meaning but creates a dreamlike soundscape.
Overall, "Salamanda Palaganda" is a fascinating song that showcases T. Rex's unique style and ability to create vivid, otherworldly images through his lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Small girl with the smiling 'gibbon
A young female child with a grin on her face and a happy demeanor is accompanied by a small ape with a smirk on its lips.
Bridled with an orchid ribbon
The ape has a flowery decoration around its neck attached to a strap or reins.
His curved brow in Scarlatti fashion
The ape's forehead is slightly arched and styled after the Italian composer Scarlatti's work.
Boots that ride the night sky eagle
The girl is wearing footwear that permits her to soar atop a bird of prey in the dark sky during the evening.
An old crone squirms upon a cushion
A desiccated old woman wriggles about on a soft pillow meant for comfort.
Made from Madras silk and satin
The pillow the woman is using is composed of luxurious fabrics like silk and satin from Madras, India.
Her steel eyes hold a scimitar passion
The old woman's steely gaze shows she has a fierce desire or enthusiasm resembling a curved, Middle Eastern sword known as a scimitar.
For the skull hewn in Scarlatti fashion
She has this fervent interest in a human cranium crafted to resemble Scarlatti's style.
A cobra seer with the punctured ear
There is a prophetic serpent with a pierced ear.
Slaughtered a Malayan sun bear
The cobra killed a type of bear known as a Malayan sun bear.
Night stood erect with brozen haunches
The hours of darkness, embodied as a physical entity, assumed a high and mighty position, with muscular hindquarters made of bronze.
Zapped the seer and gave the bear back to us
The darkness eliminated the cobra and resurrected the deceased sun bear to return to the land of the living.
Salamanda Palaganda Oh Palamino Blue
These are nonsensical words that do not bear a clear connotation in this context.
Salamanda Palaganda June's Buffalo too In the Parisian zoo.
Again, these are nonsensical words that do not bear a clear connotation in this context.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: MARC BOLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind