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.
She Was Born to Be My Unicorn
T. Rex Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Robed head of ferns
Cat child tutored by the learned.
Darkly ghostish host
Haggard vizier of the moats
Seeks the sandled shores of Gods
Baby of the moors.
The night-mare`s mauve mashed mind
Sights the visions of the blinds
Shoreside stream of steam
Cooking kings in cream of scream.
Jackdaw winter head
Cleans his chalcedony bed
A silken word of kind
Was returned from Nijinsky Hind.
Giant of Inca hill
Loosed his boar to gorely kill
The dancing one horned waife
In doublet of puffin-bill.
The beast in feast of sound
Kittened lamb on God`s ground
Ridden by the born of horn
Jigged like a muse on life`s lawn.
The lyrics to T. Rex's song She Was Born to Be My Unicorn are enigmatic and open to interpretation. The central theme seems to be the singer's powerful affection for a woman who is described as being his "Unicorn." The unicorn, a mythical creature, has been used to represent various things over the years, including purity, elegance, and power. In this context, the unicorn may represent a muse, a love interest or some combination of the two, and is an incarnation of everything the singer desires.
Throughout the song, we see a series of surrealistic and magical images that contribute to the song's dreamlike atmosphere. The imagery also seems to suggest the woman the singer is singing about as someone who is fascinating and mysterious. The reference to "robed head of ferns" and "cat child tutored by the learned" seem to suggest that the woman is both wise and mystical. The image of a "baby of the moors" further adds to the mysterious and otherworldly portrayal of the woman.
The second half of the song continues with a stream of surrealistic and poetic images that capture the listener's attention. The lyrics become increasingly fantastical, with references to "cooking kings in cream of scream" and "loosed his boar to gorely kill." Overall, the song provides a vivid portrayal of a fantastical world where unicorns, beasts, giants, and dancing one-horned waifs (thin, small female slaves) coexist.
Line by Line Meaning
She was born to be my Unicorn
She was meant to be mine, my perfect match
Robed head of ferns
She wears a crown of fern leaves
Cat child tutored by the learned.
She is a wise and learned cat-like figure
Darkly ghostish host
A spooky and mysterious entity
Haggard vizier of the moats
A tired and worn out ruler of the moats
Seeks the sandled shores of Gods
Searching for a divine place to rest
Baby of the moors.
A young and innocent creature of the moors
The night-mare's mauve mashed mind
The twisted and disturbed mind of a nightmare
Sights the visions of the blinds
Sees the visions of those who cannot
Shoreside stream of steam
A steamy stream by the shoreline
Cooking kings in cream of scream.
Causing chaos and destruction
Jackdaw winter head
A bird with a dark head that resembles winter
Cleans his chalcedony bed
Tidying up his crystal bed
A silken word of kind
A gentle and soothing word
Was returned from Nijinsky Hind.
Received from a distant land
Giant of Inca hill
A massive ruler of the Inca hill
Loosed his boar to gorely kill
Released his wild boar to hunt and destroy
The dancing one horned waife
A graceful and one-horned creature
In doublet of puffin-bill.
Wearing a unique and flamboyant outfit
The beast in feast of sound
A wild and free animal enjoying life's pleasures
Kittened lamb on God's ground
A playful and innocent creature on sacred ground
Ridden by the born of horn
Guided by a one-horned creature
Jigged like a muse on life's lawn.
Dancing with freedom and creativity in the path of life
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: MARC BOLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Grogster2
Totally unique talent.... there is no one like Marc Bolan.
Mia L. Bergman
This song is very crazy,i like to listen to it over and over. Their songs always make me happy and serene,it's like i'm on another level far far away from earth
1stMistyMist1
Mia Paboplanes I know..I understand what you mean it does the same for me - sweet songs !
MrParisienWalkways
well stated
Yves Altana
..because they were written by people who were on a different level, far away from earth ;-) Marc was a genius! x
zephyrquartz
@Yves Altana Some are still around...
Yves Altana
@zephyrquartz I didn't mention being around.. or not
Gary Morris
god - the melodies of Marc. Incredible beauty everywhere.
Oliver Loos
Ich war immer schon ein absoluter Fan von Marc Bolan. Die frühen Tyrannosaurus Rex records sind einfach wunderschön.
Christine James
Goosebumps listening to this loveee it so much