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.
The Pilgrim's Tale
T. Rex Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As a chorus
As a flock the wild seas
Sway before us
Hail as a hand is my mail
The thrush is my love
And the whale is a snail
Sailors dance in a trance
On the ocean
Fairy lights in her eyes
Tame the water
With the morn we mount and ride
Pilgrims of summer
The swift is our guide
Dazzle dawn man
Mouthed with a smile
Caution cloud lord
Stay for a while
You make us smile.
The opening lines of T. Rex's "The Pilgrim's Tale" evoke the idea of the natural world offering a beautiful and harmonious symphony that the singer is attuned to. The beauty is so much that it comes in chorus, like flocking wild seas that sway before the singer. The next line is a metaphor where the singer is saying that his mail is hail, or rather that even the roughness that life can bring is something he can handle. The thrush is his love which could refer to a person or to the bird, as a symbol of beauty and music. Lastly, the metaphorical conclusion of the line "the whale is a snail" insinuates that even the biggest problems or fears can seem inconsequential when faced from a different perspective, which is a humble reminder in life.
The next stanza takes the singer's attention to the sea and the sailors who are dancing in a trance, denoting the idea of loving life in euphoria through movement. The fairy lights in her eyes taming the water could represent a person, a woman that the singer loves or looks up to. The third and final stanza talks about the pilgrims of summer who mount and ride with the swift as their guide, symbolizing the journey of life with an emphasis on moving forward without wasting time. The closing lines of the song ask the caution cloud lord to stay, implying that stormy times should not be feared or avoided, instead they should be confronted with a smile, for they make others smile as well.
Line by Line Meaning
Beauty things sing to me
The beautiful things in the world are like a choir that seems to be singing just for me
As a chorus
All these beautiful things are working together in harmony
As a flock the wild seas
The seas seem to be moving like a flock of birds in unison
Sway before us
Everything moves and changes around us, as if we are the center of the universe
Hail as a hand is my mail
I am protected by the elements, and hailstones are like little fists of armor that keep me safe
The thrush is my love
I have a special connection with nature, and this bird in particular is like a companion to me
And the whale is a snail
Even the largest creatures in the ocean seem small compared to the vastness of the world
Sailors dance in a trance
The sea can be hypnotic, and the people who spend their lives on it are like dancers who move to its rhythm
On the ocean
This vast body of water is like a stage for their dance
Fairy lights in her eyes
This woman has a special kind of magic or beauty that is reflected in her gaze
Tame the water
Her presence has a calming effect on the turbulence of the sea
With the morn we mount and ride
Every day is a new adventure, and we are eager to start exploring
Pilgrims of summer
We are like travelers on a spiritual journey, seeking knowledge and enlightenment along the way
The swift is our guide
We are accompanied by this bird, which symbolizes freedom, dexterity and agility
Dazzle dawn man
This man shines with an inner light that is particularly visible at the beginning of the day
Mouthed with a smile
He appears to be happy and content, and his face reflects that feeling
Caution cloud lord
Although we are surrounded by beauty and wonder, we must still be careful and vigilant as we make our way through the world
Stay for a while
We want to spend more time with this person, and enjoy his company and wisdom
You make us smile
This person brings joy and happiness to our lives, and we are grateful for his presence
Contributed by Charlie W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.