13 Songs – 9

20^th Century Boy – T.Rex

The first record I ever bought (from the aforementioned Boots). In fact I bought it and ‘Solid Gold Easy Action’ both by T.Rex at the same time. I’d previously had a Top of the Pops Compilation LP but this was my first proper record purchase. The dark blue sleeve and label complete with red Marc image had swayed me. I was actually more of a Slade fan in those very formative years but their dull red polydor bags looked quite corporate whereas the T.Rex records looked somehow cool. 

Ironically in those far-flung pre-picture sleeve days, the company sleeves and logos could create a very disconcerting pre-conceived image of the artist. In fact, one of the reasons, I stayed clear of David Bowie in those days was the horrible orange RCA labels and even worse the drab Deram stuff (noticeably Laughing Gnome).

Sleeves aside, T.Rex were still just about at the top of their game and the sound of basic glam guitar combined with Marc’s semi-slurred utterances did the trick. The lyrics, well they were y’know… just words but that was ok. I’d got my first 7” singles and I was of course now officially a 20^thCentury Boy

Oww!
(Ahh)

Friends say it's fine, friends say it's good
Everybody says it's just like Robin Hood
Yeah!
I move like a cat, charge like a ram
Sting like a bee, babe, I wanna be your man, hey!

Well, it's plain to see you were meant for me, yeah
I'm your boy, your 20th century toy
Yeah!

Friends say it's fine, my friends say it's good
Everybody says it's just like Robin Hood
Fly like a plane, drive like a car
Bawl like a hound, babe, I wanna be your man, hoo!

Well, it's plain to see you were meant for me
And I'm your toy, your 20th century boy

20th century toy, I wanna be your boy-ah
20th century toy, I wanna be your boy
20th century toy, I wanna be your boy
20th century toy, I wanna be your boy

Friends say it's fine, friends say it's good
Everybody says it's just like Robin Hood, nah, nah
Move like a cat, charge like a ram
Sting like a bee
Oh, oh, babe, I wanna be your man
And, um, and, oh, oh

Well it's plain to see you were meant for me
And I'm your toy, your 20th century boy

20th century toy, I wanna be your boy
20th century toy, I wanna be your boy
20th century toy, I wanna be your toy
20th century boy-ah, I wanna be your toy

Yeah-ah
Ah, oh, oh, yeah
My friends say it's fine, they say it's good
I don't believe it's like Robin Hood
I'm like a car, I drive like a plane
I wanna hang your head in the falling rain
Ah, oh yeah
Wow!

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Marc Bolan

20th Century Boy lyrics © Spirit Catalogue Holdings S.a.r.l., Spirit Catalog Holdings, S.a.r.l., Spirit Catalogue Holdings, S.a.r.l., Spirit Catalog Holdings S.a.r.l.