Bang A Gong
I'm sure that in 1970 nobody called having sex.
"Bang the gong". It was only after the hit single by T-Rex "You're dirty sweet and you're my girl, get it on, bang the gong, get it on".
I am sure that Bolan's lyrics "get it on" meant having sex, however "bang the gong" meant snorting coke.
Remember T-Rex started in the drug-taking ethos of the Underground scene. So why did the hit single make it mean sex?
Well imagine you're Marc Bolan being interviewed in public and asked what "bang the gong" meant. To prevent your hit single being pulled by censors what would you reply?
Anyway, in his glam rock period, Bolan said everything meant sex.
| by Anonymous | reply 5 | October 26, 2019 3:36 PM
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Bang the gong" first meant asking for more opium.
In the 1850s Chinese opium dens came to the west. Next to each couch was a small gong, and the customer struck it to call for another dose to be brought. The musical sounds kept the scene harmonious and peaceful.
In the 1930s Cab Calloway's sang "he took her down to Chinatown and he showed her how to kick the gong around".
By late 20th century "bang" had come to mean any kind of smoked or inhaled drug. But "Bang the gong" usually means snorting a line of Cocaine.
| by Anonymous | reply 1 | October 26, 2019 3:19 PM
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The riff is stolen for the Oasis song "Cigarettes and Alcohol". In my opinion the verses, guitar is better in "Cigarettes and Alcohol" (Never let your lead singer play lead guitar as well). The music is certainly more 'together,' but nothing can beat that killer "Get It On" chorus-I love the harmony, and that little noise that sounds like an egg being cracked open-what is that?. The guitar solo starts great-then goes nowhere. Does anyone know what "teeth of the hydra upon you" and "hubcap-diamond-star halo" mean???
| by Anonymous | reply 2 | October 26, 2019 3:21 PM
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I don’t know, but thanks for starting this thread! Marc Bolan wrote such fanciful, great lyrics. “Jeepster” is my favorite.
| by Anonymous | reply 3 | October 26, 2019 3:31 PM
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