“Bang a Gong (Get It On)” – T. Rex

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On this day in 1971, T. Rex’s “Get It On” reached #1 on the UK Singles Chart.

In the US (where the recording peaked at #10), it was retitled “Bang a Gong (Get It On)” to avoid confusion with another group’s song that was also named “Get It On”.

The song is sexually suggestive (as the title suggests) without being too graphic. One reviewer even characterized some of the imagery as “comically vague”.

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SW-User

The song was about a motorcycle, not a girl.

Rutterman · 46-50, M

@SW-User Never heard that interpretation before. The songwriter (Marc Bolan) never commented on the song's meaning as far as I know, so I guess we're free to interpret it as we see it.

SW-User

@Rutterman Well you're built like a car
You've got a hubcap diamond star halo
You're dirty, sweet and you're my girl

Rutterman · 46-50, M

@SW-User Sounds like Bolan is talking about a girl. I think most of the other lyrics reinforce that interpretation.

SW-User

@Rutterman I'm having trouble with a girl ever being likened to a car with hubcaps. 🙂

Rutterman · 46-50, M

@SW-User Bolan used a lot of odd metaphors in his songs, and he mentioned cars, or car parts, in many of them.