fuckyeahbolan:

i think “dandy in the underworld” is a severly underrated & often overlooked t.rex song. it has this orchestrated, elaborately produced feel without being too overbearing. the bass line pleases me, the drums are gradiose but not so much that they overshadow the guitar work. the “shoo-wop” homage to ’50s sock hops is somehow fitting, despite the dark, almost macabre lyrics. but i also quite enjoy this live version, which replaces the background singers of the album version with a sweet bolan guitar solo.

t.rex — dandy in the underworld
dandy in the underworld, 1977

prince of players, pawn of none
born with steel reins on the heart of the sun
gypsy explorer of the new jersey heights
exalted companion of cocaine nights

‘cause he’s a dandy in the underworld
dandy in the underworld
when will he come up for air?
oh, will anybody ever care?

at an old eighteen, exiled he was
to the deserted kingdoms of a mythical oz
distraction he wanted; to destruction, he fell
now he forever stalks
the ancient mansions of hell

‘cause he’s a dandy in the underworld
dandy in the underworld
when will he come up for air?
oh, will anybody ever care?

‘cause he’s a dandy in the underworld
dandy in the underworld
when will he come up for air?
oh, will anybody ever care?

now all his lovers have left him
and his youth’s ill spent
he cries in the dungeons & tries to repent
but change is a monster, and changing is hard
so he’ll freeze away his summers
in his underground yard

‘cause he’s a dandy in the underworld
dandy in the underworld
when will he come up for air?
oh, will anybody ever care?

prince of players, pawn of none
born with steel reins on the heart of the sun
gypsy explorer of the new jersey heights
exalted companion of cocaine nights

‘cause he’s a dandy in the underworld
dandy in the underworld
when will he come up for air?
oh, will anybody ever care?