This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Friends say it's fine
Friends say it's good
Everybody says it's just like Robin Hood
I move like a cat
Charge like a ram
Sting like a bee
Babe, I want to be your man
Well it's plain to see
You were meant for me
Yeah, I'm your boy
Your 20th century toy
Friends say it's fine
Friends say it's good
Everybody says it's just like Robin Hood
Fly like a plane
Drive like a car
Ball like a hound
Babe I want to be your man
Well it's plain to see
You were meant for me
Yea I'm your toy
Your 20th century boy
20th century toy
I want to be your boy
20th century toy
I want to be your boy
20th century toy
I want to be your boy
20th century toy
I want to be your boy
Friends say it's fine
Friends say it's good
Everybody says it's just like Robin Hood
Move like a cat
Charge like a ram
Sting like a bee
Oh, babe I want to be your man
Well it's plain to see
You were meant for me
Yea I'm your toy
Your 20th century boy
20th century toy
I want to be your boy
20th century toy
I want to be your boy
20th century boy
I want to be your toy
20th century boy
I want to be your toy
Friends say it's good
Everybody says it's just like Robin Hood
I move like a cat
Charge like a ram
Sting like a bee
Babe, I want to be your man
Well it's plain to see
You were meant for me
Yeah, I'm your boy
Your 20th century toy
Friends say it's fine
Friends say it's good
Everybody says it's just like Robin Hood
Fly like a plane
Drive like a car
Ball like a hound
Babe I want to be your man
Well it's plain to see
You were meant for me
Yea I'm your toy
Your 20th century boy
20th century toy
I want to be your boy
20th century toy
I want to be your boy
20th century toy
I want to be your boy
20th century toy
I want to be your boy
Friends say it's fine
Friends say it's good
Everybody says it's just like Robin Hood
Move like a cat
Charge like a ram
Sting like a bee
Oh, babe I want to be your man
Well it's plain to see
You were meant for me
Yea I'm your toy
Your 20th century boy
20th century toy
I want to be your boy
20th century toy
I want to be your boy
20th century boy
I want to be your toy
20th century boy
I want to be your toy
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I'm pretty sure it's "Everybody says it's just like Robin Hood".
the lyrics are spot on, it's your ears that are bad. listen to the song again. Talk like a rat? How does a rat talk? Charge like a ram works much better. (Espescially given all the sexual innuendo in the song) just like robin hood? What the hell??? Who are you, the sheriff of nottingham?
@bazmeg XD
Spot on save for the mix up of a couple lines. It should read:
20th Century TOY I wanna be your BOY.
The last two lines printed are correct. Other than that minor mistake, all lyrics are correct.
are you sure these lyrics are correct?
dunno. i always thought they said "walk like a cat, talk like a rat, sting like a bee..." and "every body says its just like robin hood" at some point, but then again i too have been known for having, um, very original song lyric interpretations.
bolans finest moment,a great aggressive rock/pop track played and sang like marc bolan really meant it
I think this is one of the most brilliant songs ever. I mean, Placebo did a fantastic cover, but it's no T Rex (especially with that little orgasmic shout in the beginning).
I believe that the lyrics are open to interpretation. His lyrics never made much sense anyway, so I think however you mean to sing it is how it's meant to be sung.
The 3rd line does mention Robin Hood! Its a great song,considering that after an ealy flourish(Ride a white swan,Get it on etc.)Bolan ran out of ideas for lyrics...infact I'd consider him to be one of the worst ever...real schoolboy stuff!(e.g.Metal Guru,Telegram Sam etc.etc.)
At last! After all these years I find other people who hear "just like Robin Hood" in the lyric. I have been singing this line for years in a covers band I'm in, and I only discovered I might be wrong when I sang the song at a Karaoke, and the lyrics were on the screen. Whatever the rights or wrongs, I love the idea that Marc might just have sang "... Robin Hood". It kinda fits with Marc's lyrical outlook, as well as with the song in general. I also hear the line "... hold like a hand" instead of "...ball like a hound". And it definitely is "...talk like a rat"!
Marc Bolan Is My Favourite SongWriter Of All Time.
@jbjamieblack Bowie was the songwriter