SLS

Song Lyric Sunday – Teen Angel

Maggie

The prompt from Jim:

Our theme this week is Devoted, Faithful, Honorable, Loyal, True and it is again suggested by Lady A.

When I saw the prompt, I knew my song was going to come from the 1950s or the 1960s because young love was the primary subject for songs that made the charts and appealed to the teenagers buying the records at the time. And we did buy records!

”Teen Angel” is a tragic ballad about a young teenager getting killed in a car accident after initially being saved by her boyfriend. Written by Jean Dinning and her husband Red Surrey, “Teen Angel” was recorded by Jean’s brother Mark Dinning in 1969.

Due to the subject matter, the radio stations banned the song. Despite their refusal to play the song, it grew in popularity and jumped from #100 to #50 on the charts in the last week of 1959. The song eventually made the #1 spot on the charts in February of 1960.

“Teen Angel” was also banned by the BBC in the UK, but the song still managed to climb to #37 on the UK charts.

Every girl I knew had this song memorized and owned the 45 record. There was something about this tragic love story that we were drawn to. Maybe it is that dream and promise of undying love that gave it such a strong pull. Teens have that feeling of invincibility so maybe the tragic message was lost on them.

”Teen Angel” was a success, but put Mark Dinning in the ‘one hit wonder’ category although he did have a few other songs that made the charts. This song is the one he will be remembered for.

“Teen Angel”
Lyrics from Songfacts.com

Teen angel, teen angel, teen angel, ooh, ooh
That fateful night the car was stalled upon the railroad track
I pulled you out and we were safe, but you went running back

[Chorus]
Teen angel, can you hear me?
Teen angel, can you see me?
Are you somewhere up above
And I am still your own true love?
What was it you were looking for that took your life that night?
They said they found my high school ring clutched in your fingers tight

[Chorus]

Just sweet sixteen, and now you’re gone
They’ve taken you away.
I’ll never kiss your lips again
They buried you today

[Chorus]

Teen angel, teen angel, answer me, please

Song Lyric Sunday is hosted every Sunday by Jim Adams. If you would like to join in the fun, check out his blog for the rules and to take in all the other music posted by other blogger

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26 thoughts on “Song Lyric Sunday – Teen Angel”

  3. The prompt word True was a gift for me today. A huge hit by the popular English group, Spandau Ballet. It is still played on the radio here every day without fail.

    Lyrics
    So true funny how it seems
    Always in time, but never in line for dreams
    Head over heels when toe to toe
    This is the sound of my soul
    This is the sound
    I bought a ticket to the world
    But now I’ve come back again
    Why do I find it hard to write the next line?
    Oh, I want the truth to be said
    I know this much is true
    I know this much is true
    With a thrill in my head and a pill on my tongue
    Dissolve the nerves that have just begun
    Listening to Marvin all night long
    This is the sound of my soul
    This is the sound
    Always slipping from my hands
    Sand’s a time of it’s own
    Take your seaside arms and write the next line
    Oh, I want the truth to be known
    I know this much is true
    I know this much is true
    I bought a ticket to the world
    But now I’ve come back again
    Why do I find it hard to write the next line?
    Oh, I want the truth to be said
    I know this much is true
    I know this much is true
    This much is true
    This much is true
    This much is true
    This much is true
    This much is true
    I know, I know, I know this much is true
    This much is true
    This much is true
    This much is true
    This much is true
    I know, I know, I know this much is true
    This much is true
    This much is true
    This much is true
    This much is true
    This much is true
    This much is true
    I know this much is true
    This much is true
    This much is true
    Come on, come on, come on, yeah
    This much is true
    This much is true
    Oh I say, ooh I say come on
    This much is true
    This much is true
    This much is true
    This much is true
    Source: Musixmatch
    Songwriters: Gary Kemp
    True lyrics © Reformation Publishing Co Ltd
    Best wishes, Pete.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Of course they shouldn’t. It’s all fictional. The song title came from an article a DJ was quoted in. He was countering the suggestion that all teens were delinquents and he responded he knew a number of ‘teen angels’. From that quote the writers’ creative brain kicked in and they ran with it.

      Liked by 2 people

  6. I can picture me and my best friend standing on her driveway singing away to our little transistor radio thinking that was the saddest thing either of us had ever heard!

    Liked by 1 person

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