About the song
“Teen Angel,” a haunting teenage tragedy song penned by Jean Dinning and her husband, Red Surrey, captures a poignant narrative of love, loss, and regret. Released in October 1959 and performed by Jean’s brother, Mark Dinning, the song initially faced resistance from some U.S. radio stations due to its somber theme. Despite this, “Teen Angel” managed to defy the odds, gradually gaining traction and eventually soaring to the top of the charts.
The storyline of “Teen Angel” is a heart-wrenching tale of a young couple whose lives are tragically altered in a moment of crisis. The narrator recounts a fateful ride with his girlfriend, during which their car becomes stalled on a railroad track. As an oncoming train approaches, the narrator pulls her to safety, but she returns to the car to retrieve a memento—the narrator’s high school class ring. Tragically, she is killed in the collision, and her lifeless body is found clutching the ring. The song concludes with the narrator’s emotional plea for a final answer from his lost love, echoing with the lines, “I’ll never kiss your lips again/They buried you today.”
Though initially slow to gain popularity, “Teen Angel” experienced a dramatic rise in late 1959, climbing from #100 to #50 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart within the last week of the year. By February 1960, it had reached the coveted #1 position on the Hot 100 and remained a standout track, despite being banned from BBC airplay in the UK where it peaked at #37. Billboard ranked it as the #5 song of 1960, underscoring its enduring impact.
The song’s evocative narrative has inspired several notable covers and reinterpretations over the years. UK artists Alex Murray and Garry Mills both released versions in early 1960, but these failed to chart. In late 1960, Rolf Harris created a parody titled “Tame Eagle,” and American rock and roll revival act Sha Na Na performed it at the 1969 Woodstock festival. In 1974, the Canadian band Wednesday released a version with a reversed storyline, in which the boy becomes the victim. The song was also included in a medley of “dead girl songs” by Steve Goodman and later performed by the Rock Bottom Remainders, featuring a humorous rendition with Stephen King on lead vocals.
“Teen Angel” remains a poignant example of the tragic song genre, resonating with audiences through its emotional depth and haunting narrative. Its journey from controversy to chart-topping success highlights its powerful impact on popular music and its lasting legacy in the annals of musical history.
Video
Lyrics
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
Teen angel, can you hear me?
Teen angel, can you see me?
Are you somewhere up above
And am I 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
Teen angel, can you hear me?
Teen angel, can you see me?
Are you somewhere up above
And am I still your own true love
Just sweet sixteen and now you’re gone
They’ve taken you away
I’ll never kiss your lips again
They buried you today
Teen angel, can you hear me?
Teen angel, can you see me?
Are you somewhere up above
And am I still your own true love
Teen angel, teen angel
Answer me, please