About The Song
In life, no matter how much money you have or how famous you may be, it won’t even matter at all. Sometimes, all that really matters is being with the person you love the most. This sentiment is exactly what Jack Clement wants to say in his song “Ballad of a Teenage Queen.”
Johnny Cash recorded Jack Clement’s song “Ballad of a Teenage Queen” in 1957. It was one of the songs on his studio album Sings the Songs That Made Him Famous. Before we learn about the song, let us first see how it performed on the Billboard country chart.
The first time Johnny Cash recorded the song, it became a hit for him. It reached number one on the Billboard country chart. In addition, it secured a spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
In 1987, Johnny Cash re-recorded the song. This time, however, Cash featured the voice of his daughter Rosanne Cash. His second version did not go well like the first one. But, it still entered the Billboard chart and landed at the number forty-fifth position.
“Ballad of a Teenage Queen” is one of Johnny Cash’s Best Songs according to Billboards Critic’s Picks. Specifically, it was listed as number ten on the list.
Cash’s song tells the story of a teenage girl who is the prettiest in town. She fell in love with a boy who works in the candy store. They were about to get married. But, the pretty teenager was discovered by a talent scout, and she moved to Hollywood to become a movie star. She became rich and famous. However money is not enough, nor is fame. She longed for the boy who worked in the candy store. She wanted to be with him and spend her life with him than being rich. Therefore, she sells all that she has and left everything behind to be with the boy she fell in love with who works at the candy store.
Video
Lyrics
There’s a story in our town
Of the prettiest girl around
Golden hair and eyes of blue
How those eyes could flash at you
(How those eyes could flash at you)
Boys hung ’round her by the score
But she loved the boy next door
Who worked at the candy store
(Dream on, dream on, teenage queen, prettiest girl we’ve ever seen)
She was tops in all they said
It never once went to her head
She had everything, it seems
Not a care, this teenage queen
(Not a care, this teenage queen)
Other boys could offer more
But she loved the boy next door
Who worked at the candy store
(Dream on, dream on, teenage queen, you should be a movie queen)
He would marry her next spring
Saved his money, bought a ring
Then one day a movie scout
Came to town to take her out
(Came to town to take her out)
Hollywood could offer more
So she left the boy next door
Working at the candy store
(Dream on, dream on, teenage queen, see you on the movie screen)
Very soon she was a star
Pretty house and shiny cars
Swimming pool and a fence around
But she missed her old hometown
(But she missed her old hometown)
All the world was at her door
All except the boy next door
Who worked at the candy store
(Dream on, dream on, teenage queen, saddest girl we’ve ever seen)
Then one day the teenage star
Sold her house and all her cars
Gave up all her wealth and fame
Left it all and caught a train
(Left it all and caught a train)
Do I have to tell you more?
She came back to the boy next door
Who worked at the candy store
(Now this story has some more, you’ll hear it all at the candy store)
