Teen Dream
Betty X Lyrics
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straight A's on the cheerleading team
she's a teen dream, teen dream
everyone wants to be America's little fantasy
everyone wants to be a murderous fantasy
she's a teen dream
teen dream, teen dream
straight A's on the honor roll
such a nice girl
who would of known
when the evil seeds were sown
looked her mother straight in the eyes
as she stabbed her 37 times
as she begged for forgiveness
as she sent her straight to hell!!
straight to hell!!!
she's a teen dream, teen dream
pinup queen
everyone wants to be a teen dream
teen dream, scream queen
she's a teen dream
everyone wants America's
sick and twisted fantasy
teen dream
teen dream
"I didn't want to kill her
I didn't mean to do it
the devil made me do it
I didn't want to kill her"
"the devil made me do it
the devil made me do it!"
The song "Teen Dream" by Betty X explores the dark and disturbing reality of teenage violence, particularly that of a young girl who appears to be the quintessential American dream. The lyrics detail her achievements as a cheerleader and a student with straight A's, but there is an underlying tension that slowly reveals how much of a "murderous fantasy" the singer really is. The song touches on the various stages of guilt, self-denial, and confession that the character goes through. It is through the lens of a twisted and sick person that the song underlines the problematic nature of societal standards and how the pursuit of perfection can lead to disastrous consequences.
At the core of the song, there is a discussion on the dangers of idolizing someone solely on their physical or superficial attributes, and not realizing what might be lurking beneath the surface. The lyrics bring up the sinister truth that there is often more to a person than how they are portrayed. The song's title, "Teen Dream," can be seen as the character's idealized self-image, or as the concept society has placed on young women to be the ideal fantasy of a perfect young girl. Ultimately, the character's actions and the song's lyrics explicitly reveal how the glorification of "teen dreams" and American fantasies can have dire consequences.
Line by Line Meaning
teen dream, teen dream
Repeating the phrase to emphasize her idealized status.
straight A's on the cheerleading team
She excels in her extracurricular activities.
she's a teen dream, teen dream
Reiterating her fantasy-like appeal.
everyone wants to be America's little fantasy
Her image as a perfect teenage girl is what is widely admired and emulated in society.
she's a teen dream, teen dream
Repeating the phrase to emphasize her idealized status.
everyone wants to be a murderous fantasy
She has a hidden, darker side that is not apparent from her harmless girl-next-door image.
she's a teen dream
Summing up her perfect, yet dangerous persona.
teen dream, teen dream
Repeating the phrase to emphasize her idealized status.
straight A's on the honor roll
She excels academically as well.
such a nice girl
Her outward demeanor is that of a moral and kind person.
who would of known
No one could have suspected her dark impulses.
when the evil seeds were sown
There were hidden factors that led to her dark actions later on.
looked her mother straight in the eyes
She directly confronts her victim before the horrific act.
as she stabbed her 37 times
Her brutality is accentuated through the specific number of wounds dealt.
as she begged for forgiveness
Her victim's vulnerability is highlighted through her pleas for mercy.
as she sent her straight to hell!!
Betty X revels in the act of sending her victim to eternal damnation.
straight to hell!!!
Repeating the phrase to emphasize the finality of the act.
she's a teen dream, teen dream
Reiterating her fantasy-like appeal.
pinup queen
She is a symbol of desire and fantasy.
everyone wants to be a teen dream
Reiterating how her image is idealized and coveted.
teen dream, scream queen
She is both a stereotypical teenage dream girl, as well as a figure of horror and terror.
she's a teen dream
Summing up her perfect, yet dangerous persona.
everyone wants America's
Reiterating the widespread longing for an idealized image.
sick and twisted fantasy
The dark side of her appeal is that it is rooted in unhealthy desires.
teen dream
Repeating the phrase to emphasize her idealized status.
teen dream
Repeating the phrase to emphasize her idealized status.
"I didn't want to kill her
She is attempting to rationalize her actions.
I didn't mean to do it
She continues to dispute her intentions.
the devil made me do it
She shifts the blame onto an external force.
I didn't want to kill her"
Reiterating her claim of unintentional harm.
"the devil made me do it
She continues to claim that external forces were responsible for her actions.
the devil made me do it!"
Reiterating her belief that her actions were beyond her control.
Contributed by Kaylee I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.