Ballard of a teenage queen
Johnny Cash Lyrics


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(Dream on, dream on teenage queen prettiest girl we've ever seen)
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 car
Swimming pool and a fence around
But she missed her old home town (But she missed her old home town)
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)

Overall Meaning

The Ballad of a Teenage Queen is a story of a girl from a small town who was the prettiest girl around. She had golden hair and blue eyes that could flash at you. Boys would hang around her by the score, but she loved the boy next door who worked at the candy store. She was admired by everyone in the town, but it never went to her head. She had everything a teenager could ask for and not a care in the world. The boy next door saved his money and planned to marry her next spring. But then one day, a movie scout came to town to take her to Hollywood for bigger and better opportunities. After seeing what Hollywood had to offer, she left the boy next door and went to Hollywood.


Soon, she became a star and had everything she could ask for, including a pretty house, a shiny car, and a swimming pool. Despite all of this, she missed her old hometown, and all that came with it. She missed the boy next door, and all the memories they shared. In the end, the teenage star sold her house, cars, gave up her wealth and fame, and caught a train back to her hometown. She came back to the boy next door, who worked at the candy store, and married him.


The song is a tragic story of a teenage girl, who had everything she ever wanted but still felt empty. No matter how much she achieved, she couldn't forget her past and what she left behind. It is a warning that reminds us, sometimes, we don't know what we have until it's gone.


Line by Line Meaning

(Dream on, dream on teenage queen prettiest girl we've ever seen)
A group of people in town are discussing a girl who is considered to be the most beautiful girl in town; they admire her beauty, but acknowledge that she is still just a teenager with dreams and aspirations.


There's a story in our town
The people in town are discussing a girl's story which has become quite famous.


Of the prettiest girl around
The girl they are talking about is considered to be the most beautiful girl around.


Golden hair and eyes of blue
The girl is described as having golden hair and blue eyes.


How those eyes could flash at you (How those eyes could flash at you)
Her eyes were not only blue, they were full of life and personality, and could easily catch your attention.


Boys hung 'round her by the score
Lots of boys were attracted to the girl because of her beauty and charm.


But she loved the boy next door who worked at the candy store
Despite all the attention she was receiving from boys, the girl had feelings for the boy who lived next door and worked at the local candy store.


(Dream on, dream on teenage queen prettiest girl we've ever seen)
The group admires the girl's beauty once again and expresses hope that she will follow her dreams.


She was tops in all they said
The girl was considered the best at everything by everyone in town.


It never once went to her head
Despite all the attention she was getting, the girl remained humble and grounded.


She had everything it seems
The girl seemed to have everything she could possibly want or need.


Not a care, this teenage queen (Not a care, this teenage queen)
The girl lived a carefree life and didn't seem to have any worries or concerns.


Other boys could offer more
Although other boys could offer her more materialistic things, she still remained loyal to the boy next door who worked at the candy store.


But she loved the boy next door who worked at the candy store
The girl loved the boy next door more than any other boy, despite their differences in social status.


(Dream on, dream on teenage queen you should be a movie queen)
The group expresses their belief that the girl's beauty and talent could make her a successful movie star.


He would marry her next spring
The boy next door was planning to propose to the girl and marry her the following spring.


Saved his money, bought a ring
The boy had saved up enough money to buy an engagement ring for the girl.


Then one day a movie scout
A talent scout from Hollywood came to town.


Came to town to take her out (Came to town to take her out)
The talent scout wanted to take the girl to Hollywood to become a movie star.


Hollywood could offer more
The girl was offered a chance to pursue her dreams of becoming a movie star, something that her current life could not offer her.


So she left the boy next door working at the candy store
The girl left her hometown and the boy she loved to pursue her dream of becoming a movie star in Hollywood.


(Dream on, dream on teenage queen see you on the movie screen)
The group wishes the girl well and expresses their belief that she will become a successful movie star like they've always dreamed.


Very soon she was a star
The girl became a successful movie star very quickly.


Pretty house and shiny car
The girl had become very wealthy and successful and could now afford a pretty house and a shiny car.


Swimming pool and a fence around
The girl had a swimming pool and even put up a fence around her property to keep others out.


But she missed her old home town (But she missed her old home town)
Despite her success and wealth, the girl missed her hometown and the life she had left behind.


All the world was at her door
The girl had become very famous and successful and people from all over the world wanted to meet her.


All except the boy next door who worked at the candy store
Despite all the attention she was getting, the girl missed the one person who truly mattered to her: the boy she had left behind.


(Dream on, dream on teenage queen saddest girl we've ever seen)
The group notes how sad it is that the girl, despite all her success and wealth, is so unhappy because she has lost what really mattered to her.


Then one day the teenage star
The girl decided one day to leave her fame and fortune behind.


Sold her house and all her cars
She sold all her belongings, including her house and cars.


Gave up all her wealth and fame
The girl gave up all her wealth and fame for something more important to her.


Left it all and caught a train (Left it all and caught a train)
She left Hollywood and everything behind, and decided to catch a train to her hometown.


Do I have to tell you more
The artist asks if he needs to explain what happened next because it's pretty obvious.


She came back to the boy next door who worked at the candy store
The girl returned to her hometown and to the boy who loved her, who worked at the candy store.


(Now this story has some more, you'll hear it all at the candy store)
The artist notes that there is more to the story, but it can be heard by visiting the candy store where the boy works.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JACK CLEMENT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Anonymous


on Wayfaring Stranger

Wayfaring Stranger - The New Appalachians - Lyrics

I am a poor wayfaring stranger
Traveling through this world alone

There will be no sickness, toil or danger
In that grand land to which I roam

Well I'm going home to see my mother
I'm going home to a morning rose
I'm only goin' over Jordan
I'm only goin' over home

Musical Interlude

I know dark clouds will gather 'round me
I know my way is rough and steep
And beautiful fields lie just before me
Where God's redeemed there vigils keep

Well I'm going home to see my brothers
I'm going home no more to roam
I'm only goin' over Jordan
I'm only goin' over home

Musical Interlude

I'm going home to see my Father
I'm going home no more to roam
I'm only goin' over Jordan
I’m only goin’ where no one roams

I want to wear that crown of glory
When I get to that good land
I want to shout out salvation story
In concert with that blood washed band.
I'm going there to see my saviour
I’ll see his face no more to roam
I'm only going over Jordan
I'm only going over home
I'm only goin' over home

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