Dinning was born Max E. Dinning[1] near Drury, Oklahoma but grew up on a farm outside of Nashville, Tennessee. From a musical family, three of his sisters formed The Dinning Sisters singing group that had a Top Ten hit in the late 1940s.
Dinning pursued a career in country music and, in 1957, record producer Wesley Rose got him a recording contract.[2] His recording efforts met with limited success until 1960, when he recorded a 45rpm single called "Teen Angel" that was written by his sister Jean and her husband Red Surrey. The lyrics told of the death of a teenage love and it went to No.1 on the Billboard Charts in the United States.
Although Dinning never duplicated the success of "Teen Angel", he had three minor hit records in the ensuing years. Mark had a voice similar to Roy Orbison and so, no surprise, one of his best recordings, and believed to be better than Orbison's orginal, is his version of "Come Back to Me (My Love)" (issued on the other side of the single "Loving Touch", which is not the Orbison song of the same name). Dinning continued to perform in the music industry until his unexpected death at the age of fifty-two from a heart attack in Jefferson City, Missouri.
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Teen Angel
Mark Dinning Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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 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
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?
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 I am still your own true love?
Teen angel, teen angel, answer me, please
The song "Teen Angel" by Mark Dinning tells the story of a teenage girl who dies tragically in a car accident on railroad tracks. The singer of the song, who is the girl's boyfriend, vividly recalls the night of the accident and how he managed to save her life by pulling her out of the car. However, the girl runs back to the car to retrieve something and is hit by the train, losing her life. The singer is still in shock and disbelief about the terrible incident and asks the girl, who he believes may be watching over him from above, if she can hear and see him. He also wonders what the girl was looking for that took her life that night and why she was clutching his high school ring when they found her body.
The song is a hauntingly beautiful and melancholic ballad that captures the tragic loss and heartbreak of losing someone so young and with so much life ahead of them. The song's mournful melody and lyrics strike a chord with anyone who has experienced the pain of losing a loved one. It is a poignant reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of cherishing the people we hold dear.
Line by Line Meaning
Teen angel, teen angel, teen angel, ooh
Addressing the deceased 'Teen Angel'
That fateful night the car was stalled upon the railroad track
Recalling the tragic incident where the car was on the railroad track leading to the Angel's death
I pulled you out and we were safe, but you went running back
Narrating how the singer rescued the Angel and how the Angel returned to the car
Teen angel, can you hear me?
Making an attempt to communicate with the Angel
Teen angel, can you see me?
Seeking a response from the Angel
Are you somewhere up above?
Wondering if the Angel is in heaven
And I am still your own true love?
Asking if the Angel still considers the singer as their true love
What was it you were looking for that took your life that night?
Questioning the reason behind the Angel's tragic death
They said they found my high school ring clutched in your fingers tight
Revealing a detail about the Angel's death, that they held the singer's high school ring
Teen angel, can you hear me?
Asking for another sign of the Angel's presence
Teen angel, can you see me?
Asking for proof that the Angel is listening
Are you somewhere up above?
Repeating the question if the Angel is in heaven
And I am still your own true love?
Asking again if the Angel still considers the singer as their true love
Just sweet sixteen, and now you're gone
Mourning the Angel's death at such a young age
They've taken you away
Realizing that the Angel is gone forever
I'll never kiss your lips again
Expressing the singer's pain of not being able to see the Angel again
They buried you today
Recalling the Angel's funeral
Teen angel, can you hear me?
Repeating the plea for a sign of presence from the Angel
Teen angel, can you see me?
Seeking proof that the Angel is indeed listening
Are you somewhere up above?
Repeating the question if the Angel is in heaven
And I am still your own true love?
Closing the song by asking if the Angel still loves the singer
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group
Written by: DION DI MUCCI, FREDERICK PATRICK, MURRAY SINGER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Sassyeditss
Im 18. My grandmother wanted to show me this song when I was 13.It’s a great song! I found this song and it made me cry. LOVE YOU GRANDMA!
@lynax6980
my grandma also showed this song to me. when i was realll little she’d sing this song to me before bed. she’s still alive but i miss seeing her as often as i used to
@wendyenglish5170
I am 72 years old and haven't heard this song in decades, but when I found it on you tube and played it, I STILL remembered all the words. "Those were the days my friend, I thought they'd never end", but they did and I'm thankful to be able to bring the music back from my growing up years and just let me wallow in the memories.
@johnsmith-rs2vk
So many golden oldies on youtube
@sewlady33
I'm 74 and I, too, remembered all the words. So many memories.
@dennislawless3563
Great memories
@facts9144
@@dennislawless3563 ur 19 tho
@dennislawless3563
@@facts9144 try 69
@dianneduncan6544
I will be 70 and I will never forget this song.
@petersongreg4090
Hi Dianne , how are you ?
I am sure you are still a teen angel