Dene was arrested for public drunkenness and vandalism in 1958, and was used as an example of the 'evil of rock and roll' by the press. In 1958 he was conscripted into the Army for National service. He was discharged on psychological grounds after just two months, and, villified by the press, he found his career in ruins. He joined the Larry Parnes' stable of stars and appeared in a film, The Golden Disc, but faded from the music industry.
In the 1970s Dene turned to religion and became a street-singing evangelist, recording three albums of gospel music. He spent the early 1970s in Sweden.
Dene has attempted several comebacks. In 1974, he released a book and album, I Thought Terry Dene Was Dead, and began to perform with a rock band, the Dene Aces. He released an album, The Real Terry Dene, in 1997 .Despite the adverse publicity of his early career, the artist eventually became accepted by fans as one of Britain's most significant rock and roll pioneers. He has thus managed to carve out a career at nostalgia and revivalist concerts that would last him for many years
He was married in 1958 to, and subsequently divorced from, fellow pop singer, Edna Savage, who died in 2000 at the age of 64.
A White Sport Coat
Terry Dene Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
im all dressed up for the dance
a white sport coat and a pink carnation
im all alone in romance
once you told long ago
to the prom with me youยดd go
now you changed your mind it seems
someone else will hold my dreams
im in a blue, blue mood
(a white sport coat and a pink carnation)
im all dressed up for the dance
(a white sport coat and a pink carnation)
im all alone in romance
once you told me long ago
to the prom with me youยดd go
now you changed your mind it seems
someone else will hold my dreams
a white (a white) sport coat (sport coat) and a pink carnation
im in a blue, blue mood
im in a blue, blue mood
fin
The song A White Sport Coat by Terry Dene tells the story of a young man who is all dressed up for the dance, wearing a white sport coat and a pink carnation, but feeling lonely and heartbroken. He had asked someone he cared about to go to the prom with him, but she changed her mind and he now feels hopeless as he watches someone else hold his dreams. The white sport coat and pink carnation symbolize his efforts to impress his love interest and invest in the relationship, but now they are just reminders of his failed attempt at love. The repetition of the chorus and the lyrics "im in a blue, blue mood" emphasize the sense of sadness and disappointment that the singer feels.
The song was released in 1957 and became a hit in the UK, reaching the top ten in the charts. It was also covered by many other artists, including Marty Robbins, who had a bigger success with the song in the US. The lyrics and melody of A White Sport Coat capture the spirit of teenage romance and the emotional turmoil that often accompanies it. The song became a classic and was featured in several movies and TV shows. It has been considered one of the most significant examples of the rock and roll ballad.
Line by Line Meaning
a white sport coat and a pink carnation
I'm dressed in my finest clothes, hoping to impress my date with a white sport coat and a pink carnation.
im all dressed up for the dance
I'm ready and excited to attend the dance with my date, hoping to have a great time together.
im all alone in romance
Unfortunately, my date has changed their mind and left me alone, making me feel sad and lonely.
once you told long ago to the prom with me youยดd go
In the past, my date had promised to go to the prom with me and I was thrilled and excited about it.
now you changed your mind it seems someone else will hold my dreams
Unfortunately, my date has changed their mind, and left me feeling disappointed and heartbroken, as someone else now holds the dreams that I once had.
im in a blue, blue mood
Feeling sad and dejected, I find myself in a depressed and melancholy mood, longing for a brighter future.
Contributed by Lily O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ollyhob
i was 17 when this song first came out and i still love it xx
@DizzyCaj
I hope you fell in love with Marty Robbins' recording of this. This is awful!
@josephkane2852
This is another great single from 1957 as it is From Terry Dene a great song to dance to in 1957 a top single at that to
@JoeRivermanSongwriter
Terry used to come to the cafe in Victoria Station, London. A really great guy. Hope he's doing well.
@corsair919
Of all the rock revival shows I have seen Terry Dene was the best performer, he was about 53 then but looked much younger. He had a lot of success in Sweden.
@sandybruce9092
Marty Robbins did this song the best. Iโve never heard of Terry Dene - lived way out West in Arizona๐๐๐
@jennifercleaver4332
Ah, memories!
@markcomet
I grew up at my nans and he was a hero for my aunties I was three at the time
@trevorkeyes6067
a 1950s classic
@m771986
love this song thanks for putting it on :)