Dene was discovered by record producer Jack Good at the 2i's Coffee Bar, th… Read Full Bio ↴Dene was discovered by record producer Jack Good at the 2i's Coffee Bar, the London club that helped launch Tommy Steele, Adam Faith and Cliff Richard. Good helped him obtain a recording contract with Decca. At the time he was one of the most promising rock and rollers of pre-Beatles Britain. Despite a regular spot on BBC Television's first pop show, Six-Five Special, and having his debut single "A White Sport Coat" make #18 on the UK Singles Chart in 1957, and then having another pair of Top 20 singles his knack for self destruction left his career in tatters.

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.

Shakin' All Over
Terry Dene Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

When you move in right up close to me
That's when I get the shakes all over me
Quivers down my back bone
I've got the shakes down the kneebone
Yeah havin' the tremors in the thighbone
Shakin' all over

Just the way you say goodnight to me

Brings that feeling on inside of me
Quivers down my back bone
I've got the quivers down the thighbone
Yeah the tremors in my back bone
Shakin' all over

Quivers down my back bone
Yeah I have the shakes in the kneebone
I've got the tremors in the back bone
Shakin' all over

Well, you make me shake and I like it, baby

Well, you make me shake and I like it, baby
Well, you make me shake and I like it, baby

Overall Meaning

Terry Dene's song "Shakin' All Over" describes the physical reaction the singer has when he is in close proximity to his love interest. He uses words like "quivers," "shakes," and "tremors" to describe the intense feelings that course through his body when she touches him, speaks to him, or is simply near him. The repetition of these words creates a sense of urgency and excitement that is reflective of the passionate emotions he is experiencing.

The lyrics are about more than just physical attraction though. The repetition of the word "bone" in the song suggests that the feelings the singer is experiencing are coming from deep within him. These physical reactions are not just skin-deep, but are truly part of who he is. The power of love and desire have overwhelmed him, and he cannot help but physically respond to them.

The repetition of the phrase "shakin' all over" throughout the song also emphasizes the all-consuming nature of the feelings being described. The singer is not just shaking in one place, but "all over," indicating that these emotions have taken over his entire being. His desire is so intense that it has become almost uncontrollable, and he is completely consumed by it.

Line by Line Meaning

When you move in right up close to me
Whenever you come close to me

That's when I get the shakes all over me
I get uncontrollable tremors all over my body

Quivers down my back bone
Trembling sensations running through my spine

I've got the shakes down the kneebone
Shaking sensations in my knee

Yeah havin' the tremors in the thighbone
Feeling trembles in my thigh

Shakin' all over
My whole being is shaking

Just the way you say goodnight to me
The way you bid me goodnight

Brings that feeling on inside of me
Stirs up a feeling within me

I've got the quivers down the thighbone
I have trembling sensations in my thigh

Yeah the tremors in my back bone
Yes, I feel the trembles in my spine

Shakin' all over
My whole being is shaking