Released January 6, 1958 Genre Country Label Sun | Recorded 1957 Length 2:13 Writer(s) Jack Clement | |
"Ballad of a Teenage Queen" is a song written by Jack Clement and recorded by Johnny Cash for his 1958 album Sings the Songs That Made Him Famous. The song hit number one on the US Country charts and number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song is 2 minutes and 13 seconds long.
Contents
Content
The song tells the story of a "small town girl" (the prettiest they've ever seen) who loved the boy next door (who worked at the candy store). She was taken to Hollywood by a movie scout where she became famous, leaving the boy. Eventually she sold all her fame to go back to the boy from the candy store because amid it all she was unhappy without him.
Re-recording
During his brief stint with Mercury Records, Cash re-recorded the song in 1987 featuring guest vocals by his daughter, Rosanne Cash and The Everly Brothers. This version was first released on the 1988 duets album Water from the Wells of Home and is one of only a handful of recordings of Cash performing with his daughter to be released.