Album: The Undertones (1978)

Charted: 31

License This Song 

• A teenage dream's so hard to beat
  Every time she walks down the street
  Another girl in the neighbourhood
  Wish she was mine, she looks so good
  
  I wanna hold her, wanna hold her tight
  Get teenage kicks right through the night
  
  I'm gonna call her on the telephone
  Have her over 'cause I'm all alone
  I need excitement, oh, I need it bad
  And it's the best I've ever had
  
  I wanna hold her, wanna hold her tight
  Get teenage kicks right through the night, alright
  
  A teenage dream's so hard to beat
  Every time she walks down the street
  Another girl in the neighbourhood
  Wish she was mine, she looks so good
  
  I wanna hold her, wanna hold her tight
  Get teenage kicks right through the night
  
  I'm gonna call her on the telephone
  Have her over 'cause I'm all alone
  I need excitement, oh, I need it bad
  And it's the best I've ever had
  
  I wanna hold her, wanna hold her tight
  Get teenage kicks right through the night, alright
  
  I wanna hold her, wanna hold her tight
  Get teenage kicks right through the night, alright Writer/s: John Joseph O'Neill
  Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 6

• Jon from SomersetHopefully Ian can answer this for me ? When I was driving around London probably 10 years or so ago I was listening to a well know London DJ and I am sure he maybe had a guest in saying there was a different / extra or maybe a new verse for Teenage Kicks ? Is this correct or did I imagine it :) Cheers.
• Gary from HantsI heard John Peel say in an interview one time that he was at home sorting through some records when he got a call from someone from a music paper asking him what his favourite record was and just happened to have Teenage Kicks in his hand at the time .
• Alistair from Daventry, United KingdomNo one has quite said it openly but as the comments about John Peel's admiration for the song indicate, he did actually say late into his life that this was his favourite song ever. Quite a commendation and also quite a surprise given his incredibly wide-ranging knowledge and his many years of championing the less commercial sounds on his long-lived radio programme.
• Andy from London, United KingdomIan,
  Your comment is nonsense. You probably read it in the Independent On Sunday who printed this rubbish at the weekend. The lyrics were never ever changed and John O'Neill who wrote the song would not write about masturbation. How do I know? I've looked after The Undertones affairs for the past 31 years.........
• Lewys from Mold, WalesI very much doubt that, listen to the verses, you can't say that is about masturbation
• Ian from Bristol, EnglandApparently a song about masturbation. The original lyrics were : "I wanna hold IT wanna hold IT tight, Get teenage kicks right through the night".

More Songfacts:

Why Should I Love You?Kate Bush

The Kate Bush song "Why Should I Love You?" is a collaboration with Prince. He completely re-worked her demo, so Bush spent a lot of time piecing it back together to keep her imprint.

Silver SpringsFleetwood Mac

Stevie Nicks got the title for the Fleetwood Mac song "Silver Springs" from the city of Silver Spring, Maryland, but the song has nothing to do with the city - it's a message to her bandmate Lindsey Buckingham following their split.

Smuggler's BluesGlenn Frey

Glenn Frey of the Eagles played a bad guy in a 1985 episode of Miami Vice based on his song "Smuggler's Blues."

Six Months In A Leaky BoatSplit Enz

The Split Enz song "Six Months In A Leaky Boat" is about the journey explorers made from Europe to colonize Australia and New Zealand, where the band is from.

Good TimesChic

The disco song "Good Tmes" by Chic was a huge influence on early rap, providing the bassline for "Rapper's Delight."

SOSRihanna

A section of verse lyrics in Rihanna's "SOS" is made up of titles from '80s hits - check out the part that starts, "Take me on, I could just die up in your arms tonight."

Editor's Picks

Mick Jones of ForeignerSongwriter Interviews

Foreigner's songwriter/guitarist tells the stories behind the songs "Juke Box Hero," "I Want To Know What Love Is," and many more.

Rick SpringfieldSongwriter Interviews

Rick has a surprising dark side, a strong feminine side and, in a certain TV show, a naked backside. But he still hasn't found Jessie's Girl.

Ian Astbury of The CultSongwriter Interviews

The Cult frontman tells who the "Fire Woman" is, and talks about performing with the new version of The Doors.

David Paich of TotoSongwriter Interviews

Toto's keyboard player explains the true meaning of "Africa" and talks about working on the Thriller album.

Chris Squire of YesSongwriter Interviews

One of the most dynamic bass player/songwriters of his time, Chris is the only member of Yes who has been with the band since they formed in 1968.

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17Songwriter Interviews

Martyn talks about producing Tina Turner, some Heaven 17 hits, and his work with the British Electric Foundation.