Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers – I’m Not A Juvenile Delinquent

I like quite a few doo-wop songs of the 1950s. The song was written by George Goldner and it was featured on their 1956 album, The Teenagers Featuring Frankie Lymon. It peaked at #12 on the UK Singles Chart in 1957. The song was featured in the movie Rock, Rock, Rock.

Their big hit was Why Do Fools Fall In Love released in 1956. The group only lasted until 1957 when the manager kept pushing Lymon over the group and he started a solo career. He never reached the heights he did with the Teenagers.

I like concentrating on the music but this story has a sad ending.

They did reunite for a brief time in 1965 but the times had changed. They didn’t have much success so Lymon went back to a solo career. At age 15, he tried heroin for the first time in the mid-fifties. In 1966, he was arrested for heroin possession and was drafted into the Army instead of going to jail. He got off of heroin while in the army but kept going awol…he was dishonorably discharged from the army in 1967 and signed with Roulette Records in 1968.

He celebrated signing by using heroin for the first time in two years. Lymon had a sad ending to his life as he only lived to be 25 and died of a heroin overdose in February 1968. Another music business casualty. He was Michael Jackson before Michael Jackson.

Why Do Fools Fall In Love

I’m Not a Juvenile Delinquent

I’m not a juvenile delinquentNo-no-no-no-no-no-no-noNo-no-no-no-no-no-no-noNo-no-no, I’m not a juvenile delinquentDo the things that’s rightAnd you’ll do nothing wrongLife will be so nice, you’ll be in paradiseI know, because I’m not a juvenile delinquent

But listen boys and girlsYou need not be blueAnd life is what you make of itIt all depends on youI know, because I’m not a juvenile delinquent

It’s easy to be good, it’s hard to be badStay out of trouble, and you be gladTake this tip from me, and you will seeHow happy you will beOh-oh, boys and girls, this is my storyAnd I add all of my gloryI know, because I’m not a juvenile delinquent

It’s easy to be good, it’s hard to be badStay out of trouble, and you be gladTake this tip from me, and you will seeHow happy you will beOh-oh, boys and girls, this is my storyAnd I add all of my gloryI know, because I’m not a juvenile delinquent

No-no-no, I’m not a juvenile

…

Unknown's avatar

Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, Alternative music, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player. Not the slightest bit interested in politics at all.

19 thoughts on “Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers – I’m Not A Juvenile Delinquent”

  1. 15? wow. Maybe he was a juvenile delinquent actually. Seriously though, that’s pretty sad, he could have done so much more. One rock or pop trend that was a terrible one to start, the ones dying off from heroin ODs.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. He was a really talented guy…he was off of it for a year or so…but that is when many of them die…like Janis Joplin….their body is adjusted to life without it and they do their normal bit…and it’s too much then.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. plus, being a street drug , there’s no quality control. Who knows how pure or what strength it might be. It’d be a bit like buying illegal moonshine – maybe it’s like a lite beer at 4% alcohol, maybe its extra strong vodka at 60% … who knows? But at least with the moonshine you might have time to react accordingly. Once you shoot up that heroin, you’re taking your chances

        Liked by 1 person

    1. Yes it has Randy…it’s so sad…a few escaped it but from what I’ve heard people tell me…it’s harder than hard.

      Like

      Reply

  7. Great voice, and shame he had such a hard life. At least young stars are looked after a bit better today. While ‘Why Do Fools…’ is their true classic, I’ve always like this one. The lyrics are so square though! I’ve often thought they sound like a govt. propaganda campaign, using a pop song to make kids behave better

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  8. Never heard the 2nd song before. Can you imagine trying heroin that young? (Or at all really.) Then to kick it in the service, come back home, and go back to it? This young man needed wise advisors around him. I like the Why do fools…. [use heroin?] fall in love?” song; the group sings it just right and I can see him as MJ before MJ.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Yea I don’t think MJ did heroin but you got my drift. The really sad part as well…he had been off of it for a year or so and then did his regular fix…that has killed so many. From what I’ve read….you have to go back down again like you are a beginner.
      He probably only had a greedy manager…but I’m not sure.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

Leave a comment