The Undertones' song "What's With Terry?" tells the story of Terry, a young boy who wears glasses and struggles with his appearance. The song references popular English children's author Enid Blyton, whose books Terry enjoys reading, and the Secret Seven series specifically. While Terry's vision may be compromised, he compensates by reading under artificial lights. The lyrics highlight Terry's dissatisfaction with the local girls, perceiving them all to look the same through his glasses. The song then shifts to Terry receiving a Christmas present, hoping for a popular toy like a Johnny 7 or a cuddly toy. However, he is disappointed as no horn-rimmed glasses, which he deems suitable for a boy like him, are gifted to him. As the years pass, Terry continues to avoid wearing glasses, leading to a haze in his perception of reality. Even at sporting events, he shouts and claims to see goals that may not exist, like those scored by the famous footballer George Best. The song also mentions Terry's success in impersonating a character called Joe 90, but despite this, he is aware that he cannot compare to the attractiveness of Clark Gable, a Hollywood actor. Ultimately, the song suggests that the real issue lies not with Terry's glasses but with his self-perception of having a "horrible face." This revelation points to the underlying insecurity and struggle with self-confidence that Terry faces.
