If Only the Good Die Young
Max Stalling Lyrics
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Out west where it's wide open
When out in a hot plowed field
A dust-devil clicked his heels
And headed for the road
When we intersected
This little whirlwind and me
It sure shook me good
It reminded me of life
Chorus:
If only the good die young
I might live forever, I guess
Caught up on the wind
Around and round again
Just trying to do my best
I've been trying to go to church, some
But I keep getting intercepted
By the ball game on tv
Or a Zebco 303
Didn't Peter fish for men?
Chorus:
And if only the good die young
I might live forever, I guess
Casting all about
Trying to figure it all out
Just trying to do my best
There are thing that I have done
And I think I've learned my lessons
But I'd sure hate to get asked
To stand up in class
And explain to everyone
Chorus:
Why if only the good die young
I have lived forever
I'll be stuck here after school
Wondering what to do
Wondering where is everyone?
Chorus:
Ohhh, and if only the good die young
Well, we might live forever
It'll just be me and you
Stuck here in this pew
Wondering, Lord, what have we done?
Chorus:
If only the good die young
I might live forever, I guess
Caught up on the wind
Round and round again
Just trying to do my best
In "If Only the Good Die Young," Max Stalling reflects on life and mortality as he drives through a barren, open landscape. The song is marked by a sense of melancholy, but it is also tinged with humor and irony. The opening verse describes a chance encounter with a dust-devil - a swirling column of wind and dust - that reminds the singer of the fleeting and unpredictable nature of life. As the dust-devil crosses his car, he muses, "It reminded me of life."
The chorus of the song plays with the old adage that "only the good die young," turning it on its head: "If only the good die young / I might live forever, I guess." The singer seems to be suggesting that he is not particularly virtuous or worthy of an early death, but that he is also not entirely comfortable with the idea of living forever. He is simply "trying to do [his] best" in a world that can be difficult and unpredictable.
The second verse introduces a note of humor as the singer reflects on his attempts to attend church. He keeps getting "intercepted" by other distractions, like a baseball game on TV or a fishing reel. He imagines a Biblical anecdote in which Peter fishes for men, but seems to struggle with understanding what that might mean for his own life.
Throughout the song, Stalling meditates on the theme of mortality and what it means to live a good life. He acknowledges that he has made mistakes and had his share of regrets, but he does not seem entirely resigned to his fate. The repeated refrain of "just trying to do my best" suggests a resilience and determination to live a meaningful life, no matter how long or short it may be.
Line by Line Meaning
I was driving just last week
I recently drove out west
Out west where it's wide open
I was in a rural area
When out in a hot plowed field
In a field with fresh plowed dirt
A dust-devil clicked his heels
A small tornado was formed
And headed for the road
It moved towards the nearby road
When we intersected
It encountered me
This little whirlwind and me
I observed the tornado passing by
It sure shook me good
It frightened me
And as it blew cross my hood
It passed over the top of my vehicle
It reminded me of life
The experience caused me to contemplate on my life
If only the good die young
It seems that only the best people die young
I might live forever, I guess
I am not a particularly good person, so I may be here for a while
Caught up on the wind
Being carried away by the wind
Around and round again
Repeating the same cycles
Just trying to do my best
Attempting to always do one's best
I've been trying to go to church, some
I have attempted to go to church lately
But I keep getting intercepted
My plans are constantly interrupted
By the ball game on tv
I am distracted by watching sports on TV
Or a Zebco 303
Or by fishing equipment
Didn't Peter fish for men?
I recall a story about a disciple named Peter who was a fisherman
There are thing that I have done
I have made mistakes in my life
And I think I've learned my lessons
I believe I have gained wisdom from those mistakes
But I'd sure hate to get asked
However, I don't want to be questioned
To stand up in class
Or called out publicly
And explain to everyone
To describe my actions and thoughts to others
Why if only the good die young
Why only the best people appear to die at a young age
I have lived forever
I must not be a good person because I am still alive
I'll be stuck here after school
I may be stuck in this life for a long time
Wondering what to do
Contemplating my purpose in life
Wondering where is everyone?
Wondering why the good people aren't around
Well, we might live forever
Maybe we won't die young like the good people
It'll just be me and you
It might just be us living a long life
Stuck here in this pew
We might feel trapped in this situation
Wondering, Lord, what have we done?
Feeling guilty about our past actions and questioning ourselves
If only the good die young
Again, it seems like only the best people die young
I might live forever, I guess
I may have a long life ahead of me due to my actions
Caught up on the wind
Being carried away by life events
Round and round again
Repeating the same cycles in life
Just trying to do my best
Continuing to try and do one's best in life
Contributed by Alice D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.