Only the Good Die Young
Billy Joel
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Come out Virginia, don't let 'em wait You Catholic girls start much too late Aw but sooner or later it comes down to faith Oh I might as well be the one Well, they showed you a statue, told you to pray They built you a temple and locked you away Aw, but they never told you the price that you pay For things that you might have done Only the good die young That's what I said Only the good die young Only the good die young You might have heard I run with a dangerous crowd We ain't too pretty we ain't too proud We might be laughing a bit too loud Aw but that never hurt no one So come on Virginia show me a sign Send up a signal and I'll throw you the line The stained-glass curtain you're hiding behind Never let's in the sun Darlin' only the good die young Woah I tell ya Only the good die young Only the good die young You got a nice white dress and a party on your confirmation You got a brand new soul Mmm, and a cross of gold But Virginia they didn't give you quite enough information You didn't count on me When you were counting on your rosary (Oh woah woah) They say there's a heaven for those who will wait Some say it's better but I say it ain't I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints The sinners are much more fun You know that only the good die young I tell ya Only the good die young Only the good die young Well your mother told you all that I could give you was a reputation Aw she never cared for me But did she ever say a prayer for me? oh woah woah Come out come out come out Virginia don't let 'em wait You Catholic girls start much too late Oh sooner or later it comes down to faith Oh I might as well be the one You know that only the good die young I'm telling you baby You know that only the good die young Only the good die young Only the good Only the good die young
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Written by: Billy Joel
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
12 facts about this song
ARTIST ORIGINATION"Only The Good Die Young" is a song by Billy Joel, an American singer-songwriter and pianist known for his rich pop-rock compositions.
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ALBUM SUCCESSThe song is from his fifth studio album "The Stranger," released in 1977. This album established Joel as a leading rock and roll artist.
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SONG INSPIRATIONThe song was reportedly inspired by a conversation Joel had with a girl he had a crush on - Virginia Ellen Callahan.
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RELIGIOUS CRITICISMAfter its release, the song was banned by religious organizations and even some radio stations due to its controversial lyrics suggesting a young girl should lose her virginity.
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RESILIENCE IN RESPONSE TO BANDespite the ban, Billy Joel performed the song live on a variety of platforms, which only boosted its popularity.
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CHART PERFORMANCE"Only The Good Die Young" peaked at No. 24 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking its success in the music industry.
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LYRICS EXPLORATIONJoel wrote the song from the perspective of a young man trying to convince a religious girl named Virginia that life should be lived to the fullest.
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GENRE CLASSIFICATIONThe song is typically classified as Rock, Pop Rock, Soft Rock.
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LENGTH OF SONGThe song has a runtime of approximately 3:54 minutes in the album.
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LIVE PERFORMANCES"Only The Good Die Young" has become a staple of Joel's live performances, demonstrating the lasting appeal of the song.
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CONSUMER RECEPTIONFans and critics alike have praised the song's catchy tune and controversial lyrics, considering it as one of Billy Joel's signature songs.
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ACCOLADESIn 2011, Rolling Stone magazine ranked "Only The Good Die Young" at number 99 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
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"Only the Good Die Young Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 10 Jun 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/17304534/Billy+Joel/Only+the+Good+Die+Young>.
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