Friday, January 09, 2009

Today's Song Mystery

This query from a reader:

I’m trying to find the name of a song, and it’s driving me crazy. I think it was from the 50’s or 60’s and it is about a teenager who was killed, I think in a car accident. He is watching the crash scene as they are covering his body, his parents are mourning his death, and he is saying he can’t be dead because he’s too young to die.

This sounds familiar to me too, but I'm thinking it is one of those poems you forward around the internet to 10 people within 2 minutes or you too will die a horrific death. I'm going to ask Kyle when I see him this afternoon... let's see if y'all can come up with it first.

9 comments:

Mary Ann said...

There is a song similar to what you are describing from the 60's called "Teen Angel". A young girl is killed in a car accident and he is trying to tell her how he feels. I don't remember the whole song. The words you describe sounds like a story they use every year around prom time and it is sent by MADD to high schools to promote safe driving.

Happy New Year, Joyce!

Mary Ann said...

There are two other songs from the 60's about teens dying in car crashes. One is "Last Kiss" (Where, oh where can my baby be) and "Tell Laura I Love Her" but they both have different scenarios than the one you describe.

Pam_ndl said...

The Grascals recorded a song with George Jones that sounds alot like this. I can't find the name because their website is under construction. It was on their second album I think.

sandi said...

It's almost sounds like Private Malone, or whatever it's called, but it's not. :)

Producer J. said...

I think they covered Don't Tell Mama I Was Drinkin'.

Maybe they're finally going to put up a picture of the Grascalette!

Paula said...

From the "reader"...

We had already come up with many of the songs everyone here has come up with. I'm beginning to think that you and Mary Ann may have hit the nail on the head, and my memory of this song is just a combination of all the dying teenager songs that I remember from that era and something I may have read online or in a forwarded email. In my Googling, I found one site that had a pretty huge list of this type of song - http://www.nyx.net/~anon52ea/DeadTeenSongs.html.

Thanks everyone.

Jennifer said...

first thing that came to mind was
also Last Kiss. it was remade in the 90's song gets in my head.

Producer J. said...

Here's the poem... I think Mary Ann is right, this is what I was thinking of.

I went to a party, Mom, I remembered what you said.
You told me not to drink, Mom, so I drank soda instead
I really felt proud inside, Mom, the way you said I would.
I didn't drink and drive, Mom, even though the others said I should.
I know I did the right thing, Mom, I know you are always right.

Now the party is finally ending
Mom, as everyone is driving out of sight.
As I got into my car, Mom, I knew I'd get home in one piece.
Because of the way you raised me, so responsible and sweet.
I started to drive away, Mom, but as I pulled out into the road,
the other car didn't see me, Mom, and hit me like a load.

As I lay there on the pavement, Mom, I hear the policeman say,
the other guy is drunk, Mom, and now I'm the one who will pay.
I'm lying here dying, Mom.. I wish you'd get here soon.
How could this happen to me, Mom? My life just burst like a balloon.
There is blood all around me, Mom, and most of it is mine.
I hear the medic say, Mom, I'll die in a short time.

I just wanted to tell you, Mom, I swear I didn't drink.
It was the others, Mom. The others didn't think.
He was probably at the same party as I.
The only difference is, he drank and I will die.
Why do people drink, Mom? It can ruin your whole life.
I'm feeling sharp pains now. Pains just like a knife.

The guy who hit me is walking, Mom, and I don't think it's fair.
I'm lying here dying and all he can do is stare.
Tell my brother not to cry, Mom. Tell Daddy to be brave.
And when I go to heaven, Mom, put "Daddy's Girl" on my grave.
Someone should have told him, Mom, not to drink and drive.

If only they had told him, Mom, I would still be alive.
My breath is getting shorter, Mom. I'm becoming very scared.
Please don't cry for me, Mom. When I needed you, you were always there.
I have one last question, Mom, before I say good bye.
I didn't drink and drive, so why am I the one to die?

Unknown said...

Oh my! I just got chills reading this poem! It hits really close to home for me because when I was 15 years old and a freshman in high school, my first boyfriend, also 15, was killed by a drunk driver over Mardi Gras when he was innocently on his way to pick up his little brother. I still think about this every once in a while all these years later.