“Only the Good Die Young”

Billy Joel

ALBUM: The Stranger

1977

CHART POSITION: Number 24 on U.S. Billboard Hot 100

Songwriter(s): Billy Joel

Come out Virginia, don’t let me wait

You Catholic girls start much too late

Aw, but sooner or later it comes down to fate

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

But they never told you the price that you pay

For things that you might have done

Only the good die young

[Chorus]

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

But that never hurt no one

So come on Virginia, show me a sign

Send up a signal, I’ll throw you the line

The stained-glass curtain you’re hiding behind

Never lets in the sun

Darling only the good die young

[Chorus]

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

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

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

[Chorus]

Only the good die young

Only the good die young

Said, 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?

Come out, Come out, Virginia, don’t let me wait

You Catholic girls start much too late

Aw, but sooner or later it comes down to fate

I might as well be the one

[Chorus]

You know that only the good die young

You know that only the good die young