Only the Good Die Young

Only the Good Die Young Lyrics © 2026 MSW. All rights reserved. [Verse 1] They laid Kelly in the cold red clay Thirty-two years and he worked every day Never raised hell, never crossed the line Lord knows he lived better than this life of mine Mama used to say when the church bells rung Son, only the good die young Well I’ve watched the angels leave one by one And I’m still here beneath this sun [Chorus] They say only the good die young So what does that make me now Still breathin’ smoke, still chasin’ ghosts Still wearin’ sin somehow If heaven calls the best away And leaves the lost undone Maybe that’s why I’m still standin’ here While only the good die young [Verse 2] Saw a preacher’s son with a heart of gold Taken too fast before he got old And my friend Ron with his un-worn hands Gone before he got to make his plans I’ve buried friends and I’ve buried dreams Watched life tear apart at the seams And every grave just makes me think Why them... and why not me? [Bridge] Maybe grace ain’t measured by the years Maybe pain just keeps us here Or maybe I’m too damn hard to break For heaven’s gates to take [Chorus] They say only the good die young So what does that make me now Still breathin’ smoke, still chasin’ ghosts Still wearin’ sin somehow If heaven calls the best away And leaves the lost undone Maybe that’s why I’m still standin’ here While only the good die young [Outro] Only the good die young But I'm still here beneath this sun