The day that Elvis died was like a mercy killing
America breathed a sigh of relief
We knew all about the drugs and the Vegas shows
And there wasn't much of anything that looked like grief
And I guess he shoulda done like James Dean did
'Stead of putting on weight and sinkin' down, down, down
Easier to take, if he'd of just skidded straight
To souvenir city and T-shirt town
And sometimes I wish, I was smarter that I am
But I'm on my third city and I'm on my fourth car
And I'm on my fifth apartment and so many of my days have sprung
And now it's too late to crash, too late to burn, too late to die young
If Pete Rose had exploded like Roberto Clemente
He'd be hanging in the Hall of Fame without fail
Can you name the last good film Marlon Brando made
While trying to keep his kid from goin' to jail?
And the old people in the street are telling you
Don't become like me but every day you creep a little bit closer
And I guess we shoulda done like James Dean did
'Stead of putting on weight and sinkin' down, down, down
Easier to take if we'd of had just skidded straight
To souvenir city and T-shirt town
And sometimes I wish, I was smarter that I am
But I'm on my third city and I'm on my fourth car
And I'm on my fifth apartment and so many of my days have sprung
And now it's too late to crash, too late to burn, too late to die
Now it's too late to crash, too late to burn, too late to die young