Story Behind The Song
Legendary songwriter David Olney inspired this in how he had recently died. He was performing in a songwriter round, stopped mid-song, said "I'm sorry" while holding his guitar and simply closed his eyes and passed away. Most of the songwriters we know thought that is the way to go when you have to go.
Song Description
It's a romantic notion to give it all for our art, especially to the point of dying while being involved with it. In this case, the subject is based on the very real David Olney, who did just that while in the middle of a song on stage in front of an audience. They say he just closed his eyes when it it was time to go.
| Song Length |
3:48 |
Genre |
Country - Americana, Folk - Americana |
| Tempo |
Slow (71 - 90) |
Lead Vocal |
Male Vocal |
| Mood |
Poignant, Serene |
Subject |
Musician, Road |
| Similar Artists |
Charles Esten |
Language |
English |
| Era |
2000 and later |
| |
Lyrics
DAVID OLNEY (DYIN' AIN'T SO BAD)
Sam Cooper, James Tristan Redding
Who ever thought of dyin' as romantic
Takin' one last breath up on the stage
I won't be teary eyed or tragic
When I say goodbye and drift away
Thank you all for comin' out to see me
I don't do this song much anymore
Just a few more notes and I'll be leavin'
Let 'em linger as I'm carried out the door
A legacy of all the words
I wrote and sang and spoke and heard
Underneath my Goorin Bros hat
One last strum across these strings
Lookin' back wouldn't change a thing
If you're livin' right then dyin' ain't so bad
Started out an hour south of Boston
Feels like forever since '82
Went from singin' with the X-Rays live in Austin
To writin' tunes for Townes and Emmylou
Regina with a sun dress in the front seat
A Guild and a Gibson in the back
Somewhere outside Bowlin' Green Kentucky
Scribbed every line to Big Cadillac
A legacy of all the words
I wrote and sang and spoke and heard
Underneath my Goorin Bros hat
One last strum across these strings
Lookin' back wouldn't change a thing
If you're livin' right then dyin' ain't so bad
Thank God I spent my days doin' as I pleased
Before I took the stage that night on Santa Rosa Beach
A legacy of all the words
I wrote and sang and spoke and heard
Underneath my Goorin Bros hat
One last strum across these strings
Lookin' back wouldn't change a thing
If you're livin' right then dyin' ain't so bad
If you're livin' right then dyin' ain't so bad