"If the Good Die Young" is a song written by Craig Wiseman and Paul Nelson, and recorded by American country music artist Tracy Lawrence. It was released in January 1994 as the fourth and last single from his album Alibis. In April of that year, it became that album's fourth consecutive Number One hit, reaching the top spot on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart.

"If the Good Die Young"
Single by Tracy Lawrence
from the album Alibis
ReleasedJanuary 24, 1994
Recorded1992
GenreCountry
Length2:26
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)Craig Wiseman
Paul Nelson
Producer(s)James Stroud
Tracy Lawrence singles chronology
"My Second Home"
(1993)
"If the Good Die Young"
(1994)
"Renegades, Rebels and Rogues"
(1994)

Content edit

The song is an up-tempo accompanied by electric guitar. It describes a rebellious male character who claims that he will "live forever if the good die young".

Music video edit

The song's music video was filmed at Charlotte Motor Speedway and features footage of NASCAR drivers, including dedication to both Alan Kulwicki and Davey Allison who had been killed in off-track incidents in 1993.[1] Lawrence drove a Chevrolet Lumina with his name on it in the video.[2]

Chart positions edit

"If the Good Die Young" debuted at number 64 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of February 5, 1994.

Chart (1994) Peak
position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[3] 1
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[4] 1

Year-end charts edit

Chart (1994) Position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[5] 17
US Country Songs (Billboard)[6] 32

References edit

  1. ^ "Charlotte Racing History". NASCAR. 2008-10-08. Archived from the original on 2009-06-13. Retrieved 2008-10-14.
  2. ^ Burt, Bill (1994-04-12). "Tracy Lawrence's ride of a lifetime". Country Weekly. 1 (1): 48–49.
  3. ^ "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 2447." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. April 18, 1994. Retrieved August 4, 2013.
  4. ^ "Tracy Lawrence Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  5. ^ "RPM Top 100 Country Tracks of 1994". RPM. December 12, 1994. Retrieved August 4, 2013.
  6. ^ "Best of 1994: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 1994. Retrieved August 4, 2013.