Adagio for Strings & Only The Good Die Young

I sometimes have the experience that after I have learned about something interesting for the first time, I see/hear it again repeatedly over the next few days in the most unusual places. A few days ago, a friend of mine told me that 'Adagio for Strings' had been ranked as the saddest piece of classical music by the BBC's Today program. (While many may be unfamiliar with the title of the piece, rest assured you have all heard it in the TV broadcasting of a funeral or a particularly touching part of a war film) I later discovered that this pathos-inspired 'vote' had been conducted in 2004. Then, just the day after I saw a friend post a link to Tiesto's remix of 'Adagio for Strings' on Facebook! It might not be the most incredible of coincidences, given the popularity of both versions, but it is an example of how once you become particularly aware of something you start seeing it everywhere.

Another example was the song "Only the Good Die Young", which I heard some people talking about the other day. I was surprised, that as a Billy Joel fan, I had not heard it before but after looking it up on You Tube I must say that it now goes right up there with my favourites of his, "Piano Man" and "We Didn't Start the Fire". The song may be about a young man trying to encourage a Catholic girl to lose her virginity but some of the lyrics are incredibly evocative of Christian imagery (e.g. 'crying with Saints', 'stained-glass curtain' and 'built you a temple and locked you away') So much so that its strength of imagery is almost comparable to Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah". It's surprising for a song that is essentially light-hearted and has such a jaunty tempo; but then again people have started using it as an anti-war anthem and such...

Only the Good Die Young

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
Aw, but they never told you the price that you pay
For things that you might have done.....
Only the good die young
thats what i said
only the good die young x2

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
aw But that never hurt no one

So come on Virginia show me a sign
Send up a signal and I'll throw you the line
The stained-glass curtain you're hiding behind
(you know)
Never lets in the sun
darlin only the good die young
woah
i tell ya
only the good die young x2

You got a nice white dress and a party on your confirmation
You got a brand new soul
mmmm, 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
(oh woah woah)

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
thats what i said
i tell ya
only the good die young, X2


well your mother told you all that I could give you was a reputation
Aww She never cared for me
But did she ever say a prayer for me? oh woah woah

Come out come out come out virgina dont let me wait,
You Catholic girls start much too late
Sooner or later it comes down to fate
I might as well be the one,
You know that only the good die young

I'm telling you baby
You know that only the good die young
Only the good die young
Only the gooooooooooooooood
Only the good die young
Only the gooooooooooooooood
Only the good die young
Ooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooo oooooooooo...

(Only the good die young)x2

- Billy Joel

Coventry

09.10.10