The day the 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 sinking down, down, down Easier to take If he 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 3rd city And I'm on my 4th car And I'm on my 5th 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 going to jail And the old people On 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 sinking down, down, down Easier to take If he 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 3rd city And I'm on my 4th car And I'm on my 5th 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