This song seems particularly appropriate for today, Will’s 50th birthday. Though I have not heard from him in a couple of years, I believe he is out there now, still writing, always & forever “too old to die young.”
Norma Jean was like a queen,
High on the silver screen,
But she loved a bit too much
And died in bloom.
Now my love’s a looker, too,
Standing behind all I do,
May we love just enough
For bride and groom.
Lord, I pray to live on
Knowing beauty I’m among,
And rock & roll till
I’m too old to die young.
The songs were sung,
The hits were strong,
Buddy Holly came along
Like a shooting star across the Lubbock sky.
But the living was too fast,
Like a plane down, ash at last,
Now the guitars hang
Like teardrops caught and dried.
Lord, I pray to live on
Knowing beauty I’m among,
And rock & roll till
I’m too old to die young.
Till I’m too old to die young,
All my songs have been sung,
And the circles of my life are out of season.
May the bells of time be rung
Till I’m too old to die young
And the harvesting of death has holy reasons.
It’s mighty nice, the sacrifice
Of Jesus Christ and good advice
If he wants to die for me
So that I’ll live.
Then, that’s all right with me, I guess,
The Lord above could not confess
A waste on the books
He must forgive.
Lord, I pray to live on
Knowing beauty I’m among,
And rock & roll till
I’m too old to die young.
repeat chorus
Happy Birthday, Will, wherever you are!
Buller's back porch 