Back at school he never worked too hard
The prettiest girls and the fastest cars
He was the hero of our schoolyard
Almost everyday
If we ever felt misunderstood
We'd try on some of his attitude
We always knew from our neighborhood
He would slip away
I remember all those long lost days
When we would hear him say

Life is good and then you die
Don't ask questions, baby, don't ask why
I won't trade places with no other guy
Because life is good

Then came the day when he left town
Everybody was gathered round
He told us "I ain't slowing down
Until the highway ends"
So into the highway he did ride
With his arms in the air and a mighty cry
"Don't forget that James Dean died
For all of our sins"
I remembered as he rode away
We could hear him say

Life is good and then you die
Don't ask questions, baby, don't ask why
I won't trade places with no other guy
Because life is good

When we heard the news
We just couldn't believe it
Somewhere on a lonely highway
Late one night our dreams all slipped away

Years have passed but every now and then
We all wind up together again
And in the honor of our fallen friend
We just have to say

Life is good and then you die
Don't ask questions, baby, don't ask why
I won't trade places with no other guy
Because life is good
(repeat)

Life is good... I said life is good (repeat 'til end)