Song written by Joe Allison, was recorded by Faron Young, on February 26, 1955, for the Capitol label, was released in March 1955, on October 22, 1955, reached # 1on the Billboard country music charts , for three weeks in a row. It would be the first number # 1 of Faron’s career.

Before being included on an album, I am part of an Ep of four songs, The Young Sheriff & His Country Deputies (Capitol 1955).

In 1959, it would be included in Faron Young’s fourth studio album, This Is Faron Young! (Capitol 1959). In 1985, he would record the song in duo with Willie Nelson, for the album, Funny How Time Slips Away (Columbia 1985).

To the composer Joy Allen, the idea came to him, watching a gangster movie, in one of the dialogues, the protagonist said a phrase, that inspired Joy, to write the song, ‘I want to die young and leave a good-looking corpse’, He gave the idea for the title: Live Fast, Love Hard, Die Young. He wrote the song, for writing it, without thinking about who could sing it, on a day of recording in Capitol, Joy sang it to Ken Nelson (producer of capitol), when I left it, I immediately thought that the song was ideal for Faron, Ken introduced it to Faron, Faron did not like anything, but Ken insisted, and finally Faron recorded it,and the result is part of the history of country music , the first number one of Faron Young’s career.

Some Versions:

Conway Twitty 1965 (Decca)
Nick Lowe & His Cowboy Outfit 1984 (F-Beat)
Eddie Cochran 1997 (Rockstar)
Mike Penny & His Moonshiners 2013 (Rhythm Bomb Records)

Faron Young – Live Fast, Love Hard, Die Young Lyrics

I wanna live fast, love hard, die young
And leave a beautiful memory
I wanna live fast, love hard, die young
And leave a beautiful memory

Don’t want slow walkin’ or sad singin’
Let ’em have a jubilee
I wanna leave a lot of happy women
A thinking pretty thoughts of me
I wanna live fast, love hard, die young
And leave a beautiful memory

I got a hot-rod car and a cowboy suit
And I really do get around
I got a little black book and the gals look cute
And I know the name of every spot in town

I wanna find ’em, fool ’em, leave ’em
And let ’em do the same to me
I wanna live fast, love hard, die young
And leave a beautiful memory

I wanna live fast, love hard, die young
And leave a beautiful memory
I’m a wampus cat, let me grab my hat
And baby come along with me

We’re gonna do some fancy stepping
We’re really goin’ on a spree
I wanna live fast, love hard, die young
And leave a beautiful memory

Now you may not approve of the things I do
But it really don’t bother me
But don’t ever think you can tie me down
I’m gonna stay footloose and fancy free

So jump back, make tracks, move out
And let the pretty gals at me
I wanna live fast, love hard, die young
And leave a beautiful memory…