| As long as there has been human life on Planet | | | | as country western. Some of these were |
| Earth there has been music. Since all cultures in | | | | eulogies. For example, in 1964 The Beach Boys |
| the world have some form of music social | | | | recorded "A Young Man is Gone" in memory of |
| scientists have concluded that the first music was | | | | James Dean who had been killed in a car accident. |
| created in Africa, where they believe the human | | | | Much later, in 1994, Suede recorded "Daddy's |
| race originated, and spread throughout the world | | | | Speeding", another eulogy to Dean. Then in 1998, |
| as various groups migrated. Music is always | | | | Jill Johnson did "Karleken ar" in response to |
| influenced by the events that take place within a | | | | Princess Diana's death in a car accident in Paris. |
| cultural group and the groups' reaction to those | | | | "Objects In The Rear View Mirror May Appear |
| events. The emotions and philosophies expressed | | | | Closer Than They Are" (Meat Loaf) came about |
| in music and the manner in which musicians | | | | because the singer was devastated over the |
| convey them will change from one era to another | | | | death of a close, personal friend. "Glass In The |
| and from one locale to another. The musicians of | | | | Trees" by Dead Poetic is another song about a |
| the early 20th century in America sang about | | | | friend who was killed in a car accident. |
| cars and the changes this invention brought to | | | | Young people are always drawn to love themes |
| society. When wars happen, musicians sing about | | | | and car crash songs are no exception. Ray |
| wars. If tragedy strikes, that tragedy finds its | | | | Peterson's "Tell Laura I Love Her" is the love |
| way into music. And throughout history there | | | | story of Laura and Tommy. Tommy needs |
| have been tragedies that have caused | | | | $1,000 to buy Laura an engagement ring so he |
| disillusionment among the young. This | | | | enters a stock car race hoping to win the money. |
| disillusionment would find an outlet in music and | | | | Instead, he is killed. |
| some social revolt on the part of youth. One | | | | Another song, "Teen Angel" tells of a teen couple |
| example is the Roaring 20's. Young men returned | | | | whose car is stalled on the railroad tracks. The |
| from war, having learned through bitter | | | | boy runs back to the car for his school ring and is |
| experience, the difference between the idealistic | | | | struck down by an oncoming train. Country |
| glory expressed in 'Over There' and the gore of | | | | western joins the crash genre with Phantom 309, |
| Flanders Field. And thus began the social revolution | | | | by Red Sovine. A hitchhiker meets the ghost of a |
| of the Flapper Age. | | | | truck driver who died when he drove his semi |
| Again in the 1960's, youth were torn apart by the | | | | into a ditch to avoid a collision with a bus carrying |
| Vietnam conflict. So a tragedy culture evolved. At | | | | teenagers. |
| the same time automobile accidents were on the | | | | And some of the car crash songs relate to |
| increase and many of the youth's heroes, such as | | | | safety education. One example is "Airbag" by |
| Jimmy Dean died in these accidents. Consequently | | | | Radiohead wherein the lyrics state, "an airbag |
| a flurry of songs about car crashes became a | | | | saved my life. |
| popular theme both in pop and rock music as well | | | | |