Jan & Dean Dead Man's Curve Lyrics:
I was cruisin' in my Sting Ray [3] late one night,
When an XK-E [4] pulled up on the right.
He rolled down the window of his shiny new Jag,
And challenged me then and there to a drag.

I said "You're on buddy, my mill's running fine,
Let's come off the line now at Sunset and Vine. [1]
But I'll go you one better, if you've got the nerve,
Let's race all the way to Dead Man's Curve."

Dead Man's Curve is no place to play.
(Dead Man's Curve) Dead Man's Curve, you'd best keep away.
(Dead Man's Curve) Dead Man's Curve I can hear 'em say,
"Won't come back from Dead Man's Curve."

The street was deserted late Friday night.
We were buggin' each other while we sat out the light.
We both popped the clutch when the light turned green,
You shoulda heard the whine from my screamin' machine!

I flew past La Brea [1] , Schwab's [1] and Crescent Heights. [1]
And all the Jag could see were my six taillights.
He passed me at Doheny [1] then I started to swerve,
But I pulled her out and there we were at Dead Man's Curve.

)Dead Man's Curve is no place to play.
Dead Man's Curve...

[Sounds of skids and crashes.]

[Spoken:]
"Well, the last thing I remember, Doc, I started to swerve.
And then I saw the Jag slide into the curve.
[ Find more Lyrics on http://mp3lyrics.org/7yl ]
I know I'll never forget that horrible sight.
I guess I found out for myself that everyone was right.

[Sung:]
Won't come back from Dead Man's Curve.

(Dead Man's Curve) Dead Man's Curve is no place to play.
(Dead Man's Curve) Dead Man's Curve, You'd best keep away.
(Dead Man's Curve) Dead Man's Curve I can hear 'em say,
"Won't come back from Dead Man's Curve."

(Dead Man's Curve) Dead Man's Curve is no place to play.
(Dead Man's Curve) Dead Man's Curve, You'd best keep away.
(Dead Man's Curve) Dead Man's Curve I can hear 'em say,
"Won't come back from Dead Man's Curve."
[Fade.]

[DEAD MAN'S CURVE [1]
Written by: Jan Berry, Roger "Hot Dog Rog" Christian,
Artie Kornfeld & Brian Wilson Performed by:
Jan (Berry) & Dean (Torrence) [2] -1964
Albums: Dead Man's Curve/The New Girl in School-1964,
The Very Best of Jan & Dean-2005, Malt Shop Memories:
Top Down Convertible Sound (Various Artists)-2006 [2] , et al.

[1] This song's ill-fated drag race takes place along
L.A.'s famed Sunset Boulevard. "Vine," "La Brea,"
"Crescent Heights" and "Doheny" are cross streets;
"Schwab's" is the legendary drug-store-with-soda-fountain
where movie stars hung out (long since torn down; but
nicely depicted in the 1950 film "Sunset Boulevard").
Jan Berry's (of Jan & Dean) near-fatal car crash (April 1966)
ironically happened on Sunset Boulevard, but further west
than the locations mentioned in this song; near Whittier Drive in Beverly Hills.]

[2] Covered by: Jan Berry (solo), Dean Torrence (solo),
Nash the Slash, Jalopy Five, The Electric Eels, The Carpenters, et al.]

[3] The Corvette Sting Ray was manufactured by Chevrolet between 1963 and 1982.]

[4] The E-type or XK-E, was manufactured by Jaguar between 1963 and 1974.]
Lyrics: Dead Man's Curve, Jan & Dean [end]