Dead Teens & Halloweens

in the early sixties, there was a trend of doo-wop type tragedy songs about dead teenagers.
Gradually, they grew more and more into novelty and psychobilly type songs.

Teen Angel,
Tell Laura I Love Her,
Car Crash,
Leader of the Pack ( The Sangri-Las!!!! ) ,
Last Kiss,

and of course, "I want my baby back" by Jimmy Cross......

I don’t hardly know where to begin.
I remember we were cruising home from the Beatles concert. I’d had such a wonderful evening, sitting there watching my baby screaming, and tearing her hair out, and carrying on. She was so full of life. Then, (dramatic pause)

well, we were about three miles from home when all of a sudden it started to rain. And I do mean rain. I couldn’t hardly see nothing. Well, we kept driving for about another mile when all of a sudden I see this stalled car right smack in front of me. Well, I wasn’t about to slam on the brakes ‘cause I didn’t have none to start with. So I swerved to the left. And what do I see—some mushhead on a motor sickle headin’ right at us.
And I knew at last me and my baby were about to meet the leader of the…
[Crash sounds]

…pack

Well, when I come to, I looked around
And there was the leader
And there was the pack
And over there was my baby
And over there was my baby
And wa-ay over there was my baby

It’s been many months now since that fateful night. And you know something, I’ve tried. Believe me, I have tried. But I just can’t make without my baby. So I’ve decided I’m going to have her back one way or another. Oh, baby, I dig you so much. Hot dang, pay dirt.