Uploaded July 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
"All that's left is the Dark Below ... Tragedy"
I was writing a song about dying, when I noticed that everyone who writes or sings about death, dies ... and usually tragically.
Thomas Wayne Perkins was an American singer and the brother of Johnny Cash's guitarist, Luther Perkins. In the 1950s, he released several singles that failed to make a mark.
Finally in 1959, he became a one-hit wonder with the song "Tragedy" (credited to Thomas Wayne with the DeLons), which peaked at #20 on the R&B Singles chart and #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1959. It sold over one million copies, earning gold disc status.
In 1971, Perkins' life was tragically cut short when he drove his car across four lanes of traffic, over a median, and slammed into an oncoming car. He was 31.
Side Note: I quickly reworked the theme of my tune to be about returning home through space and time (totally not dying). I then dropped the lyrics and turned the melody into a guitar instrumental. That should be safe (youtu.be/1FuUKGrjEGY)!
"All that's left is the Dark Below ... Tragedy"
I was writing a song about dying, when I noticed that everyone who writes or sings about death, dies ... and usually tragically.
Thomas Wayne Perkins was an American singer and the brother of Johnny Cash's guitarist, Luther Perkins. In the 1950s, he released several singles that failed to make a mark.
Finally in 1959, he became a one-hit wonder with the song "Tragedy" (credited to Thomas Wayne with the DeLons), which peaked at #20 on the R&B Singles chart and #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1959. It sold over one million copies, earning gold disc status.
In 1971, Perkins' life was tragically cut short when he drove his car across four lanes of traffic, over a median, and slammed into an oncoming car. He was 31.
Side Note: I quickly reworked the theme of my tune to be about returning home through space and time (totally not dying). I then dropped the lyrics and turned the melody into a guitar instrumental. That should be safe (youtu.be/1FuUKGrjEGY)!
