If I Die Young - wikipedia If I Die Young This article is about a song. For the non-profit organization, see If I Die Young ( organization ). `` If I Die Young '' Single by The Band Perry from the album The Band Perry Released June 8, 2010 Format Digital download Genre Country pop Length 3 : 43 Label Republic Nashville Songwriter ( s ) Kimberly Perry Producer ( s ) Nathan Chapman Paul Worley The Band Perry singles chronology `` Hip to My Heart '' ( 2009 ) `` If I Die Young '' ( 2010 ) `` You Lie '' ( 2011 ) `` Hip to My Heart '' ( 2009 ) `` If I Die Young '' ( 2010 ) `` You Lie '' ( 2011 ) Alternate cover Music video `` If I Die Young '' at CMT.com `` If I Die Young '' is a song written by Kimberly Perry, and recorded by American country music group The Band Perry. It was released on June 8, 2010 as the second single from the group 's self - titled debut album, which was released on October 12, 2010. Contents 1 Content 2 Reception 2.1 Critical 2.2 Commercial 3 Music video 4 In popular culture 5 Charts and certifications 5.1 Weekly charts 5.2 Year - end charts 6 Certifications and sales 7 Awards and nominations 8 Release history 9 See also 10 References Content `` If I Die Young '' is a mid-tempo tune accompanied by acoustic guitar, banjo, accordion, mandolin, fiddle, electric bass, and drums. It is in the key of E Major. The song is about the sadness of dying young ( `` The sharp knife of a short life '' ) as the narrator describes how she never really got to experience love and worrying about how her loved ones will miss her and deal with the loss. She recognizes that once someone passes away, others seem to pay more attention to that person 's life : `` And maybe then you 'll hear the words I been singin ' / Funny when you 're dead how people start listenin '. '' She states that if she dies young, then her family left behind should `` save their tears '' for a time when `` they 're really gon na need them. '' She states that she has had a well - lived life in the line `` Well, I 've had just enough time. '' Reception The Band Perry received at least one letter in response to the song. In its envelope, the members also found a necklace with a ring on it. The letter 's author was a young girl who had recently lost her best friend to cancer. Mourning her friend 's death, the girl was contemplating suicide. Driving from work one day, she heard `` If I Die Young '' on the radio. Hearing `` so much life in the song '', the girl changed her mind. In her letter to The Band Perry, she wrote about the necklace : `` I 'm sending this to you, because it 's the most important thing I own. This song literally saved my life. '' Critical Bobby Peacock of Roughstock spoke positively of the lyrics, saying that they were `` very well - developed with interesting little details. '' He felt that, although the topic is `` a little sugarcoated '', the vocal performance is a `` pleasant listening experience ''. Commercial `` If I Die Young '' debuted at number 57 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the week of May 29, 2010. It also debuted at number 92 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for the week of July 24, 2010. In October 2010, it became the group 's first top 10 single on the Hot Country Songs chart as well as their first top 20 on the Hot 100 chart. The song became their first number one hit on the Hot Country Songs chart for the week of December 11, 2010. In early 2011, the song was remixed by Matt Ward and Dean Gillard for pop radio. The remix debuted at number 36 on the U.S. Billboard Pop Songs chart and number 29 on the U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary chart for the week of June 11, 2011. With the remix impacting pop radio, the song re-entered the Hot 100 chart at number 46 for the week of June 25, 2011. It has since reached a new peak of number 14. In May 2011, the song sold over 2 million copies, the eleventh country music song to do so, and only the fourth time that a band reached this plateau, following Lady Antebellum, Zac Brown Band and Rascal Flatts. At the time, `` If I Die Young '' song was the highest - selling single to miss the top ten, and as of August 24, 2015, `` If I Die Young '' surpassed 5 million downloads. In July 2011, the song reached the top 15 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart in its thirty - fifth chart week, making it the slowest climb into the top 15. It broke the slowest climb record that was previously held by Carrie Underwood 's `` Before He Cheats '', and Taylor Swift 's `` Teardrops on My Guitar ''. Both songs took thirty - three weeks to reach the top 15. The song spent 53 weeks on Billboard Hot 100 chart and is their best - selling single to date. Music video The music video, which was directed by David McClister, premiered on CMT on May 27, 2010. In the video, the band is shown setting Kimberly Perry in a canoe before pushing it off into the river. Perry is holding a book containing poems by Tennyson, including The Lady of Shalott, which the book is opened to at the end of the music video. The video echoes a scene in Anne of Green Gables in which Anne attempts to appear as the Lady of the poem. Kimberly 's mother and her love interest ( played by Kyle Kupecky ) are shown plucking flower petals and visibly depressed that she has left them. Eventually, her canoe begins to take on water, she sits up. Once this occurs her brothers come back for her. When she gets back to her house, her mother and love interest embrace her. The video was filmed on location at Two Rivers Mansion outside of Nashville, Tennessee. Throughout the video, the band is also shown performing with their instruments inside of the house. In popular culture In 2013, Naya Rivera performed the song as her character Santana Lopez in the fifth season tribute episode `` The Quarterback '' of the television series Glee, in honor of Cory Monteith, who played character Finn Hudson on the show. The song peaked at number eighty - eight on the UK Singles Chart. Charts and certifications Weekly charts Chart ( 2010 -- 12 ) Peak position Canada ( Canadian Hot 100 ) 48 Canada AC ( Billboard ) 14 Canada Country ( Billboard ) 8 Canada CHR / Top 40 ( Billboard ) 48 Canada Hot AC ( Billboard ) 26 Ireland ( IRMA ) 37 South Korea International Singles ( Gaon ) 16 UK Singles ( Official Charts Company ) 82 US Billboard Hot 100 14 US Adult Contemporary ( Billboard ) US Adult Top 40 ( Billboard ) US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) US Mainstream Top 40 ( Billboard ) 12 Year - end charts Chart ( 2010 ) Position US Billboard Hot 100 92 US Country Songs ( Billboard ) 37 Chart ( 2011 ) Position US Billboard Hot 100 35 US Country Songs ( Billboard ) 82 US Pop Songs ( Billboard ) 49 US Adult Contemporary ( Billboard ) 13 US Adult Pop Songs ( Billboard ) 22 Certifications and sales Region Certification Certified units / Sales Canada ( Music Canada ) Platinum 80,000 United States ( RIAA ) 6 × Platinum 5,000,000 shipments figures based on certification alone Preceded by `` Anything Like Me '' by Brad Paisley Billboard Hot Country Songs number - one single December 11, 2010 Succeeded by `` Why Wait '' by Rascal Flatts Awards and nominations Year Association Result 2011 53rd Grammy Awards Best Country Song -- `` If I Die Young '' Nominated Academy of Country Music Awards Single Record of the Year -- `` If I Die Young '' Nominated Song of the Year -- `` If I Die Young '' Nominated 2011 Billboard Music Awards Top Country Song -- `` If I Die Young '' Nominated CMT Music Awards Video of the Year -- `` If I Die Young '' Nominated Group Video of the Year -- `` If I Die Young '' Nominated USA Weekend Breakthrough Video of the Year -- `` If I Die Young '' Won Teen Choice Awards Choice Music : Country Single -- `` If I Die Young '' Nominated Inspirational Country Music Awards Inspirational Video -- `` If I Die Young '' Nominated Country Music Association Awards Single of the Year -- `` If I Die Young '' Won Song of the Year -- `` If I Die Young '' Won Music Video of the Year -- `` If I Die Young '' Nominated Release history Date Country Format June 8, 2010 United States Country radio May 24, 2011 Mainstream radio February 24, 2012 United Kingdom Digital download See also List of number - one country singles of 2010 ( U.S. ) List of number - one adult contemporary singles of 2011 ( U.S. ) References Jump up ^ Tom Roland ( September 9, 2010 ). `` The Band Perry Gets `` Young '' Memento ``. GAC. Retrieved January 11, 2011. Jump up ^ Josh Armstrong ( October 7, 2010 ). `` The Band Perry debuts self - titled album ''. KnowTheArtist.com. Archived from the original on February 7, 2012. Retrieved January 11, 2011. Jump up ^ Bobby Peacock ( May 23, 2010 ). `` The Band Perry - `` If I Die Young '' ``. Roughstock. Retrieved October 22, 2010. Jump up ^ `` Adele ' Rolling ' Along Atop Hot 100, Jason Aldean & Nicki Minaj Reach Top 10 ''. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 15, 2011. Jump up ^ Grein, Paul ( July 27, 2011 ). `` Week Ending July 17, 2011. Songs : Bad Meets Bruno ''. Yahoo ! Music. Yahoo ! Inc. Retrieved July 27, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Week Ending May 29, 2011. Songs : He Was In It To Win It ''. new.music.yahoo.com. June 1, 2011. Retrieved June 2, 2011. Jump up ^ Grein, Paul ( October 16, 2013 ). `` Week Ending Oct. 13, 2013. Songs : A New # 1 ( For The Year ) ''. Chart Watch. Retrieved October 16, 2013. ^ Jump up to : Roughstock. `` Top 30 Digital Country Singles chart for August 24, 2015 RoughStock ''. Retrieved 2015 - 09 - 08. Jump up ^ `` The Band Perry sets a mark for slowness ''. Country Standard Time. July 28, 2011. Retrieved July 31, 2011. Jump up ^ `` CMT : Videos : If I Die Young ''. Country Music Television. Retrieved October 22, 2010. Jump up ^ `` Official Singles Chart UK Top 100 - 26th October 2013 ''. Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on October 20, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The Band Perry Chart History ( Canadian Hot 100 ) ''. Billboard. Retrieved January 29, 2011. Jump up ^ `` The Band Perry Chart History ( Canada AC ) ''. Billboard. Retrieved February 13, 2018. Jump up ^ `` The Band Perry Chart History ( Canada Country ) ''. Billboard. Retrieved February 13, 2018. Jump up ^ `` The Band Perry Chart History ( Canada CHR / Top 40 ) ''. Billboard. Retrieved February 13, 2018. Jump up ^ `` The Band Perry Chart History ( Canada Hot AC ) ''. Billboard. Retrieved February 13, 2018. Jump up ^ `` Chart Track : Week 13, 2012 ''. Irish Singles Chart. Jump up ^ `` South Korea Gaon International Chart ( Week : January 29, 2012 to February 04, 2012 ) ''. Gaon Chart. December 15, 2012. Archived from the original on December 19, 2012. Retrieved December 21, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Official Singles Chart Top 100 ''. Official Charts Company. Jump up ^ `` The Band Perry Chart History ( Hot 100 ) ''. Billboard. Retrieved July 27, 2011. Jump up ^ `` The Band Perry Chart History ( Adult Contemporary ) ''. Billboard. Retrieved May 30, 2011. Jump up ^ `` The Band Perry Chart History ( Adult Pop Songs ) ''. Billboard. Retrieved June 16, 2011. Jump up ^ `` The Band Perry Chart History ( Hot Country Songs ) ''. Billboard. Retrieved January 29, 2011. Jump up ^ `` The Band Perry Chart History ( Pop Songs ) ''. Billboard. Retrieved May 30, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Best of 2010 : Hot 100 Songs ''. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2010. Retrieved January 10, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Best of 2010 : Country Songs ''. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2010. Retrieved January 10, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Best of 2011 : Hot 100 Songs ''. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2011. Retrieved 2011 - 12 - 09. Jump up ^ `` Best of 2011 : Country Songs ''. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2011. Retrieved December 10, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Best of 2011 : Pop Songs ''. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2011. Retrieved January 10, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Best of 2011 : Adult Contemporary Songs ''. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2011. Retrieved January 10, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Best of 2011 : Adult Pop Songs ''. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2011. Retrieved January 10, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Canadian single certifications -- The Band Perry -- If I Die Young ''. Music Canada. Jump up ^ `` American single certifications -- The Band Perry -- If I Die Young ''. Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH Jump up ^ `` 2011 Grammy Nominations : Eminem Leads The Pack ''. MTV. 2 December 2010. Retrieved December 2, 2010. ^ Jump up to : `` Miranda Lambert, Kenny Chesney lead ACM Award Nominations ''. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved February 2, 2011. Jump up ^ `` 2011 Billboard Music Awards Winners ''. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 2, 2011. ^ Jump up to : `` It 's Jason Aldean 's Kinda Party : Leads CMT Music Awards Nominations ''. Roughstock. Archived from the original on September 19, 2012. Retrieved May 1, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Teen Choice Award Nominees Named ''. Teen Hollywood. Retrieved July 1, 2011. Jump up ^ `` 2011 Inspirational Country Music Awards Winners Announced ''. A Taste of Country. Oct 31, 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2013. ^ Jump up to : `` CMT : News : Four Artists Tied as Top CMA Nominees ''. Country Music Television. Retrieved September 6, 2011. The Band Perry Kimberly Perry Neil Perry Reid Perry Studio albums The Band Perry ( 2010 ) Pioneer ( 2013 ) Extended plays The Band Perry ( 2010 ) Singles `` Hip to My Heart '' `` If I Die Young '' `` You Lie '' `` All Your Life '' `` Postcard from Paris '' `` Better Dig Two '' `` Done '' `` Do n't Let Me Be Lonely '' `` Chainsaw '' `` Gentle on My Mind '' `` Live Forever '' `` Comeback Kid '' `` Stay in the Dark '' Concert tours We Are Pioneers World Tour ( 2013 -- 2014 ) Related articles Discography Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=If_I_Die_Young&oldid=825529553 '' Categories : 2010s ballads 2010 singles 2010 songs The Band Perry songs Country ballads Billboard Hot Country Songs number - one singles Song recordings produced by Paul Worley Song recordings produced by Nathan Chapman ( record producer ) Republic Records singles Billboard Adult Contemporary number - one singles Republic Nashville singles Pop ballads Songs about death Songs about suicide Hidden categories : Articles which use infobox templates with no data rows Music infoboxes with deprecated parameters Articles with hAudio microformats Singlechart usages for Billboardcanadianhot100 Singlechart called without song Singlechart usages for Billboardcanadaac Singlechart usages for Billboardcanadacountry Singlechart usages for Billboardcanadachrtop40 Singlechart usages for Billboardcanadahotac Singlechart usages for Ireland Singlechart called without artist Singlechart usages for UK Singlechart usages for Billboardhot100 Singlechart usages for Billboardadultcontemporary Singlechart usages for Billboardadultpopsongs Singlechart usages for Billboardcountrysongs Singlechart usages for Billboardpopsongs Certification Table Entry usages for Canada Certification Table Entry usages for United States Talk Contents About Wikipedia Español Italiano Português Русский Tiếng Việt Edit links This page was last edited on 13 February 2018, at 22 : 35. 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Question: if i die young what is the song about
Answer: the sadness of dying young