Greil Marcus disse uns anos atrás que Dead man´s curve é, para ele, a melhor música pop já feita. Citava, para justificar a afirmação, o desencontro geral que é a canção: a letra trágica unida à melodia alegre e o vocal definitivamente melancólico. Foi um turning point no rock´n´roll, cujas letras até 1965, quando foi gravada, em geral eram festivas ou inocentes.

Some-se a isso o fato de Jan Berry, da dupla Jan & Dean, que gravou Dead man´s curve, ter morrido de um acidente de carro um ano depois.

Para Marcus, com o passar dos anos a imagem foi ficando cada vez mais trágica. Uma corrida de carro por Los Angeles que inclui a passagem pela Schwab’s, a drugstore que aparece no filme Crepúsculo dos Deuses. Por fim, a morte.

É mesmo desconcertante.

I was cruisin’ in my Stingray late one night,
When an XKE 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
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) you’d best keep away
(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, Schwab’s and Crescent Heights,
And all the Jag could see were my six taillights
He passed me at Doheny 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
I know I’ll never forget that horrible sight,
I guess I found out for myself that everyone was right”
Won’t come back from Dead Man’s Curve…

(Dead Man’s Curve) is no place to play
(Dead Man’s Curve) you’d best keep away
(Dead Man’s Curve) I can hear ’em say:
“Won’t come back from Dead Man’s Curve”

(Dead Man’s Curve) is no place to play
(Dead Man’s Curve) you’d best keep away
(Dead Man’s Curve) I can hear ’em say:
“Won’t come back from Dead Man’s Curve”