John Mellencamp was born October 7, 1951 in the small town of Seymour, Indiana. He started playing in his first band at age 14 and has been making good American rock and roll music ever since. After a few failed albums in the 70’s, John switched labels where they changed his stage name to Johnny Cougar and tried to make over his image to resemble another Indiana-born icon, James Dean. After one success after another, John shed his image for his own and added the “Mellencamp” back to his name.
Mellencamp is without a doubt one of the most influential American musicians of his time, penning many songs with profound lyrics that reflect social messages, oftentimes about the working man. John, along with Willie Nelson and Neil Young, also is known as one of the first organizers of FarmAid, a charity that helps American farmers.
While Mellencamp has dozens of worthy songs, there are ten that stand out for their musical genius, inspirational lyrics, and success on the charts.
“Jack and Diane” Written by John Mellencamp
Originally released on the “American Fool” album in 1982, while Mellencamp was still known by John Cougar, “Jack and Diane” is easily one of the most popular and recognizable of Mellencamp’s tunes. From the first few lines it is easy to see that this song reflects a lot from John’s Midwestern upbringing: “A litty ditty about Jack and Diane, two American kids growin’ up in the heartland.” It’s message about a love between two regular kids that really hit home with Americans and put John on the map.
“Key West Intermezzo (I Saw You First)” Written by John Mellencamp and George Green
First released on the 1996 album “Mr. Happy Go Lucky”, the Key West Intermezzo has always been speculated to be about John’s wife, model Elaine Irwin-Mellencamp, whom he met in 1991. Whether this is true or not, the lyrics are definitely about a powerful admiration of a woman. “She stirs the ice in her glass with her elegant finger, I want to be what she’s drinking, yeah I just want to be.”
“Pink Houses” Written by John Mellencamp
“Pink Houses” is probably John’s second most recognizable song following closely behind “Jack and Diane.” It was released in 1983 on John’s “Uh-huh” album. Fittingly, it hold true to the same type of American Dream message that resonates in most of Mellencamp’s songs. The lyrics “but just like everything else those old crazy dreams just kinda came and went” hit home with most of us living an average life and never fulfilling our sometimes crazy aspirations. The song was so popular MTV ran a contest based on the song where they gave away an actual pink house. The original “pink house” they choose however was on a toxic waste dump in Indiana. The socially conscious Mellencamp didn’t want to poison his fans, so MTV purchased a new house and painted it pink for the contest. The contest winner only stayed in the house two days before selling it.
“Paper in Fire” Written by John Mellencamp
“Paper in Fire” is one of John’s songs that I believe grew to fame because it really makes people think about their lives. It was first put out in 1987 on “The Lonesome Jubilee” album. If you listen closely to the lyrics, the message strongly stated is about losing out on your dreams if you get too scared or wait too long to act upon them. As the chorus so explicitly states, “Who’s to say the way a man should spend his days, Do you let them smolder, like paper in fire.”
“Cherry Bomb” Written by John Mellencamp
“Cherry Bomb” was also released with “Paper in Fire” on the 1987 “The Lonesome Jubilee” album. While it wasn’t an instant hit, it is definitely a favorite with most “Mellen-heads.” In fact, “Club Cherry Bomb” is the name of the official John Mellencamp fan club. It’s really a light-hearted song that talks about a club where friends dance, laugh, and have a good time. Certainly not one of John’s most socially conscious songs, but a good tune nevertheless.
“Small Town” Written by John Mellencamp
“Small Town”, released in 1985 on the “Scarecrow” album, definitely is a song true to John Mellencamp’s life even now. John croons: “Well I was born in a small town, and I live in a small town, Prob’ly die in a small town.” Apparently, he means it because John still lives in Indiana in a small town with his wife and children not too far from the place he was born. Again, it is another example of John staying true to form by writing about himself and his experiences and it makes great music.
“Rain on the Scarecrow” Written by John Mellencamp and George Green
“Rain on the Scarecrow” was the title track released on John’s 1985 album. The song is a graphic and sad tale of American farmers that struggle to stay in business. This particular song for obvious reasons has always been a popular one for John to sing at the Farm Aid concert that he originally organized with performers Willie Nelson and Neil Young.
“Jackie Brown” Written by John Mellencamp
Jackie Brown” to me is one of John’s most thought-provoking songs that takes on the issue of poverty. Released on the 1989 “Big Daddy” album, it examines the life of a man named Jackie Brown who is poor and uneducated. In his lyrics, Mellencamp writes, “We shame ourselves to watch people like this live. But who gives a damn about Jackie Brown?” The song is a great example of how Mellencamp’s songs try to bring about social change and understanding.
“Your Life is Now” Written by John Mellencamp and George Green
When John Mellencamp’s self-titled album was released in 1998, I am sure a great deal of people thought he was washed up. It had been two years since his last album of new material (his greatest hits was released the previous year), but John Mellencamp proved that age had only made him a better song writer. Along with George Green, he wrote one of the most popular songs on the album, “Your Life is Now”. The track is a reflective piece about how you should live your life. It contains lyrics like, “Would you teach your children to tell the truth? Would you take the high road if you could choose?” Widely popular with Mellen-heads, this song puts the crowd to their feet every time he performs it live.
“Hurts So Good” Written by John Mellencamp and George Green
“Hurts So Good” was the 1982 release the earned John Mellencamp is first Grammy (Best Male Vocal Performance 1982). In his acceptance speech, a fumbling John said in front of millions of viewers, “I don’t know what to say, I’m just an idiot.” This light-hearted tune has definitely been a fan favorite as well. In fact, actor Mark Wahlberg, when he was known as rapper Marky Mark, wanted to turn “Hurts So Good” into a rap song. Thankfully, Mellencamp did not allow it.
