I was 16 years old when this song was released. I'm 58 now. My advice to teenagers and people in their 20's: Hold on to 16 or even 26 as long as you can. It goes by really fast, and you don't realize it until one day you are 49 years old and just about to turn 50. But there is some good news, in my opinion, I never really had a thrill of living until I was about 47 or 48 years old. At that point, my kids had graduated from high school. I was well established in my career. Money issues which were always an issue when younger finally weren't too much of a concern anymore. I no longer gave a bleep what people thought about the clothes I wear, the music I listen to, or even if they liked me. At around 47 years old, in my case, life started to get really good. I'm approaching 60 now, and the thrill of living continues to be amazing.

@charlesh946

Ай бұрын

you are so right BostonWhoF. Where did it all go? Listening to this getting ready to cash my first paycheck at 1st job in '82. lol man.

@kdm71291

Ай бұрын

I’m 61 now, and I concur regarding how fast time goes.

@walterhaynes1259

29 күн бұрын

Damn @bostonwhofan, you just described my whole life!

@MacSvensson

26 күн бұрын

agree 100% I'm 53 now and have never been happier than the last couple of years.

@shanadellos6034

21 күн бұрын

Right on 👍! Nearly 57 and that all tracks!

Crumblin Down and The Authority Song should be next. They are straight up bangers.

@popandroid

Ай бұрын

Crumbling Down might be his best I swear...next to Jack and Diane and Hurt So Good I guess.

@loosilu

Ай бұрын

@@popandroid Was just thinking this.

@billbitterman9487

Ай бұрын

Authority Song is almost a straight out copy (ok call it influenced) of I Fought The Law by the Bobby Fuller Four.

@generoberts9151

Ай бұрын

I 2nd that. “Small Town” is nice too

@BigTimeRushFan2112

Ай бұрын

They could do every track from Uh Huh and American Fool both albums were all killer, no filler.

"Life goes on long after the thrill of living is gone". At this point I know EXACTLY what he means.⚛😀❤

@DawnSuttonfabfour

Ай бұрын

Miserable sod. Overrated. "Life....." etc, yeah that's what you wannna hear when you're 20. Decent enough tune but he didn't do it for me.

@livenhfree

Ай бұрын

"The thrill of livin". That was the 80s for me. 22-32. Best decade of my life. Not that it hasn't been good/great since, but in terms of "thrill," yeah... nothing like then.

@markstoudenmire4935

Ай бұрын

Ditto.

@joeday4293

Ай бұрын

That line sure does hit different now at age 52 than it did the first time I heard it when this song came out, around age 10. LOL

@davesage4931

Ай бұрын

Hold on to 16 as long as you can man.

Rain On The Scarecrow is a low key banger

@sundayze

Ай бұрын

Could not agree more!

@funkster007

Ай бұрын

Great tune!

@lt.spears1889

Ай бұрын

Yup

@Historian212

Ай бұрын

Amazing song.

@christyverplank3552

Ай бұрын

That entire album is a banger.

"I Need A Lover " and "Ain't Even Done With The Night" were his first hits. Both are worth checking out.

@tjtampa214

Ай бұрын

Ain't even done with the night I sure did play that one a lot. I played his one album I can't remember the name of it but just over and over.

@TheFlowNetwork

Ай бұрын

"I Need A Lover" - one of the best intros ever.

@j_karma

Ай бұрын

​@@tjtampa214"Nothing Matters and What If It Did" is the album these two songs came from. I love all of JCM's stuff.

@m.y.o.b.724

Ай бұрын

"Hurts So Good" should be included.

@debrafong8899

Ай бұрын

Yes! His first album is my favorite. I especially love “Make me Feel.”

JCM's album "Scarecrow" might be my favorite 80's album. There's not a weak cut on the album.

@a2zme

Ай бұрын

Absolute Masterpiece ..

@thepayne7862

Ай бұрын

His follow up album to Scarecrow, The Lonsome Jubilee is very good too. It gave us Paper in Fire and Cherry Bomb,

@a2zme

Ай бұрын

@@thepayne7862 'Paper in Fire' still sounds insane on a HiFi system .. I feel sorry for the young headphone-wearing generation :)

@tomflorio3639

Ай бұрын

I go back and forth between "Uh Huh" and "Scarecrow" as my favorite JCM albums. He matured a bit on "Scarecrow"; on "Uh Huh" he's just straight up rocking. My mood determines my answer! 🙂

@loosilu

Ай бұрын

THis should be on Patreon.

Tastee Freez was an ice cream joint. This line actually causes a lot of confusion because most people think of a chili dog as a hot dog with chili on it. In this context, a Chilly Dog or Dawg is a frozen drink. Like a Slushie or Icee

@davidchapman2213

Ай бұрын

I’m 55 years old and I’m just learning this. Thanks.

@racing2cat

Ай бұрын

A good comparison is Dairy Queen. 🙂

@adgato75

Ай бұрын

@@racing2cat Yep !

@dewdew34

Ай бұрын

Didn't know that. They still exist, one in town here, but i never go there, it's for young folks...

@davidchapman2213

Ай бұрын

@@adgato75 Sorry. Clarification: I didn’t know that the term was Chilly Dog in the song. I always assumed he said chili dog and then wondered how you sucked a chili dog. lol. I knew of Tastee Freeze.

“Hold on to Sixteen as long as you can. Changes come around real soon make us women and men.” Isn’t that the truth…

@loristone9242

Ай бұрын

It sure is! I came here looking for this comment. I always felt like this was the most prolific line in the song. 💖

@darrinlindsey

Ай бұрын

Then the next day you're 50

@raygunsforronnie847

Ай бұрын

@@darrinlindsey And then looking at 70.

"Paper in Fire" ,"Cherry Bomb" , "Hurts So Good" , "R O C K in the USA", so many. Maybe a John Mellencamp week!

@popandroid

Ай бұрын

had us then lost us with R-O-C-K...we can def. live w/out that cheese-fest. 😉

@mal74

Ай бұрын

Check It Out too.

@RobertCartwright-sk7rr

Ай бұрын

Authority song.

@tomflorio3639

Ай бұрын

@@popandroid Yeah, that's never been one of my favorites either. For my money, they should go with "I Need A Lover", "Rain On The Scarecrow", "Paper In Fire" or "Get A Leg Up".

@loosilu

Ай бұрын

Scarecrow would be a great Patreon album.

I Need a Lover is an absolute must from him

@Ldastro

Ай бұрын

Extended Version!!

@maryann1252

Ай бұрын

I’ve been saying this for YEARS!

@wildcatvxa2372

Ай бұрын

2:32 musical intro

@LouieLouie3

Ай бұрын

Yess 💯

@VOTOG-ic6hm

Ай бұрын

Yes. The long version

This song really kicks you in the gut when you're eligible for Social Security now but can remember when this was a brand new hit.

@scottingram7634

Ай бұрын

I"m right there with you, brother.

@goldenageofdinosaurs7192

Ай бұрын

I feel you, my man🫡

@Historian212

Ай бұрын

Yup.

@christinemmac

Ай бұрын

Same, dude. Same 😏

"I Need A Lover" has one of the best intros of any song ever!

JCM doesn't get the recognition that he deserves. A true piece of mid-lands "Americana" with voice, vocals, and instrumentation. Always with some tasty acoustic guitar! A great song writer and one of the founding members of "Farm-Aid' concerts and organization.

@auckalukaum

Ай бұрын

I think he doesn't get so much recognition because he's a raging asshole to literally everyone. In the early 2000s he released a statement or interview on his website crying about how he forced by the evil record label to make all those catchy pop songs and all he ever really wanted to do was play the blues in out of the way bars, and anyone who likes all his preceding music are idiots. That's when I stopped buying his records and going to his concerts. My feeling was, if he didn't want to write all those pop songs and just wanted to play in front of 5 people in a dive bar, I'll gladly take his mansion and land off his hands. Oh, and publishing rights. A serious, mega-asshole of epic proportions.

@michaellaporte4951

Ай бұрын

I've heard him called the poor man's Bruce Springsteen, and while that's not entirely untrue, you can't deny he knew how to write a song. "Cherry Bomb", with its autoharp and accordion rhythm and nostalgic lyrics, is probably his most appreciable hit to me.

@sedatedape315

Ай бұрын

@@michaellaporte4951 I've heard JCM called that! And I would like to think John likes it. I've seem John in concert, and I've seen Bruce in concert. Both were amazing but it felt more.... comfortable at John's. Kinda like being at a county fair. Bruce's concert was great but felt like....a concert. Not knocking either. Been to lots of "concerts" and "fairs." And I've enjoyed all of the artists/bands. Getting crazy with AC-DC or floating away with Celine Dion.

@Rainyman63

Ай бұрын

I always found this „poor man‘s Springsteen“ label insulting. Mellencamp has his own unique style and imho is one of the greatest american songwriters, on par with the likes of Tom Petty or John Hiatt.

@carlgibbons5777

Ай бұрын

Mellencamp is in the Rock and Roll hall of fame. Thinking he gets a lot of credit.

Its funny how songs like this one, ‘Changes’ by David Bowie, ‘Dream On’ by Aerosmith, etc. hit different when you get older 🙂

Jack & DIane is an anthem of the age.

I was a truck driver in the 80s and 90s and one morning early like 3:00 in the morning I was eating breakfast at the counter when this guy come in and sit next to me. I had no idea who he was but he offered to buy my breakfast and did and it was John Cougar Mellencamp. It turns out his bus busted a fuel line so he was sitting out the morning in the truck stop. We small talked for a while and I think it was like 6:00 in the morning the sun was just coming up when we parted company and that's when he told me his name, otherwise I would never know it was him. Only listening to people on the radio you have no idea what they look like.

@mrmaticuluos

Ай бұрын

Awesome story!

@user-ez6vk2bw7q

17 күн бұрын

@@ac7ivesleeper610 Did he say "John Cougar Mellencamp" or just "John Mellencamp"? The story I heard was that his first manager had him billed as "Johnny Cougar" because he thought "John Mellencamp" was a lousy marquee name. Allegedly John hated the name "Johnny Cougar" but since he recorded under the name before he got the nerve up to try to change his name back, his label balked but agreed to "John Cougar" then later "John Cougar Mellencamp" but it took more years before he could drop "Cougar", long after he fired the manager that first stuck him with "Johnny Cougar". That's what I heard anyway. I don't know how accurate it is.

@ac7ivesleeper610

17 күн бұрын

@@user-ez6vk2bw7q Please keep in mind that at the time I was 25 years old and now I am 63. I haven't really thought about that day in a very long time. I remember we walked out of the T/A main area together and walked to the garage where they were working on his gorgeous bus and talked to the mechanic before I walked on to my truck. I remember it was snowing, but not cold, but I can't remember much past that. Oh, he wore an older John Deere ball cap. I think I remember he said John Mellencamp. I'm not even sure I spelled it right. It's sort of fun trying to remember that day, but as I write this I'm laying in my hospital bed waiting on surgery tomorrow. Plus I was watching KZread and trying not to doze off. I wish I could remember more.

Hurts So Good and Small Town should be next.

@BClarke

Ай бұрын

Those are my suggestions too. I also push for “Check It Out”, which I think is very underrated.

Saw Mellencamp with John Fogerty years ago. Hell of a show. JCM had Fogerty come up onstage with him and Mellencamp said ‘when I grow up I hope I write a song as good as this’…and they ripped into “Green River”.

@TheDivayenta

Ай бұрын

Wow!

Glad you guys finally made your way to Mellencamp! Gotta do “I Need A Lover”next!! It rips so hard. “Rain On the Scarecrow” as well.

@Historian212

Ай бұрын

If they do, they need to also listen to Pat Benatar's version, also great.

They don't make them like John Mellencamp anymore. This man has always been awesome. For me, all of his songs are outstanding.

You should do ..Rain On the Scarecrow

Paper in Fire is a banger.

@tjtampa214

Ай бұрын

Thanks for naming that one, I was just going to look it up because I forgot the title but yes great song!

@sallydwyer2735

Ай бұрын

Agreed!

@magicbrownie1357

Ай бұрын

Yes! My two favorite Mellencamp songs are from that album. Paper in Fire and Cherry Bomb.

Mellencamp is to the Midwest what Springsteen is to the New York / New Jersey area. They both paint realistic images in their songs of life in their surroundings. I love all of JCM's work from the late 70s through the 80s. 🎸

@kayteague6119

Ай бұрын

I've always thought this. I'm a Midwestern girl and can relate to the Mellencamp/Springsteen sentiment. .

John born in Indiana left for fame but eventually came back to settled in the heartland again ~

@carlgibbons5777

Ай бұрын

Mellencamp is a Democrat that cares about real Americans. Total opposite of the Republican party that only cares about the rich and their donors.

Tastee Freeze was a hamburger/shakes restaurant chain similar to Dari Queen and was popular in the Midwest. John is from Indiana and many of his songs relate to the Midwest small town and farm life.

@Elephant2024-wi2li

Ай бұрын

Especially 'Small Town' and 'Pink Houses.'

@Scaramousche1955

Ай бұрын

They're still alive and kickin'

@Peppers19781978

Ай бұрын

I still to this day laugh when I hear that line because who sucks on chili dogs? I grew up near a Tastee Freeze and have fond memories going there as a kid especially my grandmother taking me every Friday after school. Very few exist now.

@dawnmclees

Ай бұрын

@johnchambers5029 The tastee freeze where I grew up in the 70’s was more like a hamburger stand no inside dining and yes their chil dogs were the best

@dougman23

Ай бұрын

@@Peppers19781978 the original line was "suckin' on cigarettes outside the Tastee Freeze", and the record company requested he change it. So he changed it to something far more questionable...

When I was 19 in 1983, my dad died. I remember thinking about the line "Life goes on long after the thrill of living is gone."

@phillysher7

Ай бұрын

💔♥️

@333perfection

Ай бұрын

🫶

Life goes on long after the thrill of living is gone. Means more with every passing year

He's got a slew of great songs, but my favorite is "Ain't Even Done with the Night." Brings me right back to working at Peaches Records in the early '80s

@texasca9753

Ай бұрын

Yep, it's such a good song about something we don't explore enough IMO.

@bostonwhofan

Ай бұрын

Ditto, although I worked at Strawberries records in the Boston area back in the early 80's.

@vincentjoyce5100

Ай бұрын

Which Peaches? I was Sound Warehouse 85 in FW

Studio version of I Need a Lover has one of the best openings/intros of classic rock imo.

@christopherone1

Ай бұрын

great song.

@thetannaree

Ай бұрын

💯 and he’s so honest about the topic 😂 I love that songgggg

Bobbie Brooks slacks were a name brand in the 70's.

@dwinkleman

Ай бұрын

I seem to remember they were kinda pricey. The "in" girls would wear them.

@savageman2194

Ай бұрын

@@dwinkleman , "we" shopped and received them on the discount floor...that said...those britches lasted for 3-8 years. Good and bad.

@Historian212

Ай бұрын

Yes. They also made sweater sets and other separates.

Gen Z trying to talk about how this song is going from teens to early 20's in life cycle just cracked me up. You guys don't understand the true profound message of this song and how it mirrors life for almost all people, but in about 20 years you will. Bank on it.

@jlsage4059

Ай бұрын

Yep

" We Ain't Even Done With The Night " by J C M. another Rock Classic highly recommend this song

Lonely ol' Night. "She calls me baby, she calls everybody baby" Love that line.

Mellencamp had one of the greatest backing bands ever, especially Kenny Arnof on drums --- that mini-solo in middle KILLS!!!

@scottingram7634

Ай бұрын

How about Arnof's drumming on Justice and Independence '85?

Hurts So Good is an absolute 80s banger! This man had hit after hit!

Fun fact. Where those dirty electric chords hit, Mellencamp told his lead guitarist to follow them on acoustic guitar with that "dun, dun-dun-dun-dun-dun" riff. Dude refused to play anything that simple, so John played the riff himself. JACK & DIANE became a huge hit, and the dude had to play it every show!

I was that age when it was new, it's an anthem.

Tastee-Freeze--my first job in 1975. I first heard this song after being on the road for too long; I was in Australia and tired of talking about where I was from, where I had been, where I was going next. The lyrics became "life goes on, long after the thrill of travelling is gone".

"Check It Out" is my favourite John Mellencamp song. Kinda of a sequel to this one, offering a glimpse of after the thrill of living is gone.

@bafalan

Ай бұрын

kzread.info/dash/bejne/aqWspqSimbnQnLQ.htmlsi=BP5YlAqwtFTIwh_2 Love this video of John performing Check it Out live in Indianapolis, basically his "home court".

The production still sounds good...42 years later.

No one has mentioned 'Play Guitar' from the Uh Huh album, So good!

@bleonar3

Ай бұрын

My favorite JC song.

For many of us who were that age at the time the song came out, we have a strong connection to it. He was a legitimate hit-making machine for a long time and a handful of his albums are great from start to finish.

@BigTimeRushFan2112

Ай бұрын

I was 13 in 1982 when this came out, owned it on cassette and vinyl. I 100% agree with what you just said!

Great reaction guys. Great song and artist. My favourite of his is The Authority Song. Hope you get to hear this at some point.

"Check It Out" was a favorite for me.

@Vendzor

Ай бұрын

Me too, but the Tavares version 😁

@bafalan

Ай бұрын

@@emilyflotilla931 where does our time go?

A&A, you'll love his "Hurts So Good", "Small Town" and "I Need A Lover" !!!

@Rareplymouth

Ай бұрын

Hell yeah

@BallsInMyCup_

Ай бұрын

“Pink Houses” though 🙌

@tjtampa214

Ай бұрын

Yeah Small Town too... they're all great.

@JayCross

Ай бұрын

These three are all great songs. Note that "Small Town" is sometimes used as an anthem of people offended by diversity.

@thefallenfaith1986

Ай бұрын

​@@JayCrossPerhaps it isn't the "dive' " that offends them - it's more how its used as a we appon against them. The entire country witnessed it during the "fire filled yet totally peaceful" 2020 summer of love. Not to mention how they're being ruh placed by the denizens of that continent to the south.

This song will always remind me of my good friend Jack O’Brien. He died tragically in 97 while working as an Ironworker connecting a building. We always sung this to each other jokingly when it played on the radio. ✌️♥️🎶

This was chosen as one of the most popular songs by my senior class in high school. Though not a small town, we lived only an hour or so from the small town that John Mellencamp was from and could relate to it quite a bit. We also had a Tastee-Freez where I was growing up. It was a huge chain back in the 60s and 70s and as the song suggests, a popular hangout for teenagers. Over the years they had become another of those chains that shrunk tremendously. The closest one to me now is almost 4 hours away. Now I want some soft serve.

@scottingram7634

Ай бұрын

That was Bloomington, wasn't it?

@bradparnell614

Ай бұрын

No. Bloomington is where he lives now, which is also the location of Indiana University. He grew up in Seymour, Indiana which is farther south. It's about an hour or so north of Louisville, KY which is where I live and where I believe John eloped with his first wife.

Post Pink House's. That song was overplayed, but I had forgotten how much I loved that song. Next, Cherry Bomb, Ain't Even Done With the Night, Rain on the Scarecrow, Authority Song, I Need A Lover. Mellencamp also did a movie about his life, Falling From Grace, which he starred. Talented guy.

Tastee-Freez sells soft-serve ice cream. Its founder invented the soft-serve ice cream machine. "Expansion of the brand was rapid in the 1950s; in 1952, there were 315 locations, more than 1600 by mid-1956, and by 1957 there were nearly 1,800 locations." Today, there are four.

Saw him at the Greek a few years back. Sounded just as good live. Awesome concert.

I have tons of respect for this artist!! The record company wanted to 'sell him' a certain way, including trying to change his name from Mellencamp to Cougar. He fought against it the whole time, with them reaching the compromise of making the 'Cougar' his middle name, then just the initial. He has some Really Good Songs to hear, including Hurt So Good, The Authority Song, Rain on the Scarecrow, and Cherry Bomb!!

Reminds me of early MTV.

"I wonder what Tastee-Freez is" Oh, wow 🙂

@Ellenred5257

Ай бұрын

A fast food place

@tjtampa214

Ай бұрын

We had one around my house before it got here I never knew what it was. But it's an ice cream joint with a walk-up window or drive through

@aquatarkus2022

Ай бұрын

When your town is too small for a Dairy Queen.

@josephwalker5577

Ай бұрын

@@aquatarkus2022Not necessarily. We have 125,000 people and we have one. In conjunction with a Weinerschnitzel.

@richardlindell9976

Ай бұрын

Like a DQ.

This album introduced us to drummer Kenny Aronoff. Simple, yet powerful fills and grooves. This song has a simply powerful fill.(I'm a drummer, in case it wasn't obvious). Side note: I remember first seeing John Cougar on The Midnight Special a couple years before this and I didn't think much of what he was doing - more style than substance. This is miles better than that.

@eboethrasher

Ай бұрын

Kenny went on to be such a successful session musician, much like Benmont Tench from the Heartbreakers.

Warms my heart when you chose this JCM timeless classic . The lyrics are profound ... The arrangement of every instrument and vocals plays a unique role. "S" tier in my book . Other early gems worth noting: "Thundering Hearts", "Hurts So Good", "I Need a Lover" ...also "Play Guitar" . All great tunes. Stay cool in Florida!!

Tastee Freeze is a fast food ice cream store. Selling vanilla or chocolate ice cream cones amongst other frozen treats. Their ice cream machines don't break down as much as McDonald's. Lol 🤣😆 These days you don't see too many standalone stores anymore. In my neck of the woods they are part of the Wiener Schnitzel franchise much like Carl's Jr. and Green Burrito. 😊

JCM has 20 other songs you could hit, but Cherry Bomb should be next. Uh-Huh would be a good full album review

@Ellenred5257

Ай бұрын

20+

@Rock_Snob

Ай бұрын

“Minutes to Memories”

@swimrski

Ай бұрын

Cherry Bomb upvotes!

More Mellencamp please!! I been begging for years. Finally 😊

I saw John Cougar live in Louisville Kentucky in 1984, he rocked Freedom Hall for a solid 2 hours! One of the concerts I still say was so impressive in the fact that he just kept jamming! We all left feeling we got our ‘money worth’ and then some. What a fun time to be a teenager!

I remember being on a marching band trip when this was new; several people brought their boomboxes and were playing music for the road trip... This one came on and everybody in the bus was singing along at the top of their lungs. Great fun...

Tastee-Freez was one of the best burger joints ever! ❤ I miss the delicious treats to this day. And yes, we wore Bobbie Brooks slacks, high waist, big legs, too cool 😎 for school, darlings! This is a classic, perfect song 🎵 👌 🙌 😍 👏 ❤️

Alot of people used to make fun of him a bit...but you gotta agree now...john cougar Mellencamp is a top notch artist with a huge catalog of great songs..he is up there with Dillon and Springsteen..a true american rocker bad ass

@thetannaree

Ай бұрын

Who used to make fun of him? He’s always been a stud

@cms-pacnw3315

Ай бұрын

@@thetannaree I agree. I don't remember hearing anyone make fun of him.

This song is a straight up piece of Americana. Never gets old.

“Hurts so good “ is my favourite! ❤

I think Pink Houses is S tier, a damn near perfect rock and roll song, musically and lyrically deep. J&D is right there. I might recommend Hurt So Good, I need a lover. Of course Small Town was probably his biggest hit but really I don't love it as much, but it is legendary I guess. Also Authority Song is a minor hit that I think really rocks. Ain't Even Done with the Night is an early song that really sticks to me, super catchy. Last and very important, Check it Out is potentially a sequel to Jack & Diane. Its about as deep as Pink Houses.

@tjtampa214

Ай бұрын

Great suggestions.. and your name Dan McConnell. It makes me think of that show Roseanne when she was married and her husband Dan. But I think their last name was slightly different, Conner?

Tastee-Freez is an American franchised fast-food restaurant founded in 1950 specializing in soft serve ice cream plus burgers, fries, etc. In 1957 there were 1800 locations, now just 4 today, but they became a brand of ice cream sold by others more than a retail location.

At 12/13 yrs old, it was always a HUGE treat when this song came on and I had my headphones on!

The video goes so much better with this song❤. I remember seeing it on Cable when we first got cable many years ago. Out eyes were glued to the television. Something about it.

When my kids were young, we would put on a mix-tape or CD in the car. I used to tease them about when the singing would start on his song, "I Need A Lover". It has the longest inro in the world and it stops every few bars and invites you to think it's over, but it's not. 🙂

Early 80s. The best decade for popular music. Change my mind.

@tonyascarlett2413

Ай бұрын

The 90's is my favorite, especially Grunge.

@antarcticorb9197

Ай бұрын

Best was late sixties and seventies.

@aquatarkus2022

Ай бұрын

Real rock died in the 80s.

@livenhfree

Ай бұрын

@@tonyascarlett2413 Def some great stuff in the 90s as well. Grunge didn't do it for me, though. Too dark. 80s was just one big party.

@Vendzor

Ай бұрын

I respectfully disagree; it's gotta be '70s

That line...'Hold on to 16 as long as you can...' he was very right.

Such a great song!

“Rain on the Scarecrow”

I highly recommend "Paper in Fire" it's my favorite Mellencamp song. In my opinion it's a perfect song. Here is my general criteria for a perfect song. Simple yet catchy, not too long or too short, good lyrics, good sound, but most of all I can listen to it over and over again and still enjoy it as much as the first time I heard it.

Crumblin Down and Paper in Fire...awesome...during the Top 40 over play era of my life he was someone I never got tired of. Enjoyed your reaction it made me have to go listen to him for the first time in a long time. Have a great day guys!

classic song about a classic moment in time

Minutes to memories. Rain on a scarecrow. Lonely ol night.

@soapytiger

Ай бұрын

Yes, MINUTES TO MEMORIES!

Love John Mellencamp. So many great songs (and used different names as well) One that I love (that you don't hear often) is Check it Out. You can't go wrong with any of his songs.

Jack And Diane was a GIGANTIC hit on early MTV. As big as any song of the era. It was in very heavy rotation for what seemed like a year.

I went through a John Cougar phase in college, had all his albums on vinyl or cassette. Got to see him in concert back in the late 80s. He’s turned into an old curmudgeon but his music still hits.

@reallymysterious4520

Ай бұрын

Yes he has turned into somewhat of an A-Hole but still love his old material

@aquatarkus2022

Ай бұрын

He's a leftist crank now.

@jeffreyporter4678

Ай бұрын

He has always been an A-hole.

Tastee Freeze is a soft serve ice cream/fast food franchise mainly found in small towns/rural America.....Similar to Dairy Queen.

LOVE THIS SONG!! So GLAD ya'll finally listened to it!! Anything on SCARECROW is a BANGER - he had a LOT of GREAT TUNES!! THANKS, GUYS!!

Saw him open for Heart in 1982 when he was calling himself John Cougar. It was at the Meadowlands in New Jersey, and he changed the lyrics to "Two American kids growing up in the Meadowlands."

One of my favorites!

He may well be the most underrated lyricist. kzread.info/dash/bejne/h5yI2q5tdt22Xbw.html "Jackie Brown" kzread.info/dash/bejne/goBmmo-LhrKWj6g.html "Peaceful World" kzread.info/dash/bejne/l2h_t8-mYLvZfLw.html "Your Life is Now" kzread.info/dash/bejne/eZ2hsM-YgK7aibA.html "Check it Out" Mellencamp lyrics always speak to the underdog.

Hurts So Good! Thanks for all the great music and love how you guys enjoy hearing something great for the first time!

Fun fact. The drummer, Kenny Aronoff, made up that iconic drum solo on the fly. 👍😮

I have long contended that "sucking on chili dogs outside the Tastee-Freeze" is one of the greatest American rock poetry lines ever. Meanwhile it occurred to me the other day that I don't recall that you'all have tried on Motorhead yet. "Ace of Spades" is the obvious first.

@aquatarkus2022

Ай бұрын

Ace of Spades!

Such a well arranged song. So much space for all the little nuances and nothing steps on each other's toes 🔥🔥🔥

Heard this song for more than forty years and I still enjoy it!

Old song, Loved it then, love it now. I'm at the point of my life of long after the thrill is gone in my life. I love the way Andy blushes about the line in the back seat of his car.😊😊😊

This song is like Bob Dylan meets Bob Seger

@tjtampa214

Ай бұрын

Well said! I already had said that about the reference to Bob Seger. And that is high praise bc I'm a major Seager fan. And of course who doesn't know about Bob Dylan even though I was not a major fan I know the world was. But no denying the talent.

He had the clap. hehe

@haw_n_thorne

Ай бұрын

Oh-! A gonorrhea joke- Huh…

After growing up in the 80's and witnessing the beginnings of MTV I can't wrap my head around the fact that 2 musicians ( no matter what age) have never heard this song, well at least one of you.

I was around 16 when this song came out and remember thinking, heck no I don’t want to hang onto 16. I want to be an adult. Haha. As someone once said, “Youth is wasted on the young.” So true!

Huge respect to you both for just listening + enjoying the music, rather than speaking during most of the goose-bump inducing moments !! 🦄

Classic 😎 One of THE best songs ever 🎶 You you hear that riff and you know what's coming🙌

I saw John at Farm Aid II in Austin TX July 4 1986. It was a helluva show. Hard to imagine it was nearly 40 years ago.

When the show, Blackish was on tv a few years ago, there were twins in the family on the show. It was a boy and a girl. Their names were Jack and Diane. I always wondered if those names were just randomly chosen or were they taken from this song.

This song was written and performed by JOHN COUGAR. There was no mention of Mellencamp yet.