Pink houses lyrics john mellencamp full#

Sonically, it was state of the art, with that heavy acoustic guitar, the big chord crashes, and the rousing “Oh let it rock” chorus. 1 hit, “Jack & Diane” puts some ambiguity in John Mellencamp’s storytelling: We don’t know where Jack and Diane will end up, this is just a snapshot that feels gritty and real. Sure, there’s a bit of Springsteen here, but the lead mandolin points at his future direction.Ĭlick to load video “Jack & Diane” (from American Fool, 1982)Īn 80s anthem and a No. The lyrics evince both insecurity (“Don’t even know if I’m doing this right”) and endless possibility. “Ain’t Even Done…” was the sweetest of the batch, a song that captures the feel of being young and sexed-up. “Ain’t Even Done With the Night” (from Nothin’ Matters and What If It Did, 1981)ĭonning the more serious “John Cougar” name, John Mellencamp set his sights on chart success: This tune was part of a string of singles (including “Hurt So Good” and the Pat Benatar-covered “I Need a Lover”) that established him as a radio presence. Even the chorus, “Ain’t that the American dream,” would later be adapted in a more famous tune of his.

The opening track is still a solid rocker, introducing the heartland storytelling that would later make his name.

At the time, he looked and sounded like he really loved Elvis Presley.

Pink houses lyrics john mellencamp full#

Then known as “Johnny Cougar,” John Mellencamp’s debut album is full of unlikely 60s cover songs and slick, glitter-styled production. “The American Dream” (from Chestnut Street Incident, 1976)