John Mellencamp

Hey Jesus can you give me a ride back home
I’ve been out here in this world too long on my own
I won’t bother you no more
If you can just get me in the door
Hey Jesus can you give me a ride back home

When I started out I was so young and so strong
I just let it roll off my back when things went wrong
Now it’s starting to get to me
All of this inhumanity
Hey Jesus can you give me a ride back home

You wouldn’t know it by looking at me now
But I was showing some promise once upon a time
But it’s gone now
And it ain’t coming back
My time’s come and gone
It’s as simple as that

Hey Jesus this world is just too troublesome for me
I try to fight off all these devils but I’m just too weak
When I’m out here walking all alone
I feel like taking my life but I won’t
Too big a coward, can you give me a ride back home
Hey Jesus can you give me a ride back home
Hey Jesus can you give me a ride back home

Hey Jesus can you give me a ride back home
I’ve been out here in this world too long on my own
I won’t bother you no more
If you can just get me in the door
Hey Jesus can you give me a ride back home

When I started out I was so young and so strong
I just let it roll off my back when things went wrong
Now it’s starting to get to me
All of this inhumanity
Hey Jesus can you give me a ride back home

You wouldn’t know it by looking at me now
But I was showing some promise once upon a time
But it’s gone now
And it ain’t coming back
My time’s come and gone
It’s as simple as that

Hey Jesus this world is just too troublesome for me
I try to fight off all these devils but I’m just too weak
When I’m out here walking all alone
I feel like taking my life but I won’t
Too big a coward, can you give me a ride back home
Hey Jesus can you give me a ride back home
Hey Jesus can you give me a ride back home

Run in circles again tonight
Hump the moon again tonight
Gonna wear my dancin' shoes out tonight
Gonna have myself a big time again tonight

Again tonight
Again tonight
Again tonight

Girl's got lightning
Underneath her skirt
Boys try to touch it
For whatever it's worth
In the morning
She's just gonna be hurt
She wonders is it worth it again tonight

Again tonight
Again tonight
Again tonight

Gonna catch that cloud tonight
Nine, cloud nine
Gonna try and catch that cloud tonight
Nine, cloud nine
Again tonight

Can you hold me baby again, again tonight
Can you sing
Can you dance baby
Can you sing
Can you hold me again tonight
Baby can you sing

Go ego trip'n again tonight
Tell the same lies they work all right
Gonna wear my dancin' shoes out tonight
Probably make a fool of myself again tonight

Again tonight
Again tonight
Again tonight
Again tonight
All right, all right
Again tonight

Well, our hearts beat like thunder
I don't know why they don't explode
You got your hands in my back pockets
And Sam Cooke's singin' on the radio
You say that I'm the boy who can make it all come true
Well, I'm tellin' ya that I don't know if I know what to do

CHORUS
You say that's all right, hold tight
Well, I don't even know if I'm doin' this right
Well all right, hold tight
We can stay out all day or we can run around all night
Well all night, all night

Well, it's time to go home
And I ain't even done with the night

Well, I don't know no good come-ons
And I don't know no cool lines
I feel the heat of your frustration
I know it's burnin' you up deep down inside
You say that I"m the boy who can make it all come true
Well, I'm tellin' ya that I don't know if I know what to do

CHORUS

Written by John Mellencamp

Another sad sad day
The world's KO'd again
And I used to always say
No one could hit, like my old man

**Do you really have to be so tough
Is it necessary to talk so (son of a bitchin) rough
Hey ain't there some place I could fit in

Could I find a little action there
Hey wait just a minute, I don't really care
Any place is bound to be better
Than where I'm standin'
Yeah I wish that for just one day
Hey ya know I wouldn't have to be afraid
And ashamed of its work
And its disgusting glory

*Welcome to the alley of the angels
Hey they say your eyes can gleam
When you can a just tell the truth all night
(And you can a chase them dreams all night)
Welcome to the alley of the angels
(They say) The reckless young hearts
Beat to (the flash of) the neon lights

Look at those kids, they're such a mess
Just can't teach 'em no respect
They want the world
And they want the best on a silver platter
Hey but ain't that, sometime son
The kids grew up and the world moved on
They're just lookin' for some place in the sun
So they would not shatter

(*Repeat)
(**Repeat)
Welcome to the alley of the angles

Some people say I’m obnoxious and I’m lazy
Some people say I take advantage of the younger girls and they’re right
Some people say should have been taught a few more manners at home
Some say I’m chauvinistic better of just to leave me alone

I don’t know what I’m supposed to do
If I can’t please myself could I really please you?

Chorus
Being brought up
The American fool
Being brought up
The American fool

Some people like to talk and tell you their ideals and how it’s supposed to be
Some people are fools like me and say what’s on their mind immediately
Some people don’t say at all and some just care too much
Some people, some people, some people are driving me crazy

I don’t know what I’m supposed to do
When I can’t please myself could I really please you?

Some people say I’m obnoxious and I’m lazy
Some people say I take advantage of the younger girls and they’re right

I don’t know what I’m supposed to do
If I can’t please myself could I really please you?

Written by John Mellencamp and George Green

John Mellencamp - Vocals and Acoustic Guitar
Andy York - Percussion, Acoustic Guitar. Electric Guitar
Mike Wanchic - Backing Vocals and Lap Steel Guitar

We see it on TV, we get calls on the phone
By the prophets of doom, they won't leave us alone.
The planet is dying and there's no time to spare.
They spend all our days sowing seeds of despair.
We get enough bad news to harden our hearts.
This fear that we feed on is what's keeping us apart.
To say that we're doomed is just an obvious remark.
And it don't make you right, it just keeps you in the dark.

I don't want to live angry, I don't want to live scared.
I don't need no more prophets crying "brother beware."
just put some work in my hands and give me a dollar to spare.
And don't let me sow those seeds of despair.

Well, this earth is a graveyard, it will swallow our bones.
It was here long before us, It will be here when we're gone.
And it's a vain generation that looks for a sign.
Don't you think we could make better use of our time.
Yeah, the air could be cleaner and the water could too.
But what we do to each other are the worst things that we do.
And we can treasure our freedom behind our locked doors.
But God speed the day when we're lonely no more.

I don't want to live angry, I don't want to live scared.
I don't need no more prophets crying "brother beware."
just put some work in my hands and give me a dollar to spare.
And don't let me sow those seeds of despair.

They like to get you in a compromising position
Well, they like to get you there and smile in your face
Yeah, they think they're so cute when they got you in that condition
But I think it's a total disgrace
And I say...

I fight authority, Authority always wins
Well, I fight authority, Authority always wins
Well, I've been doing it since I was a young kid
And I come out grinnin'
Well, I fight authority, Authority always wins
(Oh yeah!)

I call up my preacher
I say, "Give me strength for round 5."
He said, "You don't need no strength, you need to grow up son."
I said, "Growin' up leads to growin' old and then to dyin',
Ooo, and dyin' to me don't sound like all that much fun."
And so I'll say...

I fight authority, Authority always wins
Well, I fight authority, Authority always wins
Well, I've been doing it since I was a young kid
I come out grinnin'
Well, I fight authority, Authority always wins

I say: oh no, no no
I say: oh no, no no
I say: oh no, no no no
I fight authority, Authority always wins
I fight authority, Authority always wins (kick it in)
I've been doing it since I was a young kid
And I come out grinnin'
Well, I fight authority, Authority always wins

Well, I fight authority, Authority always wins
Well, I fight authority, Authority always wins
I've been doing it since I was a young kid
And I come out grinnin'
Well, I fight authority, Authority always wins

So I said,
I fight authority, authority always wins (Oh no)
Well I fight authority, authority always wins (Oh no no)
Well I've doing it since I was a young kid (Oh no)
And I come out grinnin' (Oh no)
Well I fight authority and authority always wins

Baltimore Oriole
Took one look at that mercury, forty below
No life for a lady
To be draggin' her feathers around in the snow
Leaving me blue, off she flew
To the Tangipaho-down Louisiana
Where a two-tiin' Jaybird
Met the divine Miss O

I'd like to ruffle his plumage
That Baltimore Oriole
Messed around with that big guy
Till he singed her wings
Forgivin' is easy - it's a woman like, now and then
Could happen to thing
Send her back home
Home ain't home without her warbling
How she can sing
Make a lonely man happy, Baltimore Oriole
Come down from that bough
Fly to your daddy now.

Written by: John Mellencamp

No songs on the stereo
That we could sing with anymore.
No dance that I can do
That would not embarrass you.
A sound bite here and there
With no reason for me to care.

It's just beige to beige,
That's all it is these days,
Little windows for you to crawl through.
You just do what's expected of you.
It's just beige to beige to beige
These days.

Uniforms for this and that,
To be in our club you must wear this hat.
Charlie's gonna look out for you,
You just do what you're supposed to do.
You're gonna fit in here
Just like you should.
Learn the rules and learn them good.

It's just beige to beige,
That's all it is these days,
Little windows for you to crawl through.
You just do what's expected of you.
It's just beige to beige to beige
These days.

If you need a thought
We'll give it to you.
Our statistics show what we do is true.
A world without color
Is a world without sound,
A world to keep the rabble down.
So close the deal, close the door.
Forget about the colors that you knew before.

It's just beige to beige,
That's all it is these days, yeah,
Little windows for you to crawl through.
And Charlie gonna take care of you.
It's just beige to beige to beige
These days.

When paradise is no longer fit for you to live in
And your adolescent dreams are gone
Through the days you feel a little used up
And you don't know where your energy's gone wrong
It's just your soul feelin' a little downhearted
Sometimes life is too ridiculous to live
You count your friends all on one finger
I know it sounds crazy just the way that we live

Between a laugh and a tear
Smile in the mirror as you walk by
Between a laugh and a tear
And that's as good as it can get for us
And there ain't no reason to stop tryin'

When this cardboard town can no longer amuse you
You see through everything and nothin' seems worthwhile
And hypocrite used to be such a big word to you
And it don't seem to mean anything to you now
Just try to live each and every precious moment
Discouraged by the future, forget your past
That's old advise but it'll be good to you
I know there's a balance 'cuz I see it when I swing past

Between a laugh and a tear
Smile in the mirror as you walk by
Between a laugh and a tear
And that's as good as it can get for us
And there ain't no reason to stop tryin'

Between a laugh and a tear
Smile in the mirror as you walk by
Between a laugh and a tear
And that's as good as it can get for us
And there ain't no reason to stop tryin'
No, no.

When paradise can no longer amuse you.....

When paradise is no longer fit for you to live in
And your adolescent dreams are gone
Through the days you feel a little used up
And you don't know where your energy's gone wrong
It's just your soul feelin' a little downhearted
Sometimes life is too ridiculous to live
You count your friends all on one finger
I know it sounds crazy just the way that we live

Between a laugh and a tear
Smile in the mirror as you walk by
Between a laugh and a tear
And that's as good as it can get for us
And there ain't no reason to stop tryin'

When this cardboard town can no longer amuse you
You see through everything and nothin' seems worthwhile
And hypocrite used to be such a big word to you
And it don't seem to mean anything to you now
Just try to live each and every precious moment
Discouraged by the future, forget your past
That's old advise but it'll be good to you
I know there's a balance 'cuz I see it when I swing past

Between a laugh and a tear
Smile in the mirror as you walk by
Between a laugh and a tear
And that's as good as it can get for us
And there ain't no reason to stop tryin'

Between a laugh and a tear
Smile in the mirror as you walk by
Between a laugh and a tear
And that's as good as it can get for us
And there ain't no reason to stop tryin'
No, no.

When paradise can no longer amuse you.....

Written by John Mellencamp

You used to raise your voice so that it could be heard.
You used to shout out your orders, and your word was the final word.
Do as I say and not as I do.
They've taken your picture off the wall.
How does it feel to be the big daddy of them all?

You used to chase your women right into your home.
You used to tell them you loved them over the telephone.
Now they all see through you
And you're sinking like a stone.
No one's knocking at your door,
No one calls,
How does it feel to be the big daddy of them all?

You're sad and disgusted,
Is what you've grown up to be.
Bet you had no idea what your dream would turn out to be.
But when you live for yourself
Hell, it's hard on everyone.
But you did it your way and man you did it all.
How does it feel to be the big daddy of them all?

Now you did it your way and man, you did it all.
How does it feel to be the big daddy of them all?

Well it's another hot day
In Lima, Mississippi.
Evan played the harmonica,
And the old group sang.
Some are laughin', some are crying'
Most are still relyin' on the old (damn tar).

Yeah in Shannon County,
No one's overworked today.
There ain't no use to,
So they took our dignity and ran away.
Well who we are,
And we what we achieve,
When it comes to (cruzmitat),
Well maybe someone will believe,
In Shannon County
Here in the Midwest,
Farm prices are a slow burn.
Well I know it ain't my fault,
So I reckon it must be my turn.
Aimless days,
Empty future,
Whose got the fizzle,
You know we ain't no quitters here
In the county.

Just keep a talkin',
Do you know what I mean?
You can keep all those big deals,
Don't take away our reason to believe.
We can work and we feel,
And plant your farm in green,
Send soldiers in the world,
(And peace signs) keep our dream,
We'll just keep on talkin'.

Written by John Mellencamp

Spend a lot of time tryin' to grow up
Guess I got a lot of growin' up to do
Used to tell me sit down, hey shut up
Guess they don't know what I was goin' through
But I've loved me some girls
And I've broken me some hearts
A cast in Nova in my own right
As I see here watching the sun coming up
I guess it's okay, yea its ok
To say good night

*Born reckless, born reckless
Born reckless (watch the family cry)
Cause I was born to be reckless
Till the day, I die

Well you know, I've been shoved around
Hey, but I've done my share of the shovin' too
I guess you get what you deserve
Yeah you get what's comin' to you
For the life of me, I don't understand
I don't understand, how I ever got you
Someone so warm to hold my hand
When this world has beat me back through

(*Repeat Chorus)

Well what I really want to say is
I guess I don't know, what it is I really wanna say
Anyway the thing is, I'm just surprised
That you're still here with me today
'Cause I've lied and I've cheated
And I've spit in your face
I've taken from you exactly what I need
But I want you to know
There's no one to take your place
How can we embrace love, how can we make love
At such an high rate of speed

(*Repeat Chorus)

Babe break me off a piece of your love
Once it's on I can't seem to get enough
So keep it up Keep it comin' uh What
Break me off some baby

You're wicked, Baby So do what's right
Break me off a piece of that love tonight
Like a steel guitar that I love to play
Everyone loves Jesus on judgment day
You get hot just like gasoline
In your cashmere shirt and your cut-off jeans
I've been workin' all day Here's what I made
Baby what you say Break me off some

Babe break me off a piece of your love
Once it's on I can't seem to get enough
So keep it up Keep it comin' uh What
Break me off some baby

(Repeat chorus)

Down in Mexico there's a man I know
Who gave away his future for a piece of gold
He washed his hands in Noah's flood
Now those mountains they're just red as blood
I left this place just to come with you
Walkin' off the mesa in some dead man's shoes
I've been workin' all day Here's what I made
Baby what you say Break me off some

Babe break me off a piece of your love
Once it's on I can't seem to get enough
So keep it up Keep it comin' uh What
Break me off some baby

(Repeat chorus)

Eie yie yie yie yie yie yie
Eie yie yie yie yie yie yie

I like the way you're movin' on the dance floor baby
I like the way you're moving' on the dance floor baby

Shake shake shake 'til my eyes are sore baby
Shake shake shake 'til my eyes are sore baby

Bounce bounce bounce 'til your body is sore baby
Bounce bounce bounce 'til your body is sore baby
Feel the heat Moe Z Put his hands on

Babe break me off a piece of your love
Once it's on I can't seem to get enough
So keep it up Keep it comin' uh What
Break me off some baby

(Repeat chorus)

Let's get to the point now
Just because we've got the same mom and dad
That don't mean I'm your keeper
That don't mean I owe anything to you
You don't care for me
And man, I don't think that much of you
CHORUS
Cause we're brothers, brothers, brothers
I don't approve of anything you do
Cause we're brothers, brothers, brothers
Cain and Abel and me and you
You drove my car when we were young boys
And you tore it up too
You never paid to get it fixed
And you got me beat up a time or two
I know I should forgive and forget
But man I still hold a grudge against you
CHORUS
It's as normal as it can be
This sibling rivalry
We should have dropped it at 22
But man I can't stand the thins you do
Cause we're brothers, brothers, brothers
You're always wanting something from me
Cause we're brothers, brothers, brothers
It was so much fun having you in the family
Cause we're brothers, brothers, brothers
Now that we're grown it ain't helped nothin' at all
Cause we're brothers, brothers, brothers
On my birthday, please don't bother to call
Cause we're brothers, brothers, brothers
Brothers, brothers, brother
Yeah, you're my brother, brother, brother
Brothers, brothers, brothers
Yeah, we're brothers, brothers, brothers
Yeah, we're brothers, brothers, brothers
Brothers, brothers, brothers

I was courting a Southern belle.
Her daddy was a rich 'un, too.
Sports car outside her door,
She was pretty good looking, too.

You call me up, want me to come over
When the servants are all in bed.
And she said,
"Daddy's on a flight tonight.
Does that put any ideas in your head?"

I say to her:

Take it all the way.
Can you really take it all the way down?
Can you really take it all the way down, down, down?
Down, down, down.

So we watch a little TV,
I drink up the family wine.
She said, "You're such a snake in the grass, boy.
But tonight, you're mine."

But wait a minute, wait a minute, baby.
Are you tryin' to make a fool out of me?
She said, "I've seen men like you before.
I've got a long family tree."

And she said to me:

Take it all the way.
Can you really take it all the way down?
Can you really take it all the way down, down, down?

And I say to myself:

Even a fool like me can be the lovin' kind.
Even a fool like me can be the lovin', lovin' kind.

Take it all the way.
Can you really take it all the way down?
Can you really take it all the way down, down, down?
Take it all the way.
Can you really take it all the way down?
Can you really take it all the way down, down, down?

Written by: John Mellencamp

Tony Jones stabbed Alice Jones
On their first anniversary
Down in Dallas, Texas
In a small apartment
With nobody present.
He pulled out a knife
And he stuck it to her.
He left her bleeding
On the floor in the kitchen
With cake on her fingers
And her wedding ring holding.
In her hand was a note
That said the wicked must suffer
And he drove off quickly
To his girlfriend's apartment.
But who really suffers in the end?
It's easy enough for us to pretend that

Everything's all right with the family.
Everything is safe here at home.
Everything's all right with the family.
The beds are made but there's no sheets on.

From the courtroom stand
Tony said he was sorry.
That he was sad and mixed up,
And he didn't know what he was doing,
That he'd always loved Alice
And he begged for forgiveness.
So he threw himself
On the mercy of the jury
And he told how his father
Had beat and abused him
Back in grade school
In the basement den,
And that maybe prison
Was the best thing for him.
And he said, "Oh God, can you forgive me?" yeah
But who really suffers in the end?
It's easy enough for us all to pretend that

Everything's all right with the family.
Everything is safe here at home.
Everything's all right with the family.
The beds are made but there's no sheets on.

How many days does it take to make us weak?
And how many hours do people spend lonely?
In the heart of the heart the family lay dying
The ruin of a nation lies at our feet, yeah.

Everything's all right with the family.
Everything is safe here at home.
Everything's all right with the family.
The beds are made but there's no sheets on.

(Repeat chorus.)

Written by: John Mellencamp

Tony Jones stabbed Alice Jones
On their first anniversary
Down in Dallas, Texas
In a small apartment
With nobody present.
He pulled out a knife
And he stuck it to her.
He left her bleeding
On the floor in the kitchen
With cake on her fingers
And her wedding ring holding.
In her hand was a note
That said the wicked must suffer
And he drove off quickly
To his girlfriend's apartment.
But who really suffers in the end?
It's easy enough for us to pretend that

Everything's all right with the family.
Everything is safe here at home.
Everything's all right with the family.
The beds are made but there's no sheets on.

From the courtroom stand
Tony said he was sorry.
That he was sad and mixed up,
And he didn't know what he was doing,
That he'd always loved Alice
And he begged for forgiveness.
So he threw himself
On the mercy of the jury
And he told how his father
Had beat and abused him
Back in grade school
In the basement den,
And that maybe prison
Was the best thing for him.
And he said, "Oh God, can you forgive me?" yeah
But who really suffers in the end?
It's easy enough for us all to pretend that

Everything's all right with the family.
Everything is safe here at home.
Everything's all right with the family.
The beds are made but there's no sheets on.

How many days does it take to make us weak?
And how many hours do people spend lonely?
In the heart of the heart the family lay dying
The ruin of a nation lies at our feet, yeah.

Everything's all right with the family.
Everything is safe here at home.
Everything's all right with the family.
The beds are made but there's no sheets on.

(Repeat chorus.)

Hey, don't I know you from somewhere
Yeah, it was down in New Orleans
In one of those back-street bars in the quarter
Between Desire and Honalee
You were dancin' with a friend of Michael's
I remember how we met
You were talkin' to ol' Jimmy
And you lit my cigarette

How come you can't remember?
This is me you're talkin' to
From May through September
It was all about me 'n you, Baby
It was all about me 'n you

Well it looks like to me
That you have conveniently forgotten everything
This confusion that has surrounded you
Is this your morality and not your brain
You've got a birthmark below your navel
You wear a size seven and a half shoe
You got this Rolex watch that I suspect you cobbed
From that doctor who said he loved you

How come you can't remember?
This is me you're talkin' to
From May through September
It was all about me 'n you, Baby
It was all about me 'n you

Well you told me that you lived in the wind
Like a bird who never touched the ground
And if you did you would surely die without making a sound
"Live, let's live", that's all you kept sayin'
And our summer was full of life
We're gonna send them a postcard, and show 'em what it's like to be alive
But I never wanted to leave your side
No, I just couldn't believe that you'd lie
No, I never wanted to say "good-bye" baby

How come you can't remember?
This is me you're talkin' to
From May through September
It was all about me 'n you, Baby
It was all about me 'n you

Written by John Mellencamp

Well I was out on the town
I was out cruising around
Looking for a suitable bitch
to throw down on the ground

I was out looking for a cheap shot
Well you ain't got nothing but cheap shots a lot
oh ho yea, give me another cheap shot
oh ho yea, give me another cheap shot

Well I picked her up
I took her to a movie cafe', yea
And I took her to the XXX theater place, woo
It was a cheap shot at best
When I ran my hands across her dress
oh ho yea, give me another cheap shot
oh ho yea, give me another cheap shot

Let me tell ya all about it
Cheap shots are fun
Cheap shots are for everyone
Playboy after your done
You know you've had a cheap shot
So why don't you shoot shoot shoot me

Well its was getting late
Decided to take myself back home
And I borrowed a dime and
I called her on the pay telephone
I was whispering real heavy into the phone
When her old man picked it up
said "Leave my Kids alone"
oh ho yea, give me another cheap shot, yea
oh ho yea, give me another cheap shot

Now don't you know little boy
You got the world a jerk-off man
And don't you be no candy ass
And a use your right hand

Get out on the corner
Take another cheap shot
Never eat there with .....
oh ho yea, give me another cheap shot, yea
oh ho yea, give me another cheap shot, yea
oh ho yea, give me another cheap shot
oh ho yea, give me another cheap shot
Shoot me

A million young poets
Screamin' out their words
To a world full of people
Just livin' to be heard
Future generations
Ridin' on the highways that we built
I hope they have better understanding

Check it out
Goin' to work on monday
Check it out
Got yourself a family
Check it out
All utility bills have been paid
You can't tell your best buddy that you love him
So check it out
Where does our time go
Check it out
Got a brand new house in Escrow
Check it out
Sleepin' with your back to your loved one
This is all that we've learned about happiness

Check it out
Forgot to say hello to my neighbors
Check it out
Sometimes I question my own behavior
Check it out
Talkin' about the girls that we've seen on the sly
Just to tell our souls we're still the young lions
So check it out
Gettin' to drunk on saturdays
Check it out
Playin' football with the kids on sundays
Check it out
Soarin' with the eagles all week long
And this is all that we've learned about living
This is all that we've learned about living

A million young poets
Screamin' out their words
Maybe someday
Those words will be heard
By future generations
Ridin' on the highways that we built
Maybe they'll have a better understanding
Check it out
Hope they'll have a better understanding
Check it out
Maybe they'll have a better understanding
Check it out
Maybe they'll have a better understanding
Check it out
Hope they'll have a better understanding
Check it out........

Well I lived on the outskirts of town
In a eight room farmhouse, baby
When my brothers and friends were around
There was always somethin' doin'
Had me a couple of real nice girlfriends
Stopped by to see me every once in while
When I think back about those days
All I can do is sit and smile

That's when a smoke was a smoke
And groovin' was groovin'
And dancin' meant everything
We were young and we were improvin'
Laughin', laughin' with our friends
Holdin' hands meant somethin' baby
Outside the club, cherry bomb
Our hearts were really thumpin'
Say yeah yeah yeah
Say yeah yeah yeah

The winter days they last forever
But the weekends went by so quick
Went ridin' around this little country town
We were goin' nuts, girl, out in the sticks
One night, me with my big mouth
A couple guys had to put me in my place
When I see those guys these days
We just laugh and say do you remember when

Chorus

Say yeah yeah yeah
Say yeah yeah yeah

Seventeen has turned thirty-five
I'm suprised that we're still livin'
If we've done any wrong
I hope that we're forgiven
Got a few kids on my own
And some days I still don't know what to do
I hope that they're not laughin' too loud
When they hear me talkin'
Like this to you

Chorus

China girl, i met you the sea sand
You touched me with your cool hand
Your perfume's in the wind

China girl, your darry tells you lies white
To keep you from my blue eyes
You know it ain't no sin

And i won't break you, china girl
If you take me into your arms
It's been my good fortune to fine you,
China girl

Stolen flowers are sweetest in the mornin'
The eastern sun is dawnin'
You silk's against my skin

China girl take me to your jasmine place
Cool me with your subtle grace
To know me is no sin

And i won't break you, china girl
If you take me into your arms
It's been my good fortune to fine you,
China girl

And i won't break you, china girl
If you take me into your arms
It's been my good fortune to fine you,
China girl

If you take me into your arms
It's been my good fortune to fine you,
China girl

Written by: John Mellencamp and George Green

There may come a day when you grow weary
Troubled waters stain the paper cup
From other venues, other voices carry
Spilled dreams soaking into thirsty dust

Maybe then and there you'll find another
Lover with a blank and empty heart
Filled with breath and old sails to discover
Strength to push the seas apart

On the day we met
I began to want you
On the day we met
I began to lose you too
Both of us circling round the moon
Both of us circling round the moon

There may come a day when you feel anger
China cracked and glued by clumsy hands
Veins of memory touching only hunger
the heart devours what it cannot understand

On the day we met
I began to want you
On the day we met
I began to lose you too
Both of us circling round the moon
Both of us circling round the moon

Maybe it was then I saw my future
Saw it as a shadow on the ground
Beneath the earth old nails to discover
Strength to hold my body down

On the day we met
I began to want you
On the day we met
I began to lose you too
Both of us circling round the moon

On the day we met
I began to want you, want you
On the day we met
I began to lose you too
Both of us circling round the moon
the both or us circling round the moon
both of us circling round the moon

I may not be a pillar in my town
Or have the kind of job you think that I should.
I know you see me out running around
With a couple of people
You think are no good.

I've tried to clean it up a couple of times, but I'm a
Backslidin' fool when it comes to walkin' that line.
It's OK. You think you're better than me.
Yeah, that's all right, girl, that's all right.

'Cause I'm close enough for rock and roll,
Close enough for rock and roll,
Close enough for rock and roll.
I'm close enough for a little rock...
And roll.

Yeah, it's true, I don't plan my time.
When you're lookin' for me, I'm hard to find.
I know you don't wanna run around with me.
With my socks fallin' down, girl, I'm just poor company.

I've seen your face, and it's a one-eyed jack.
We like to talk about this or that.
None of these things really interest me.
Hey, that's all right, girl, that's all right.

'Cause I'm close enough for rock and roll,
Close enough for rock and roll,
Close enough for rock and roll.
I'm close enough for a little rock.

I know you think I'm a rough cut, baby.
I ain't as rough cut as I am the blood on your hands.
Gonna love that blood right off of your hands.

Close enough for rock and roll,
Close enough for rock and roll.
Close enough for rock and roll,
Close enough for rock and roll.
Close enough for rock and roll,
Close enough for rock and roll.
Close enough for rock and roll,
Close enough for rock and roll.

Written by John Mellencamp

Country gentleman walked a crooked mile,
Got our money in his pocket.
Did it all with a very handsome smile.
Now, he's livin' it up in a great big office.
He ain't a-gonna help no poor man.
He ain't a-goona help no poor man.
He ain't a-gonna help no poor man.
He's just gonna help his rich friends.

He ain't a-gonna help no women.
He ain't a-gonna help no children.
He's just gonna help his rich friends.

Country gentleman, we see him on T.V.,
Glad handin' folks and chattin' to the nation.
We never knew what really to believe.
Just word upon slogan with emotional connection.

Chorus:
He ain't a-gonna help no poor man.
He ain't a-gonna help no children.
He ain't a-gonna help no women.
He's just gonna help his rich friends.

And in the papers all we'd ever read is
So and so big-shot signed his resignation.
Now, country gentleman he wants us to believe
That he's kind and honest with the best intentions.

Chorus

Country gentleman, now there's a bird that flew
High above his nation, prayed on its weakness.
Picked our bones and threw it in his stew.
Thank God he went back to California.

Chorus

Well the County Fair left quite a mess
In the county yard
Kids with eyes as big as dollars
Rode all the rides
Strip artists and con artists
Put on quite a show
And made some money
Then left town
Where they went I don’t know

Hey all you suckers
I heard a fat woman say
Come on in for fifty cents
You can stay in here all day
So I took a chance
I went inside
Wasn’t much there to see
So I asked her for my money back
And she just smiled at me

Saw Princess Tonyika taken off all her clothes
Rode some rides and played some games
Saw the Wild Man from Barneo
There was a black man playing the blues
Talked to some friends I hadn’t seen in a while
Through a football through a hoop

Well I saw them loading up their trucks
Taking down the rides
Folding up all the tents
There’s a full moon in the sky
Some were laughing some were cussing
As they worked
Saw one of them making love
To a local girl

I was minding my own business
It was quarter after two
When a fella walked up and said
Hey man
I remember you
And then he shoved me
And pulled out his knife
Stuck me three times in the chest
And I died that night

For the like of me I can’t remember
Who he was
And why he’d put a knife in me
In the dusty parking lot
Everybody said
What a shame it was
But he knew better than staying out
Past twelve o’clock

Some people put no value
On a human life
And there are places we all go
That just ain’t safe at night
If somebody would do this to me
They just might do it to you
So be careful where you go
And what you say or do

Well the County Fair left quite a mess
In the county yard

Well the County Fair left quite a mess
In the county yard
Kids with eyes as big as dollars
Rode all the rides
Strip artists and con artists
Put on quite a show
And made some money
Then left town
Where they went I don’t know

Hey all you suckers
I heard a fat woman say
Come on in for fifty cents
You can stay in here all day
So I took a chance
I went inside
Wasn’t much there to see
So I asked her for my money back
And she just smiled at me

Saw Princess Tonyika taken off all her clothes
Rode some rides and played some games
Saw the Wild Man from Barneo
There was a black man playing the blues
Talked to some friends I hadn’t seen in a while
Through a football through a hoop

Well I saw them loading up their trucks
Taking down the rides
Folding up all the tents
There’s a full moon in the sky
Some were laughing some were cussing
As they worked
Saw one of them making love
To a local girl

I was minding my own business
It was quarter after two
When a fella walked up and said
Hey man
I remember you
And then he shoved me
And pulled out his knife
Stuck me three times in the chest
And I died that night

For the like of me I can’t remember
Who he was
And why he’d put a knife in me
In the dusty parking lot
Everybody said
What a shame it was
But he knew better than staying out
Past twelve o’clock

Some people put no value
On a human life
And there are places we all go
That just ain’t safe at night
If somebody would do this to me
They just might do it to you
So be careful where you go
And what you say or do

Well the County Fair left quite a mess
In the county yard

She's got tights on her legs
She's got a floppy French hat
Voodoo in her eyes
An endangered species on her back

She talks about the movies
She likes to talk about art
She can show you a good time
But you'll never touch her heart

Mama why do I always fall for the crazy ones
Mama why do they lay so heavy on my heart
Well I'm drawn to the devil every time we kiss
Mama why do the crazy ones leave me feeling like this

She's got backstage access
And she's a dancin' in the aisles
She looks a little sad and crooked
When you see her smile

She's got the magic heart
She says you cannot understand
She's got a secret hurt
She ain't gonna share with no man

Mama why do I always fall for the crazy ones
Mama why do they lay so heavy on my heart
Well I'm drawn to the devil every time we kiss
Mama why do the crazy ones leave me feeling like this

She's got her mind on her business
She never wants to be broke
Well, I hate to see her suffer
But she just does not get the joke

I can't afford her style of living
I can't afford to get so mad
Every time I think about her
It just makes me sad

Mama why do I always fall for the crazy ones
Mama why do they lay so heavy on my heart
Well I'm drawn to the devil every time we kiss
Mama why do the crazy ones leave me feeling like this

Mama why do I always fall for the crazy ones
Mama why do I always fall for the crazy ones
Well I'm drawn to the devil every time we kiss
Mama why do the crazy ones leave me feeling like this

Some people ain't no damn good
You can't trust 'em you can't love 'em
No good deed goes unpunished
And I don't mind bein' their whippin' boy
I've had that pleasure for years and years
No no I never was a sinner--tell me what else can I do
Second best is what you get 'til you learn to bend the rules
And time respects no person--what you lift up must fall
They're waiting outside to claim my tumblin' walls
Saw my picture in the paper
Read the news around my face
And now some people don't want to treat me the same
When the walls come tumblin' down
When the walls come crumblin' crumblin'
When the walls come tumblin' tumblin' down
Some people say I'm obnoxious and lazy
I'm uneducated--my opinion means nothin'
But I know I'm a real good dancer
Don't need to look over my shoulder to see what I'm after
Everybody's got their problems--ain't no new news here
I'm the same old trouble you've been havin' for years
Don't confuse the problem with the issue girl
It's perfectly clear
Just a human desire to have you come near
Wanna put my arms around you
Feel your breath in my ear
You can bend me you can break me
But you'd better stand clear
Repeat chorus

My baby is a cry cry baby,
She sits on my lap and balls,

My baby is a top mechanic,
She works with my nuts until,
She'll do it, do it, do it,
do it, do it, do it, do it, she'll go down, she'll go down.

I Want You to Dance Naked
So I Can See Ya
I'd Like To Get To Know Ya
You Dont Have To Act Naughty

Spin Around, And Round
Spin Around, Round And Round

I Want You To Dance Naked
I Promiss I Wont Touch You
I Promiss To Tell No One
I Want You To Dance Naked

Spin Around, And Round
Spin Around, Round And Round
Spin Around, Round And Round

I Want You To Dance Naked
If You'd Like I'll Join You
I Want To Enjoy Your Body
I Want To Hear Your Secrets

I Want To Know If You Like Me
As Much As I Like You
I Want You To Dance Naked
But Only If You Want To

Spin Around, And Round
Spin Around, Round And Round
Spin Around, Round And Round

I Want You To Dance Naked
So I Can See You
I'd Like To Get To Know You
But Only If You'd Want To

Spin Around, And Round
Spin Around, Round And Round
Spin Around, Round And Round
Spin Around, Round And Round

I Want You To Dance Naked

Office girls, they pass me by.
They don't know my name.
Put me on the danger list,
Just too wild to tame.

Take the drinks off of the table.
Throw my guitar out the door.
Set my sights on some new sunrise.
Help my feet to the floor.

I ain't lookin' for affection.
I guess I need myself a shove.
Give me someone I can look up to.
Show me someone I can love.

Good boys go to heaven,
Good girls say their prayers.
Me, I don't say anything at all.
I hope the Big Man still cares.

Touch my soul with your religion.
Cut my throat with your spite.
Hurt me with your silence, girl.
Stay with me, stay with me,
Stay with me tonight.

I ain't lookin' for affection.
I guess I need myself a shove.
Give me someone I can look up to.
Show me someone I can love.

I ain't lookin' for affection.
I guess I need myself a shove.
Give me someone I can look up to.
Show me someone I can love.

Don't go starin' at me.
Makes me feel so insecure.
Talk behind my back if you want to.
I don't hear no more.

Take me to my destination.
Put me on the plane.
Fly me up to heaven, dear Lord.
Take me home again.

I ain't lookin' for affection.
I guess I need myself a shove.
Give me someone I can look up to.
Show me someone I can love.

I ain't lookin' for affection.
I guess I need myself a shove.
Give me someone I can look up to.
Show me someone I can love.

Be careful How you walk
These days are evil Look how you talk
I hear there are people that are listening
This mystery Is up to you
So you be careful What you do
I know There are people who are wondering

These are the days of farewell
Halfway undecided That's our peace That's our peace

Be careful The friends you keep
He might not really Be your friend
He belongs To the wishing and the wandering
Be careful Too much at stake
You don't want ever To be wronged
Don't you ever Let the dirty business make you clean

These are the days of farewell
Halfway undecided That's our peace Amen Amen

Glory be to God I will bless the Lord at all times
His words shall continually be in my mouth with praise
For I am here today 'cause He said that I would live
There's no reason why HIV shouldn't have missed my daughter and my life
But it did Through the eyes of God, he saw fit for me to be here
I will praise the Lord at all times
As we live in the last days the Devil will always be up under my feet
And I will praise his name
Hallelujah

Don't you pretend To be something
That you are not Hear me my friend
I'll tell you what I know It will only sicken you
Let us be grateful For what you've got
Help me to know What I am not
Of my friend There are people who are wondering

These are the days of farewell
It's undecided It's undecided
Oh my friend Oh my friend Oh my friend
My friend My friend My friend
It's undecided
Too much Too much Too Much
Too much at stake for you and me

I got a letter this morning
How do
You reckon it read?
"Hurry the gal you love is dead"?

I got a letter this morning
I'm wonderin'
How you reckon it read
He say, "hurry, hurry"
"On account that gal you love is dead"

I grabbed up my suitcase
I took off down the road
When I got there she was laying
On the coolin' board
Yes, I grabbed up my suitcase

I took off down the road

When I got there
She was laying
'Lain on the coolin' board:

Well,
I walked up right close
I look down in her face
Oh, good gal
Gotta lay here 'til judgement day

I said I walked up right close
I said I look down in her face

Oh, the good ol' gal!
Gotta lay here 'til judgement day:

Look like ten thousand people
Standing 'round the burying ground
I didn't know I loved her 'til they laid her down

Look like ten thousand
Standing 'round the burial ground

I didn't know that I love her
'Til they laid her down:

Well,
I fol' up my arms
I slowly walk away
I say
Farewell honey. I see you judgement day.

Yeah, with nobody:
I slowly walk away

Farewell! Farewell! I see you judgement day:

You know
I didn't feel so bad 'til the good ol' sun when down
I didn't have a soul
To throw my arms around

I didn't feel so bad
'Til the good ol' sun down

I didn't have a soul

To throw my arms around:

You know it's so hard to love
Someone
Don't love you

Look like it ain't satisfaction
Don't care what you do
Yeah: so hard
To love
Someone
Don't love you

Seem like it ain't satisfaction
Don't care what you do:

Well,
I woke up this mornin'
The break of day
Just huggin' the pillows
She used to lay
-I say, soon.
This mourning
At break of day

Just huggin' the pillows
Where my good gal used to lay:

And I got up
This morning
Feeling
'Round for my shoes
You know I must have
The walking blues

I say, soon.
This mourning
Feeling 'round for my shoes

You know
Nobody?

I must have the walking blues:

Hush!
Thought I heard her call my name
Wasn't so loud
So nice and plain

I say, soon.
This mourning
I slowly walk away

Oh, good gal
Lay here 'til judgement day:

Written by John Mellencamp

Daylight is leaving
And the night is closing in
In just a few hours
The sleeplessness begins again
My head feels thick
And I'm unable to think
I guess I'll wait 'til tomorrow
And see what it brings
I have a little hope left
And I guess that's someplace to start
But my memory's full
Of a deep blue heart.

My fun-loving sense of humor
Is nowhere to be found
I stare into my own eyes
With tears flowing down
I'd sing out a song
But I've forgotten the tune
And the words now escape me
But I think it's about you
My vision now is way out in the dark
With just a little sight left
Of a deep blue heart

I see us both flying
In the clear blue sky
Floating out on the ocean
With the sun in our eyes
Caught in a moment
Just me and you
In complete honesty
Where everything is true
That's what I wanted to believe
Right from the start
Just a little place for myself
In a deep blue heart

Carve out a place for myself
In your deep blue heart

Now There's a man you'll hear about
Most anywhere you go,
And his holdings are in Texas
And his name is Diamond Joe.

And he carries all his money
In a diamond-studded jar.
He never took much trouble
With the process of the law.

I hired out to Diamond Joe, boys,
Did offer him my hand,
He gave a string of horses
So old they could not stand.

And I nearly starved to death, boys,
He did mistreat me so,
And I never saved a dollar
In the pay of Diamond Joe.

Now his bread it was corn dodger
And his meat you couldn't chaw,
Nearly drove me crazy
With the waggin' of his jaw.

And the tellin' of his story,
Mean to let you know
That there never was a rounder
That could lie like Diamond Joe.

Now, I tried three times to quit him,
But he did argue so
I'm still punchin' cattle
In the pay of Diamond Joe.

And when I'm called up yonder
And it's my time to go,
Give my blankets to my buddies
Give the fleas to Diamond Joe.

Written by John Mellencamp

Well I see you've got a new boyfriend
Got your mixed up husband too
I got 25 dollars in my pocket
Want me to spend it all on you
But I know that you cheat on all of us
That's just the way that you do
Hey, girl, I don't care where you've been
I know, I've been there too

Chorus:
Woo, woo baby, Do you think that's fair?
Do we really have to be so lonely and so scared
Woo, woo baby, Do you think that's fair?
Well I know this is up to me and you
We make this thing turn out like we want to
Well, last time I thought about you
Didn't really think that much
And the last time we spoke you said
You were afraid of my touch
And then you went your way
I stumbled down a highway, I went mine
You know, I think it's funny the
Way infatuation gets beat up by the time

CHORUS

Well I see your life has evolved
Into one big masquerade
And all of those old fools you used to run to
They shot you full of old age
Well, don't go expecting too much no, no
From this new love affair
Probably fall flat on its face
No one to pick you up, no one who cares

CHORUS

Written by John Mellencamp

I bring you renegade stories
And you tell me I'm crazy and wild
You say that I lack maturity
Stop actin' like a child
But you know I am a liar
And my promises only get in my way
You feel so good, when you're in my arms
Ain't there one right thing I can say
To make oyu want to stay

Chorus:
Oh, oh baby, baby
Don't misunderstand me
oh, oh baby, baby

You tell me that you love me but
This ain't no way for you to live
You hold so tight your fingers are broken
I take more than I care to give
But it's heartbeat to heartbeat
It's push and shove and steal and prove
It's hand to mouth sometimes
If we run hard enough someday baby
Gonna find some room to move

Chorus

All of this showin' and provin'
Is nothing but fear
Everybody can do what they want
But they just can't do it here
Girl hold on to my childishness
I'm gonna break on through
Out of this mess

Chorus

This getting older
Ain’t for cowards
This getting older
Is a lot to go through
Ain’t a gonna need this body
Much longer
Ain’t a gonna need this body
Much more

Well I can’t see much
Like I used to
And I can’t run like the wind
I don't sleep more
Than just a few hours
I can’t remember where I’ve been

Ain't a gonna need this body much longer
Ain't a gonna need this body much more
I put in a ten million hours
Washed up and worn out for sure

Well all my friends are
Sick or dying
And I’m here all by myself
All I got left
Is a head full of memories
And a thought of my upcoming death

Ain't a gonna need this body much longer
Ain't a gonna need this body much more
I put in a ten million hours
Washed up and worn out for sure

Well I know one thing
I’ll die easy
And I know my life
Is not in vain
Because I loved
And I fought with many
And the people they loved me just the same

Ain't a gonna need this body much longer
Ain't a gonna need this body much more
I put in a ten million hours
Washed up and worn out
Washed up and worn out for sure
This getting older
Well it ain’t for cowards
This getting older
Is a lot to go through

This getting older
Ain’t for cowards
This getting older
Is a lot to go through
Ain’t a gonna need this body
Much longer
Ain’t a gonna need this body
Much more

Well I can’t see much
Like I used to
And I can’t run like the wind
I don't sleep more
Than just a few hours
I can’t remember where I’ve been

Ain't a gonna need this body much longer
Ain't a gonna need this body much more
I put in a ten million hours
Washed up and worn out for sure

Well all my friends are
Sick or dying
And I’m here all by myself
All I got left
Is a head full of memories
And a thought of my upcoming death

Ain't a gonna need this body much longer
Ain't a gonna need this body much more
I put in a ten million hours
Washed up and worn out for sure

Well I know one thing
I’ll die easy
And I know my life
Is not in vain
Because I loved
And I fought with many
And the people they loved me just the same

Ain't a gonna need this body much longer
Ain't a gonna need this body much more
I put in a ten million hours
Washed up and worn out
Washed up and worn out for sure
This getting older
Well it ain’t for cowards
This getting older
Is a lot to go through

Written by: John Mellencamp

Dear Mr. President
I live in the suburbs
It's a long way from Washington , D.C.
Had me a job
Workin' for wages
Till the company moved out
And they forgot about me
Can't draw unemployment
For some unknown reason
My kids are hungry
I've got four mouths to feed
I go out every day looking for suitable employment
Do you think there's something you could do for me
Cause I'm

Chorus
Down and out here in paradise
Down and out and I'm on my knees
I'm down and out here in paradise
Looks like the milk and honey
Done run out on me

Dear Mr. President
I used to be a dancer
Got a little bit too old
So I became a secretary
Married a man
In Las Vegas, Nevada
And ten years later
He ran out on the kids and me
Some said I was pretty
But those days are over
Now I've no place to live
And I'm out on the streets
Oh, Mr. President
Can I tell you a secret
I never ever thought that this could happen to me
Cause I'm

Chorus

Dear Mr. President
I'm just a young kid
I'm in the fourth grade
At Riley Elementary
My mom and dad's been actin' funny
I'm not sure what
If it's got something to do with me
My daddy's always drunk
My mom's a babysitter
And I don't like the Russians
Cause I hear they hate me
Dear Mr. President
Can I ask you one question
When the bombs fall down
Will they hurt everyone in my family
Yeah, yeah

Chorus

Well now, baby meet me in the bottom, bring me my running shoes
Well now, baby meet me in the bottom, bring me my running shoes
Well, I'll come out the window, I won't have time to lose.

When you see me streaking by, please don't be late
When you see me streaking by, please don't be late
Well, when you see me moving, though my life is at stake

Well, I hope you'll see me, when I come streaking by
Well, I hope you'll see me, when I come streaking by
She got a bad old man, you know I'm too young to die

I got to leave here. Get caught in there