John Mellencamp Album

Scarecrow on a wooden cross Blackbird in the barn
Four hundred empty acres that used to be my farm
I grew up like my daddy did My grandpa cleared this land
When I was five I walked the fence while grandpa held my hand

Rain on the scarecrow Blood on the plow
This land fed a nation This land made me proud
And Son I'm just sorry there's no legacy for you now
Rain on the scarecrow Blood on the plow
Rain on the scarecrow Blood on the plow

The crops we grew last summer weren't enough to pay the loans
Couldn't buy the seed to plant this spring and the
Farmers Bank foreclosed
Called my old friend Schepman up to auction off the land
He said John it's just my job and I hope you understand
Hey calling it your job ol' hoss sure don't make it right
But if you want me to I'll say a prayer for your soul tonight
And grandma's on the front porch swing with a Bible in her hand
Sometimes I hear her singing "Take me to the Promised Land"
When you take away a man's dignity he can't
Work his fields and cows

There'll be blood on the scarecrow Blood on the plow
Blood on the scarecrow Blood on the plow

Well there's ninety-seven crosses planted in the courthouse yard
Ninety-seven families who lost ninety-seven farms
I think about my grandpa and my neighbors and my name
And some nights I feel like dyin' Like that scarecrow in the rain

Rain on the scarecrow Blood on the plow
This land fed a nation This land made me proud
And Son I'm just sorry they're just memories for you now
Rain on the scarecrow Blood on the plow
Rain on the scarecrow Blood on the plow

Rain on the scarecrow Blood on the plow
This land fed a nation This land made me proud
And Son I'm just sorry they're just memories for you now
Rain on the scarecrow Blood on the plow
Rain on the scarecrow Blood on the plow

Was a dark stormy night
As the train rattled on
All the passengers had gone to bed
Except a young man with a baby in his arms
Who sat there with a bowed-down head

The innocent one began crying just then
As though its poor heart would break
One angry man said, "Make that child stop its noise
For it's keeping all of us awake."

[Grandma's Theme is a part of the traditional song listed below:]

[The Baggage Coach Ahead]

On a dark and stormy night as the train rolled on
All passengers gone to bed,
Except a young man with a babe on his arm
Sat sadly with bowed down head;
Just then the babe commenced crying
As though its poor heart would break.
One angry man said, "Make that child stop its noise,
For it's keeping us all awake."

"Put it out," said another, "Don't keep it in here;
We've paid for our berth and want rest."
But never a word said the man with the child,
As he fondled it close to his breast.
"Oh where is its mother? Go take it to her,"
One lady then softly said.
"I wish I could," was the man's sad reply.
"But she's dead in the coach ahead."
As the train rolled onward, a husband set in tears,
Thinking of the happiness of just a few short years.
Baby's face brings pictures of a cherished hope now dead,
But baby's cries can't awaken her in the baggage coach ahead.
Every eye filled with tears as the story he told
Of a wife who was faithful and true;
He told how he'd saved up his earnings for years,
Just to build a home for two;
How when heaven had sent them their sweet little babe,
Their young happy lives were blest;
His heart seemed to break when he mentioned her name,
And in tears tried to tell them the rest.

Every woman arose to assist with the child;
There were mothers and wives on that train.
And soon was the little one sleeping in peace,
With no thought of sorrow or pain.
Next morn at the station he bade all goodbye,
"God bless you," he softly said,
Each one had a story to tell in their homes
Of the baggage coach ahead.

Well I was born in a small town
And I live in a small town
Prob'ly die in a small town
Oh, those small communities

All my friends are so small town
My parents live in the same small town
My job is so small town
Provides little opportunity

Educated in a small town
Taught the fear of Jesus in a small town
Used to daydream in that small town
Another boring romantic that's me

But I've seen it all in a small town
Had myself a ball in a small town
Married an L.A. doll and brought her to this small town
Now she's small town just like me

No I cannot forget where it is that I come from
I cannot forget the people who love me
Yeah, I can be myself here in this small town
And people let me be just what I want to be

Got nothing against a big town
Still hay seed enough to say
Look who's in the big town
But my bed is in a small town
Oh, and that's good enough for me

Well I was born in a small town
And I can breathe in a small town
Gonna die in this small town
And that's prob'ly where they'll bury me

On a Greyhound thirty miles beyond Jamestown
He saw the sun set on the Tennessee line
He looked at the young man who was riding beside him
He said I'm old kind of worn out inside
I worked my whole life in the steel mills of Gary
And my father before me I helped build this land
Now I'm seventy-seven and with God as my witness
I earned every dollar that passed through my hands
My family and friends are the best thing I've known
Through the eye of the needle I'll carry them home

[Chorus:]
Days turn to minutes
And minutes to memories
Life sweeps away the dreams
That we have planned
You are young and you are the future
So suck it up and tough it out
And be the best you can

The rain hit the old dog in the twilight's last gleaming
He said Son it sounds like rattling old bones
This highway is long but I know some that are longer
By sunup tomorrow I guess I'll be home
Through the hills of Kentucky 'cross the Ohio river
The old man kept talking 'bout his life and his times
He fell asleep with his head against the window
He said an honest man's pillow is his peace of mind
This world offers riches and riches will grow wings
I don't take stock in those uncertain things

[Chorus]

The old man had a vision but it was hard for me to follow
I do things my way and I pay a high price
When I think back on the old man and the bus ride
Now that I'm older I can see he was right

Another hot one out on highway eleven
This is my life It's what I've chosen to do
There are no free rides No one said it'd be easy
The old man told me this my son i'm telling it to you

[Chorus]

She calls me up and says baby it’s a lonely ol’ night
I don’t know I’m just so scared and lonely all at the same time
Nobody told us it was gonna work out this way no, no, no, no, no
I guess they knew we’d work it out in our own way
Chorus:
It’s a lonely ol’ night
Can I put my arms around you
It’s a lonely ol’ night
Custom made for two lonely people like me and you

Radio playing softly some singer’s sad sad song
He’s singing about standing in the shadows of love
I guess he feels awfully alone
She says I know exactly what he means yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
And it’s a sad, sad feeling when you’re living on those in-betweens
But it’s okay

Chorus:
It’s a lonely ol’ night
Can I put my arms around you
It’s a lonely ol’ night
Custom made for two lonely people like me and you

She calls me baby she calls everybody baby
It’s a lonely ol’ night but ain’t they all

Chorus:
It’s a lonely ol’ night
Can I put my arms around you
It’s a lonely ol’ night
Custom made for two lonely people like me and you

As I run through this life
Sometimes it breaks my heart
Seein' old people goin' downtown
Stumblin' their way through the dark
And the little babies cry
For their mothers' warmth
Sometimes I feel so helpless
I don't know where to start

[Chorus:]
And the face of the nation
Keeps changin' and changin'
The face of th enation
I don't recognize it no more
The face of the neation
The face of the nation

So many lonely people
Damn those broken dreams
Oh yes it could be better
You can say that about anything
Some got it worse than me
Some got it worse than you
You see the people starvin' underneath the tree
And you wonder what happened to the golden rule

[Chorus]

You know babe I'm gonna keep on tryin'
To put things right
If only for me and you
Cause the devil sleeps tonight

[Chorus]

He was born on the fourth day of July
So his parents called him Independence Day
He married a girl named Justice who gave birth
To a son called Nation
Then she walked away
Independence he would daydream and he'd pretend
That someday him and Justice and Nation would
Get together again
But Justice held up in a shotgun shack
And she wouldn't let nobody in
So a Nation cried

[Chorus:]
Oh Oh
When a Nation cries
His tears fall down like missiles from the skies
Justice look into Independence's eyes
Can you make everyrhing alright
Can you keep your Nation warm tonight

Well Nation grew up and got himself a reputation
Couldn't keep the boy at home no no
He just kept running 'round and 'round and 'round and 'round
Independence and Justice well they felt so ashamed
When the Nation fell down they argued who was to blame
Nation if you'll just come home we'll have this family again
Oh Nation don't cry

[Chorus]

Roll a rock across the Country
Everbody come along
When you're feelin' down yeah yeah
Just sing this song yeah yeah

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
Don't be discouraged by the future forget the past
That's old advise but it'll be good to you
I know there's a balance 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'

[Repeat]
When paradise can no longer amuse you.....

All the leaves are green
All my friends are gone
I'm livin' in my hometown
I can barely get along
I feel sorry for myself
That's an easy thing to do
I feel sorry for the world
I feel sorry for you
Yes I am a pitiful sight
I can't even get one thing right

[Chorus:]
I know just what it's like
To be ridin' in the rumbleseat
Yes I know just what it's like
To be a big time rider in the rumbleseat

Well I could have a nervous breakdown
But I don't believe in shrinks
I should be drunker than a monkey
But I don't like to drink
Call up some girls
But I'm afraid of the phone
I'm always talkin' to myself
I guess I'm never alone
Am I the only one that feels this way
I'd buy myself some stylish clothes
But I sure hate to pay

[Chorus]

The sun is coming up
Just goin' to bed
I combed my hair with my pillow
Still got some dreams left
Tomorrow is a new day
Gonna make these dreams come true
I'm gonna believe in myself
I'll tell you what I'm gonna do
I'm gonna stop puttin' myself down
I'm gonna turn my life around

I'll be ridin' high
With my feet kicked up in the rumbleseat
Yeah we'll go for a drive
And we'll be singin' shotgun from that rumbleseat
Yes I'll blow you a kiss
And we'll be ridin' big time in my rumbleseat

I've seen the Rolling Stones
Forgot about Johnny Rotten
Saw the Who back in '69
Saw Bobby Seal
Talkin' to the Panthers
Sayin' just what he had on his mind
I saw Marlon Brando
On a motorcycle
He was actin' out rebellion
I saw Rocky Stallone
In an X-rated movie
Called the Italian Stallion
I've seen lots of things
But I have not seen a lot of other things

[Chorus:]
(But I know)
You've got to stand for something
Or you're gonna fall for anything
You've gotta stand right up for somethin'
Or you're gonna fall....for anything

I saw Nikita Krushchev
Kissin' Fidel Castro
Saw a man walkin' on the moon
I saw Miss America
In a girly magazine
I bet you saw that too

I've seen the London Bridge
In the middle of a desert
Seen 33 years go by
I know the American people
Paid a high price for justice
And I don't know why
Nobody seems to know why
I know a lot of things
But I don't know a lot of other things...Yeah Yeah Yeah

[Chorus]

Well I've been to Harlem County
And I've seen Paris, Texas
And I've spent some time in Rome
I know a lot of funny people
In a lot of funny places
But the Midwest is my home
We've got to start respectin' this world
Or it's gonna turn around and bite off our face

[Chorus]

They come from the cities and they come from the smaller towns
beat up cars with guitars and drummers goin crack boom bam

R O C K in the USA
R O C K in the USA
R O C K in the USA

yeah yeah rockin in the USA

they said goodbye to their families said goodbye to their friends
with pipe dreams in their heads and very lil money in their hands
some are black and some are white
aint to proud to sleep on the floor tonight
with blind faith in jesus you know that they just might
rockin in the usa

HEY!

Voices from nowhere and voices from the larger towns
filled our heads full of dreams and turned our world upside down
there was frankie lymon,bobby fuller,mitch rider,they were rockin
jackie wilson,shangri las,young rascals,they were rockin,spotlight on Martha Reeves
and dont forget James Brown

rockin in the usa

HEY!

R O C K in the USA
R O C K in the USA
R O C K in the USA(repeat)

Well I don't like it when I see your eyes dartin'
Back and forth across the room
And I don't like it when I see you doin' dances
Baby that I ain't used to

[Chorus:]
But that's the kind of fella I am
That's the kind of fella I am
I'm a jealous kinda fella
And I might fall in love with you
I'm a jealous kinda fella
And I just might fall in love with you
Hey

Well I don't like it when you try to impress me
With your daddy's jewels and his car
And I don't like it when I hear you talkin'
'Bout your ex-boyfriend the movie star

What I like is when you walk me home
And you let me hold you tight
But I don't like it when I hear that you learned
All this from some other guy

[Chorus]

So look out

[Chorus]