John Mellencamp
John Mellencamp
John Mellencamp
John Mellencamp
John Mellencamp
John Mellencamp
John Mellencamp
John Mellencamp
John Mellencamp
John Mellencamp
John Mellencamp
[Verse 1]
She had a dream
And boy it was a good one
So she chased after her dream
With much desire
But when she got too close
To her expectations
Well the dream burned up
Like paper in fire
[Chorus]
Paper in fire
Stinkin' up the ashtrays
Paper in fire
Smokin' up the alleyways
Who's to say the way
A man should spend his days?
Do you let them smolder
Like paper in fire?
[Verse 2]
He wanted love
With no involvement
So he chased the wind
That's all his silly life required
And the days of vanity
Went on forever
And he saw his days burn up
Like paper in fire
[Chorus]
Paper in fire
Stinkin' up the ashtrays
Paper in fire
Smokin' up the alleyways
Who's to say the way
A man should spend his days?
Do you let them smolder
Like paper in fire?
[Verse 3]
There's a good life
Right across this green field
And each generation
Stares at it from afar
But we keep no check
On our appetites
So the green fields turn to brown
Like paper in fire
[Chorus]
Paper in fire
Stinkin' up the ashtrays
Paper in fire
Blowin' down the alleyways
Who's to say the way
A man should spend his days?
Do you let them smolder
Like paper in fire?
Paper in fire
Stinkin' up the ashtrays
Paper in fire
Blowin' down the alleyways
Who's to say the way
A man should spend his days?
Do you let them smolder
Like paper in fire?
[Outro]
Paper in fire
Paper in Fire was written by John Mellencamp.
Paper in Fire was produced by John Mellencamp & Don Gehman.
John Mellencamp released Paper in Fire on Sat Aug 15 1987.
A song like “Paper In Fire”…I didn’t really have to title the song, it titled itself. That was the only logical, creative choice. There’s nothing else to call that song."
–Via AmericanSongwriter (2005)