Despite John ‘Cougar’ Mellencamp’s many hits, “Jack And Diane” remains his sole chart-topper, having hit #1 in the US in the fall of 1982. It was ranked the #7 song of 1982 by Billboard. The song also reached #3 in Canada and #5 in Australia.
According to Mellencamp, “Jack & Diane” was original...
[Verse 1]
Little ditty 'bout Jack and Diane
Two American kids growin' up in the heartland
Jackie gon' be a football star
Diane's debutante backseat of Jackie's car
[Verse 2]
Suckin' on a chili dog outside the Tastee Freez
Diane's sittin' on Jackie's lap, he's got his hands between her knees
Jackie say, "Hey Diane, lets run off behind a shady tree
Dribble off those Bobby Brooks slacks and do what I please"
[Chorus]
Say a, oh yeah, life goes on
Long after the thrill of livin' is gone
Say, oh yeah, life goes on
Long after the thrill of livin' is gone
They walk on
[Verse 3]
Jackie sits back, collects his thoughts for the moment
Scratches his head and does his best James Dean
"Well then, there Diane, we oughta run off to the city"
Diane says, "Baby, you ain't missin' a thing"
[Chorus]
But Jacky say a, "Oh yeah, life goes on
Long after the thrill of livin' is gone"
Oh yeah, they say life goes on
Long after the thrill of livin' is gone
[Bridge]
So let it rock, let it roll
Let the Bible Belt come and save my soul
Holdin' on to sixteen as long as you can
Changes come around real soon, make us women and men
[Chorus]
Oh yeah, life goes on
Long after the thrill of livin' is gone
Oh yeah, they say life goes on
Long after the thrill of livin' is gone
[Outro]
A little ditty 'bout Jack and Diane
Two American kids doin' the best they can
Jack & Diane was written by John Mellencamp.
Jack & Diane was produced by John Mellencamp & Don Gehman.
In 2008, Mellencamp said:
I owe Mick Ronson the hit song ‘Jack & Diane’. Mick was very instrumental in helping me arrange that song, as I’d thrown it on the junk heap … All of a sudden, for ‘Jack & Diane,’ Mick said, ‘Johnny, you should put baby rattles on there.’ I thought, ‘What the f— do...