Album Details

Release Date: November 4th, 1985 on Riva Records

Remastered & Rereleased w/Bonus Track: May 24th, 2005 on Mercury/Island/UMe

Buy Online: Amazon - iTunes

ALBUM CREDITS:
Kenny Aronoff: Drums, Tambourine, Vibraphone, Vocals (Background)
Larry Crane: Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Vocals (Background)
Mike Wanchic: Guitar, Guitar (Electric), Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Toby Myers: Bass (Electric), Guitar (Bass), Vocals (Background)
John Cougar Mellencamp: Vocals, Producer

GUESTS
John Cascella: Keyboards
Richard Fanning: Trumpet
Sarah Flint: Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Rickie Lee Jones: Vocals on "Between a Laugh and A Tear"
Mimi Mapes: Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Laura Mellencamp: Vocals on "Grandma's Theme"
A. Jack Wilkins: Saxophone
Ross Alexander: Engineer
Bob Cato: Art Direction, Cover Design, Design
Greg Edward: Engineer, Mixing
Rick Fettig: Assistant Engineer
Bob Ludwig: Mastering
George Tutko: Mxing
Don Gehman: Engineer, Mixing, producer

PRODUCTION CREDITS:
Produced by: Little Bastard (aka John Mellencamp) and Don Gehman
Engineers: Greg Edward and Don Gehman
Assistant Engineer: Rick Fettig
Mastering Engineer: Bob Ludwig, Masterdisk, New York, NY
Mixed By: George Tutko, Greg Edward and Don Gehman
Photography: Marc Hauser
Art Design and Direction: Bob Cato
Special Thanks To: O.J. Sloane, R.V., Denny, Greg Edward and Don Gehman for the studio design. Management: Tommy Mottola, Champion Entertainment Organization, INC
Recorded at: Belmont Mall Studio, Belmont, Indiana, Spring 1985

ALBUM LYRICS:

"Rain On The Scarecrow"

Written by John Mellencamp and George Green

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

(Chorus)
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 loan
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
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
Hey 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 so 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
Ooooooh yeah



"Grandma's Theme"

Traditional

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
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
"The Baggage Coach Ahead." Here are those lyrics:

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.



"Small Town"

Written by John Mellencamp

Well I was born in a small town
And I live in a small town
Probably 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 from 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 hayseed 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
Oh that's probably where they'll bury me



"Minutes To Memories"

Written by John Mellencamp and George M. Green

On a Greyhound thirty miles beyond Jamestown
He saw the sun set on the Tennessee line
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 things 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's 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
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)
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 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‘s 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)
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



"Lonely Ol' Night"

Written by John Mellencamp

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 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

(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

Girl like me and you
Yeah like me and you



"The Face of The Nation"

Written by John Mellencamp

As I run through this life
Sometimes it breaks my heart
Seein' the 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 the nation
I don't recognize it no more
The face of the nation
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)
The face of the nation
Keeps changin' and changin'
The face of the nation
I don't recognize it no more
The face of the nation
Hey face of the nation

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)
And the face of the nation
Keeps changin' and changin'
The face of the nation
I don't recognize it no more
And The face of the nation
Keeps changin' and changin'
The face of the nation
I don't recognize it no more

The face of the nation
Hey face of the nation
The face of the nation
Hey face of the nation
The face of the nation
Hey face of the nation
The face of the nation
Hey face of the nation



"Justice and Independence '85"

Written by John Mellencamp

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 be together again
But Justice held up in a shotgun shack
And she wouldn't let nobody in
So a Nation cried

(Chorus)
Oh Ooh
When a Nation cries
His tears fall down like missiles from the skies
Justice look into Independence's eyes
Can you make everything 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 around and around and around
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)
Oh Ooh
When a Nation cries
His tears fall down like missiles from the skies
Justice look into Independence's eyes
Can you make everything alright
Can you keep your Nation warm tonight

Well we're rockin' around the country yeah yeah
Everbody come along
When you're feelin' down yeah yeah
Just sing this song yeah yeah



"Between A Laugh And A Tear"

Written by John Mellencamp

When paradise is no longer fit for you to live in
Your adolescent dreams are gone
Through the days you feel a little used up
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

(Chorus)
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
Hypocrite used to be such a big word to you
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 advice but it'll be good to you
I know there's a balance see it when I swing past

(Chorus)
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'

(Chorus)
Yeah yeah yeah
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 oh

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



"Rumbleseat"

Written by John Mellencamp

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' 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)
I know just what it's like
To be ridin' ridin' in the rumbleseat
Yes I know just what it's like
To be a big time rider in the rumbleseat

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
Yeah



"You've Got To Stand For Somethin'"

Written by John Mellencamp

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
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
But I know

(Chorus)
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 Khrushchev
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)
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 yeah yeah yeah

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)
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 yeah yeah yeah

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 yeah yeah yeah



"R.O.C.K. In the U.S.A. (A Salute To 60's Rock)"

Written by John Mellencamp

They come from the cities
And they come from the smaller towns
Beat up cars with guitars and drummers
Goin' crack boom bam

(Chorus)
R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.
R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.
R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A., Yeah, Yeah!
Rockin' in the U.S.A.

Well they said goodbye to their families
Said goodbye to their friends
With the pipe dreams in their heads
And very little money in their hands
Some are black and some are white
Ain't to proud to sleep on the floor tonight
With the blind faith of Jesus you know that they just might, be
Rockin' in the U.S.A.
Hey!

Voices from nowhere
And voices from the larger towns
Filled our head full of dreams
And turned the world upside down

There was Frankie Lyman-Bobby Fuller-Mitch Ryder
(They were Rockin')
Jackie Wilson-Shangra-las-Young Rascals
(They were Rockin')
Spotlight on Martha Reeves
Let's don't forget James Brown
Rockin' in the U.S.A.
Rockin' in the U.S.A.
Hey!

(Chorus)
R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.
R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.
R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.,
Rockin' in the U.S.A.

(Chorus)
R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.
R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.
R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.,
Rockin' in the U.S.A.



"The Kind Of Fella I Am"

Written by: John Mellencamp

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 just 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

But what I like is when I walk you 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)
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 yeah yeah yeah
I'm a jealous kinda fella
And I just might fall in love with you

So look out

(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 yeah, yeah yeah
I'm a jealous kinda fella
I got my eye on you

(Chorus)
Well that's the kind of fella I am
That's the kind of fella I am
I'm a jealous kinda fella
And I got my eye on you yeah yeah yeah
I'm a jealous kinda fella
And I got my eye on you yeah yeah yeah