Released: July 15, 2008
Songwriter: John Mellencamp
Producer: T Bone Burnett
An all-white jury hides the executioner's face
See how we are, me and you?
Everyone here needs to know their place
Let's keep this blackbird hidden in the flue
Oh oh oh, Jena
Oh oh oh, Jena
Oh oh oh, Jena
Take your nooses down
So what becomes of boys that cannot think straight
Particularly those with paper-bag skin?
Yes sir, no sir, we'll wipe that smile right off your face
We've got our rules here, and you must fit in
Oh oh oh, Jena
Oh oh oh, Jena
Oh oh oh, Jena
Take your nooses down
[Guitar solo]
Someday some way sanity will prevail
But who knows when that day might come?
A shot in the dark, well, it just might find its way
To the hearts of those that hold the keys to kingdom come
Oh oh oh, Jena
Oh oh oh, Jena
Oh oh oh, Jena
Take those nooses down
Oh oh, hey, Jena
Oh oh, Jena
Oh oh, Jena
Take your nooses down
Take those nooses all down
See how we are, me and you?
Everyone here needs to know their place
Let's keep this blackbird hidden in the flue
Oh oh oh, Jena
Oh oh oh, Jena
Oh oh oh, Jena
Take your nooses down
So what becomes of boys that cannot think straight
Particularly those with paper-bag skin?
Yes sir, no sir, we'll wipe that smile right off your face
We've got our rules here, and you must fit in
Oh oh oh, Jena
Oh oh oh, Jena
Oh oh oh, Jena
Take your nooses down
[Guitar solo]
Someday some way sanity will prevail
But who knows when that day might come?
A shot in the dark, well, it just might find its way
To the hearts of those that hold the keys to kingdom come
Oh oh oh, Jena
Oh oh oh, Jena
Oh oh oh, Jena
Take those nooses down
Oh oh, hey, Jena
Oh oh, Jena
Oh oh, Jena
Take your nooses down
Take those nooses all down
- Jack & Diane
- Pink Houses
- Hurts So Good
- Small Town
- Check It Out
- Authority Song
- Rain on the Scarecrow
- I Need a Lover
- Cherry Bomb
- Nothing’s for Free
- Cold Sweat (Live)
- Wild Night (Acoustic version)
- Crazy Island
- The Face of the Nation
- Days of Farewell
- Get a Leg Up
- Rodeo Clown
- When Margaret Comes to Town
- I Ain’t Ever Satisfied
- Junior
- Just Like You
- Lonely Ol’ Night (live)
- Great Mid-West
- Take Home Pay