Released: August 17, 2010
Songwriter: John Mellencamp
Producer: T Bone Burnett
Well the West End now
The West End then
Went by the other day
Just to see my friend
His house was dark
His socks were thin
I told him let's get out the West End
For my whole life
I've lived down in the West End
But it sure has changed here
Since I was a kid
It's worse now
Look what progress did
Someone lined their pockets
I don't know who that is
Well my old man slaved
Down here in the West End
He thought the future was bright
Way back then
But it beat him down
Till he had nothing to give
It broke his back
Took away his will to live
Now me
I don't think much of the West End
Ain't gonna end up
Like the old man did
'Cause I got dreams and they're bigger than this
As far as I'm concerned
You can keep the West End
Well I guess down here
In the West End
Broken promises
Now and then
It's not even fair
To think that they would
'Cause the West End now
Ain't no damn good
Out there somewhere
You know there's gotta be a place
Where a man can live
With a smile on his face
And every day something new begins
But it ain't down here
At the West End
Some day down here
In the West End
No one will remember
How the whole place began
The West End then
Went by the other day
Just to see my friend
His house was dark
His socks were thin
I told him let's get out the West End
For my whole life
I've lived down in the West End
But it sure has changed here
Since I was a kid
It's worse now
Look what progress did
Someone lined their pockets
I don't know who that is
Well my old man slaved
Down here in the West End
He thought the future was bright
Way back then
But it beat him down
Till he had nothing to give
It broke his back
Took away his will to live
Now me
I don't think much of the West End
Ain't gonna end up
Like the old man did
'Cause I got dreams and they're bigger than this
As far as I'm concerned
You can keep the West End
Well I guess down here
In the West End
Broken promises
Now and then
It's not even fair
To think that they would
'Cause the West End now
Ain't no damn good
Out there somewhere
You know there's gotta be a place
Where a man can live
With a smile on his face
And every day something new begins
But it ain't down here
At the West End
Some day down here
In the West End
No one will remember
How the whole place began
- No Better Than This (2010)
- Jack & Diane
- Pink Houses
- Hurts So Good
- Small Town
- Check It Out
- Authority Song
- Rain on the Scarecrow
- I Need a Lover
- Cherry Bomb
- For the Children
- Farewell Angelina
- R. Gang
- To M.G. (Wherever She May Be)
- Worn Out Nervous Condition
- Yours Forever
- No One Cares About Me
- Forgiveness
- L.U.V.
- This May Not Be the End of the World
- County Fair
- Goodnight
- Young Without Lovers
- Another Sunny Day 12/25
- Serious Business