Songwriter: John Mellencamp
Producer: John Mellencamp
Country gentleman walked a crooked mile
Got our money in his pocket
Did it all with a very handsome smile
Now, he's livin' it up in a great big office
He ain't a-gonna help no poor man
He ain't a-goona help no poor man
He ain't a-gonna help no poor man
He's just gonna help his rich friends
He ain't a-gonna help no women
He ain't a-gonna help no children
He's just gonna help his rich friends
Country gentleman, we see him on T.V.,
Glad handin' folks and chattin' to the nation
We never knew what really to believe
Just word upon slogan with emotional connection
He ain't a-gonna help no poor man
He ain't a-gonna help no children
He ain't a-gonna help no women
He's just gonna help his rich friends
And in the papers all we'd ever read is
So and so big-shot signed his resignation
Now, country gentleman he wants us to believe
That he's kind and honest with the best intentions
He ain't a-gonna help no poor man
He ain't a-gonna help no children
He ain't a-gonna help no women
He's just gonna help his rich friends
Country gentleman, now there's a bird that flew
High above his nation, prayed on its weakness
Picked our bones and threw it in his stew
Thank God he went back to California
Chorus
Got our money in his pocket
Did it all with a very handsome smile
Now, he's livin' it up in a great big office
He ain't a-gonna help no poor man
He ain't a-goona help no poor man
He ain't a-gonna help no poor man
He's just gonna help his rich friends
He ain't a-gonna help no women
He ain't a-gonna help no children
He's just gonna help his rich friends
Country gentleman, we see him on T.V.,
Glad handin' folks and chattin' to the nation
We never knew what really to believe
Just word upon slogan with emotional connection
He ain't a-gonna help no poor man
He ain't a-gonna help no children
He ain't a-gonna help no women
He's just gonna help his rich friends
And in the papers all we'd ever read is
So and so big-shot signed his resignation
Now, country gentleman he wants us to believe
That he's kind and honest with the best intentions
He ain't a-gonna help no poor man
He ain't a-gonna help no children
He ain't a-gonna help no women
He's just gonna help his rich friends
Country gentleman, now there's a bird that flew
High above his nation, prayed on its weakness
Picked our bones and threw it in his stew
Thank God he went back to California
Chorus
more tracks from the album
On the Rural Route 7609
- The Real Life
- Your Life Is Now
- Don’t Need This Body
- Sweet Evening Breeze
- The Full Catastrophe
- My Aeroplane
- Troubled Land
- Someday the Rains Will Fall
- Theo and Weird Henry
- Women Seem
- Between a Laugh and a Tear
- If I Die Sudden
- Peaceful World
- To Washington
- Colored Lights
- The World Don’t Bother Me None
- Jack and Diane (Writing Demo)
- Jenny at 16
- Rain on the Scarecrow
- Jim Crow
- Big Daddy of Them All
- What If I Came Knocking
- Longest Days
- Sugar Marie
- Mr. Bellows
- Deep Blue Heart
- Love and Happiness
- Someday
- Forgiveness
- To M.G. (Wherever She May Be)
- For the Children
- Freedom’s Road
- Our Country (Alternative Version)
- Jim Crow
- Thank You
- Ghost Towns Along the Highway
- Jackie Brown
- Cherry Bomb
- Jack & Diane
- L.U.V.
- County Fair
- When Jesus Left Birmingham
- Country Gentleman
- Rural Route
- Void in My Heart
- Just Like You
- Rodeo Clown
- A Ride Back Home
- Authority Song
- Grandma’s Theme
- Death Letter
- Young Without Lovers
- Pink Houses
From the albums
- Big Daddy (1989)
- On the Rural Route 7609 (2010)
John Mellencamp popular songs
- 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