Released: August 15, 1987
Songwriter: John Mellencamp
Producer: John Mellencamp Don Gehman
[Verse 1]
She had a dream
And boy it was a good one
So she chased after her dream
With much desire
But when she got too close
To her expectations
Well the dream burned up
Like paper in fire
[Chorus]
Paper in fire
Stinkin' up the ashtrays
Paper in fire
Smokin' up the alleyways
Who's to say the way
A man should spend his days?
Do you let them smolder
Like paper in fire?
[Verse 2]
He wanted love
With no involvement
So he chased the wind
That's all his silly life required
And the days of vanity
Went on forever
And he saw his days burn up
Like paper in fire
[Chorus]
Paper in fire
Stinkin' up the ashtrays
Paper in fire
Smokin' up the alleyways
Who's to say the way
A man should spend his days?
Do you let them smolder
Like paper in fire?
[Verse 3]
There's a good life
Right across this green field
And each generation
Stares at it from afar
But we keep no check
On our appetites
So the green fields turn to brown
Like paper in fire
[Chorus]
Paper in fire
Stinkin' up the ashtrays
Paper in fire
Blowin' down the alleyways
Who's to say the way
A man should spend his days?
Do you let them smolder
Like paper in fire?
Paper in fire
Stinkin' up the ashtrays
Paper in fire
Blowin' down the alleyways
Who's to say the way
A man should spend his days?
Do you let them smolder
Like paper in fire?
[Outro]
Paper in fire
She had a dream
And boy it was a good one
So she chased after her dream
With much desire
But when she got too close
To her expectations
Well the dream burned up
Like paper in fire
[Chorus]
Paper in fire
Stinkin' up the ashtrays
Paper in fire
Smokin' up the alleyways
Who's to say the way
A man should spend his days?
Do you let them smolder
Like paper in fire?
[Verse 2]
He wanted love
With no involvement
So he chased the wind
That's all his silly life required
And the days of vanity
Went on forever
And he saw his days burn up
Like paper in fire
[Chorus]
Paper in fire
Stinkin' up the ashtrays
Paper in fire
Smokin' up the alleyways
Who's to say the way
A man should spend his days?
Do you let them smolder
Like paper in fire?
[Verse 3]
There's a good life
Right across this green field
And each generation
Stares at it from afar
But we keep no check
On our appetites
So the green fields turn to brown
Like paper in fire
[Chorus]
Paper in fire
Stinkin' up the ashtrays
Paper in fire
Blowin' down the alleyways
Who's to say the way
A man should spend his days?
Do you let them smolder
Like paper in fire?
Paper in fire
Stinkin' up the ashtrays
Paper in fire
Blowin' down the alleyways
Who's to say the way
A man should spend his days?
Do you let them smolder
Like paper in fire?
[Outro]
Paper in fire
more tracks from the album
From the albums
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