Songwriter: John Mellencamp
Producer: John Mellencamp Don Gehman
[Intro]
Hey!
[Verse 1]
He was born on the fourth day of July
So his parents called him Independence Day, yeah
He married a girl named Justice
Who gave birth to a son called the Nation
And she walked away
Independence would daydream and he'd pretend
That some day him and Justice and Nation'd be together again
But Justice held up in a shotgun shack
Wouldn't let nobody in
So a Nation cried
[Chorus]
Oh, oh
When a Nation cries
His tears fall down like missiles from the skies
Justice look into Independence's eyes
Can you make everything alright?
And can you keep your own Nation warm tonight?
[Verse 2]
Well, Nation grew up and got himself a big 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
And Nation if you'll just come home we'll have this family again
Oh, Nation don't cry
[Chorus]
Oh, oh
When a Nation cries
His tears fall down like missiles from the sky
Justice look into Independence's eyes
Can you make everything alright?
Can you keep your Nation warm tonight?
[Outro]
Roll a rock around the country, yeah yeah
Everybody come along
When you're feelin' down, yeah yeah
Just sing this song, yeah yeah
Ah la la la la la la la
Ah la la la la la la na na
Ah la la la la la la la
Ah la la la la la la na na
Ah la la la la la la la
Ah la la la la la la na na
Ah la la la la la la la
Ah la la la la la la na na
Ah la la la la la la la
Ah la la la la la la na na
Ah la la la la la la la
Ah la la la la la la na
Hey!
[Verse 1]
He was born on the fourth day of July
So his parents called him Independence Day, yeah
He married a girl named Justice
Who gave birth to a son called the Nation
And she walked away
Independence would daydream and he'd pretend
That some day him and Justice and Nation'd be together again
But Justice held up in a shotgun shack
Wouldn't let nobody in
So a Nation cried
[Chorus]
Oh, oh
When a Nation cries
His tears fall down like missiles from the skies
Justice look into Independence's eyes
Can you make everything alright?
And can you keep your own Nation warm tonight?
[Verse 2]
Well, Nation grew up and got himself a big 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
And Nation if you'll just come home we'll have this family again
Oh, Nation don't cry
[Chorus]
Oh, oh
When a Nation cries
His tears fall down like missiles from the sky
Justice look into Independence's eyes
Can you make everything alright?
Can you keep your Nation warm tonight?
[Outro]
Roll a rock around the country, yeah yeah
Everybody come along
When you're feelin' down, yeah yeah
Just sing this song, yeah yeah
Ah la la la la la la la
Ah la la la la la la na na
Ah la la la la la la la
Ah la la la la la la na na
Ah la la la la la la la
Ah la la la la la la na na
Ah la la la la la la la
Ah la la la la la la na na
Ah la la la la la la la
Ah la la la la la la na na
Ah la la la la la la la
Ah la la la la la la na
more tracks from the album
Scarecrow
- Small Town
- Rain on the Scarecrow
- Justice and Independence ’85
- Small Town (Acoustic Version)
- Between a Laugh and a Tear
- Rumbleseat
- Lonely Ol’ Night
- You’ve Got to Stand for Somethin’
- The Face of the Nation
- Grandma’s Theme
- Minutes to Memories
- The Kind of Fella I Am
- R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A. (A Salute to 60's Rock)
From the album
- Scarecrow (1985)
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