Songwriter: John Mellencamp
Producer: John Mellencamp Don Gehman
[Verse 1]
Little ditty about Jack and Diane
Two American kids growin' up in the heartland
Jack, he's gonna be a football star
Diane's debutante backseat of Jacky's car
[Verse 2]
Suckin' on a chili dog outside the Tastee Freez
Diane's sittin' on Jacky's lap, he's got his hand between her knees
Jacky say, "Hey Diane, lets run off behind a shady tree
Dribble off those Bobby Brooks slacks, now do what I please"
Say a....
[Chorus]
Oh yeah, life goes on
Long after the thrill of livin' is gone
I say, oh yeah say life goes on
Long after the thrill of livin' is gone
Now walk on
[Verse 3]
Jacky sits back, collects his thoughts for the moment
Scratches his head and does his best James Dean
"Well then, there Diane, we ought to run off to the city"
Diane says, "Baby, you ain't missin' nothing"
But Jacky say a...
[Chorus]
Oh yeah, life goes on
Long after the thrill of livin' is gone
Oh yeah I say life goes on
Long after the thrill of livin' is gone
[Bridge]
Gonna let it rock, let it roll
Let the Bible Belt come and save my soul
Holdin on to sixteen as long as you can
Changes come around real soon
Make us women and men
[Chorus]
Oh yeah, life goes on
Long after the thrill of livin' is gone
Oh yeah they say life goes on
Long after the thrill of livin' is gone
[Outro]
A little ditty about Jack and Diane
Two American kids doing the best they can
Little ditty about Jack and Diane
Two American kids growin' up in the heartland
Jack, he's gonna be a football star
Diane's debutante backseat of Jacky's car
[Verse 2]
Suckin' on a chili dog outside the Tastee Freez
Diane's sittin' on Jacky's lap, he's got his hand between her knees
Jacky say, "Hey Diane, lets run off behind a shady tree
Dribble off those Bobby Brooks slacks, now do what I please"
Say a....
[Chorus]
Oh yeah, life goes on
Long after the thrill of livin' is gone
I say, oh yeah say life goes on
Long after the thrill of livin' is gone
Now walk on
[Verse 3]
Jacky sits back, collects his thoughts for the moment
Scratches his head and does his best James Dean
"Well then, there Diane, we ought to run off to the city"
Diane says, "Baby, you ain't missin' nothing"
But Jacky say a...
[Chorus]
Oh yeah, life goes on
Long after the thrill of livin' is gone
Oh yeah I say life goes on
Long after the thrill of livin' is gone
[Bridge]
Gonna let it rock, let it roll
Let the Bible Belt come and save my soul
Holdin on to sixteen as long as you can
Changes come around real soon
Make us women and men
[Chorus]
Oh yeah, life goes on
Long after the thrill of livin' is gone
Oh yeah they say life goes on
Long after the thrill of livin' is gone
[Outro]
A little ditty about Jack and Diane
Two American kids doing the best they can
more tracks from the album
Words & Music: John Mellencamp’s Greatest Hits
- Pink Houses
- Walk Tall
- Dance Naked
- Love and Happiness
- Again Tonight
- Paper in Fire
- Just Another Day
- I Need a Lover
- Martha Say
- Wild Night
- Check It Out
- Your Life Is Now
- Key West Intermezzo (I Saw You First)
- Ain’t Even Done with the Night
- Peaceful World
- What If I Came Knocking
- Rain on the Scarecrow
- Rumbleseat
- Lonely Ol’ Night
- When Jesus Left Birmingham
- Jack & Diane
- Hurts So Good
- Cherry Bomb
- Small Town
- Pop Singer
- Jackie Brown
- Teardrops Will Fall
- Thank You
- Crumblin’ Down
- Human Wheels
- Authority Song
- Now More Than Ever
- This Time
- Hand to Hold On To
- Get a Leg Up
- I’m Not Running Anymore
- R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A. (A Salute to 60's Rock)
From the albums
- American Fool (1982)
- The Best That I Could Do (1978-1988) (1997)
- Words & Music: John Mellencamp’s Greatest Hits (2004)
- 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