Released: May 9, 1989
Songwriter: John Mellencamp
Producer: John Mellencamp
Is this your life, Jackie Brown?
Poorly educated and forced to live on the poor side of town
Is this your daughter, Jackie Brown?
This pretty little girl
In the worn out clothes
That have been hand-me down
Is this your wife, Jackie Brown?
With sad blue eyes, walking on eggshells so you don't see her frown
Is this your family, Jackie Brown?
Dream of vacationing on a mountain stream
And giving the world more than it gave you
What ugly truths freedom brings
And it hasn't been very kind to you
Is this your life, Jackie Brown?
Is this your meal, Jackie Brown?
Barely enough, I've seen people throw away more than this out
Is this your home, Jackie Brown?
This three room shack
With no running water
And the bathroom out back
Is this your grave, Jackie Brown?
This little piece of limestone that says another desperate man took himself out
Is this your dream, Jackie Brown?
Going nowhere and nowhere fast
We shame ourselves to watch people like this live
But who gives a damn about Jackie Brown?
Just another lazy man who couldn't take what was his
One helluva life Jackie Brown
Forevermore, Jackie Brown
Amen and amen - Jackie Brown?
Poorly educated and forced to live on the poor side of town
Is this your daughter, Jackie Brown?
This pretty little girl
In the worn out clothes
That have been hand-me down
Is this your wife, Jackie Brown?
With sad blue eyes, walking on eggshells so you don't see her frown
Is this your family, Jackie Brown?
Dream of vacationing on a mountain stream
And giving the world more than it gave you
What ugly truths freedom brings
And it hasn't been very kind to you
Is this your life, Jackie Brown?
Is this your meal, Jackie Brown?
Barely enough, I've seen people throw away more than this out
Is this your home, Jackie Brown?
This three room shack
With no running water
And the bathroom out back
Is this your grave, Jackie Brown?
This little piece of limestone that says another desperate man took himself out
Is this your dream, Jackie Brown?
Going nowhere and nowhere fast
We shame ourselves to watch people like this live
But who gives a damn about Jackie Brown?
Just another lazy man who couldn't take what was his
One helluva life Jackie Brown
Forevermore, Jackie Brown
Amen and amen - Jackie Brown?
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
- Big Daddy (1989)
- Rough Harvest (1999)
- 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