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
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
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
- Nothing’s for Free
- Cold Sweat (Live)
- Wild Night (Acoustic version)
- Crazy Island
- The Face of the Nation
- Days of Farewell
- Get a Leg Up
- Rodeo Clown
- When Margaret Comes to Town
- I Ain’t Ever Satisfied
- Junior
- Just Like You
- Lonely Ol’ Night (live)
- Great Mid-West
- Take Home Pay