“Jack And Diane” Lyrics & Meaning (John Mellencamp)

Everyone knows John Mellencamp’s Jack And Diane.

But few can name another song of his. And he had many other hit songs.

And despite knowing the song, few know the Jack And Diane lyrics meaning.

Are Jack and Diane real people? Or did Mellencamp make them up?

Is there a hidden meaning behind the lyrics, or is it really just about these two people in small-town America?

Keep reading to find out. We’re going to find out exactly what the lyrics to Jack And Diane are talking about.

 

Jack And Diane Lyrics & Meaning

Jack and Diane was written and performed by John Mellencamp and released in 1982. It features on Mellencamp’s American Fool album which was also released in 1982.

The song launched Mellencamp’s career and ultimately gave him the stardom he has enjoyed ever since. It captured the hearts of a broad audience due to it being about two teenagers falling in love in a small American town.

Jack and Diane reached number one on the Billboard Top 100 and its success made it one of Mellencamp’s most recognizable songs. Even though it didn’t receive any awards, Jack and Diane still became a classic song.

Mick Ronson, who was the guitarist on Jack and Diane, played a significant role in the composition of the song. He added a unique percussion to the song which gave it a feeling of being a part of a choir.

These vocals became the most memorable part of the song and helped to give it a finished sound.

Over the years, the song has been covered by a variety of other artists. This included Keith Urban, The Black Crows and Jason Aldean. Along with Mellencamp’s original version and the covers, the song has firmly planted itself as an American classic about young love.

And it wasn’t just covered by other artists. Jack and Diane has also been sampled by others. Jessica Simpson sampled it on I think I’m In Love with You and Jake Owen took considerable inspiration from the song by naming one of his tracks I was Jack (You Were Diane).

 

Jack And Diane Lyrics

 

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

A little ditty about Jack and Diane
Two American kids doing the best they can

 

Jack And Diane Meaning

The song was initially inspired by the film Sweet Birth of Youth which was released in 1962. The film starred Paul Newman and was about the experiences of growing up in Seymour, Indiana.

Mellencamp used his inspiration from the film to write a song about the struggles of teenagers and how important falling in love is to them. The song also talks about wanting to escape a small town, which is certainly something to which many people from across the world can relate.

Jack And Diane is about the characters Jack and Diane (imagine that!) who try to come to terms with their feelings and the need for adventure. This is portrayed through the lyrics “Oh yeah life goes on, long after the thrill of living is gone.”

Mellencamp also sings “Hold onto sixteen as long as you can,” telling teenagers not to wish away their teenage years with the urge to grow up. When they’re older, they’ll want to be sixteen again, without a care in the world.

The lyrics also briefly touch on the sexual attraction between Jack and Diane. This is something that teenagers who are attracted to each other have to deal with. They are realistic feelings of both excitement and apprehension.

The lyrics also reveal that as the thrill of being young fades, they’ll still have the memories which has also shaped their life journey.

Others have interpreted the song as the characters Jack and Diane being about the American Dream. Jack represents the side of the dream that’s about the need for freedom and Diane represents innocence.

The contrast suggests that, even though a person wants to pursue more, sometimes this can be overshadowed by the realities that come with the routine of everyday life.

There’s also a sense of nostalgia that comes with the song. Mellencamp sings about the simple things in life from our teenage years, which many look back on fondly. Everything was so easy, even if it didn’t always feel like it at the time.

 

Jack And Diane Lyrics Meaning: Final Thoughts

Jack And Diane is the song that made most of us aware of John Mellencamp. It launched his career and is still his best known hit, though he has had many others since.

The Jack And Diane lyrics meaning tells of a teenage couple dealing with their budding romantic feelings and with their lives in a small town in America. The inspiration behind the song was the Paul Newman movie Sweet Birth of Youth.

A song that always had a similar feel to me was Neil Diamond’s greatest hit. Read our discussion of the Sweet Caroline lyrics for more.