John Mellencamp quotes: wise famous quotes, sayings and quotations by John Mellencamp

John Mellencamp Famous Quotes & Sayings

Discover top inspirational quotes from John Mellencamp on Wise Famous Quotes.

The simple man, baby, pays for the thrills, the bills, and the pills that kill.

I'm the guy who wrote The Authority Song. Did they think I was kidding? Did they think it was only a song to entertain?

Ain't that America, home of the free? Little pink houses for you and me.

When you live life for yourself it's hard on everyone. And that hasn't changed. For me, if anything, it's gotten worse.

I couldn't have recorded this record 15 years ago. My voice didn't have the depth to pull these songs off.

All the women in the world want a phony rock star who plays guitar.

Most people in life, give up too early.

For me or a Bruce Springsteen to sit up in our ivory towers and make comments about racism, well, were not really in it, are we?

People have the right to say what they want to.

Rock'n'roll starts between the legs and goes through the heart, then to the head. As long as it does those three things, it's a great rock song.

I think the Internet is the most dangerous thing invented since the atomic bomb,

This is not a rock opera. This is not Tommy. I can write songs that emote, and that's it.

An honest man's pillow is his peace of mind.

You shouldn't even be in a band if you can't play Buddy Holly's Not Fade Away.

This is about black people selling out other black people.

What's the difference? One guy's the same as the other.

Dear Mr. President, can I ask you a question, when the bombs fall down will they hurt everyone in my family?

Everything I see and hear ... I will take ideas from anyplace, anywhere, anytime, and life has become a song to me. I'm always looking for a song.

A lot of Woody Guthrie's songs were taken from other songs. He would rework the melody and lyrics, and all of a sudden it was a Woody Guthrie song.

When people are afraid, they make emotional decisions.

With no bottom line, it's hard to know wrong from right. But I ain't ever satisfied.

I'm trying to write for people my age. And my inspiration over the years has changed dramatically.

A lot of record company people, even though they're our age, want to be perceived as young hip guys, and they're hurting the business.

If I'm painting, I paint every day. I'll be up in the studio from 8:00 in the morning to 8:00 at night.

When you live in hysteria, people start thinking emotionally.

Growing up leads to growing old and then to dying And dying to me don't sound like all that much fun

My voice has gotten better from smoking.

We had an exercise in speech class in school, impromptu speaking, that I was always real good at.

I need a lover that won't drive me crazy, someone that knows the meaning of hey, hit the highway.

Some people say I'm obnoxious and lazy, that I'm uneducated, that my opinion means nothing, but I know I'm a real good dancer.

I'm using my art to comment on what I see. You don't have to agree with it.

When politicians use fear, they are playing into the enemy's hand.

I fight authority and authority always wins.

All I can do is repeat what I think is the best information that anybody ever gave me.

Don't ever lose that innocent laughter, don't let time take that away

As I've matured as a songwriter, I realize that if it's out there, it's mine.

I want you to dance naked, if you like, I'll join you.

Mama, why do I always fall for the crazy ones?

I don't have to worry about any pop sensibility. I can write adult songs, and I don't have to worry about choruses and hook lines.

This is serious business, sex, violence, and rock and roll.

Music actually meant something when I started doing it. Too bad I wasn't mature enough to write anything that meant anything.

Do I think it's OK to fight authority as long as you're only talking about the high school teacher? No.

Sometimes love don't feel like it should, you make it hurt so good.

I want to sell to people my own age, because that's the way I write songs.

It's what you do and not what you say. If you're not part of the future, then get out of the way!

Bob Dylan's first couple of records in the 60's weren't considered cover records, but he only wrote one or two original songs on each album.

Want me to spend the night? Hey lover boy, you know I will, and my best girlfriend lives down the road, together we will thrill you.

I know there's a balance/I see it when I swing past.

Now more than ever the world needs love, not just a slogan.

All I'm doing is painting. It's my hobby. And that's that.

Check it out, forgot to say hello to my neighbors. Check it out, sometimes I question my own behavior.

I thought I knew a lot about music. Then you start digging and the deeper you go, the more there is.

Grandma's on the front porch with a Bible in her hand, sometimes I hear her singing take me to the promised land.

I'm your average Joe guy. I don't really care for politicians.

Hold on to 16 as long as you can,

In so many musicals today, the story is moved forward by a song. I don't think we're gonna try to do that.

There's a young man in a T-shirt listening to a rock and roll station. He's got greasy hair, greasy smile, he says, Lord this must be my destination.

We have been lied to and terrorized by our own government, and it is time to take action.

I'm looking for trouble. A lot of people get to be a certain age and they just kind of lose interest or they give up. But I'm looking for trouble.

You know, it's cigarettes that killed Jerry Garcia. Everyone thinks it's heroin, but it wasn't. It was cigarettes.

Future generations, riding on the highways that we built, I hope they have a better understanding.

The dust to which this flesh shall return, it is the ancient dreaming dust of God.

She chased after her dream with much desire, but when she got to close to her expectations, well the dream burned up like paper in fire.

She said she wasn't afraid of Satan, in fact, she thought he was a joke. She said she'd tear his tail off and run her fist down his throat.

It's my responsibility as a singer-songwriter to report the news.

It's a lonely ol' night. Can I put my arms around you?

Natalie from the Dixie Chicks could have said what she said before 9-11 and no one would have cared.

All my friends are so small town.

They say life goes on long after the thrill of living

I know a lot of funny people in a lot of funny places.

What is there to be afraid of? The worst thing that can happen is you fail. So what? I failed at a lot of things. My first record was horrible.

People in Indiana have known me for 25 years. They've known George Bush four.

Go to work and be a Hollywood stud, drive your four wheel drive right into the mud.

There is nothing more sad or glorious than generations changing hands.

I don't want to be a politician. I don't like politics. It's petty; it fights dirty.

You can't tell your best buddy that you love him.

Give me someone I can look up to, show me someone I can love.

Hold on to 16 as long as you can. changes coming round real soon, make us women and men.

I enjoy the pleasure of my own company.

Grace, Mercy and Forgiveness will help a man walk tall. Walk tall!

I would never say John Kerry would be a great president. I will say that George Bush has divided us; he has filled this country with hatred.

His frustration running very high, he takes it out on the ones he loves because it's safe.

I have a bunch of information in my head that I'm not afraid to put in song or onto a canvas. Into any conversation.

I do things my way and I pay a high price.

Be careful of those who kill in Jesus' name; he don't believe in killing at all.