John Cougar Mellencamp

[fox69]

"China Girl"

"China Girl"


China girl, I met you on the sea sand.
You touched me with your cool hand.
Your perfume's in the wind.

China girl, your daddy tells you white lies
To keep you from by blue eyes.
To know me is no sin.

[Chorus:]
And I won't break you, China girl,
If you take me into your world.
It's been my good fortune to find you,
China girl.

Stolen flowers are sweetest in the mornin'.
The Eastern sun is dawnin'.
Your silk's against my skin.

China girl, take me to your jasmine place.
Cool me with your subtle grace.
To know me is no sin.

[Chorus:]
And I won't break you, China girl,
If you take me into your world.
It's been my good fortune to find you,
China girl.

 

[fox69]

"Circling Around The Moon"

"Circling Around The Moon"



There may come a day when you grow weary
Troubled waters stain the paper cup
From other venues, other voices carry
Spilled dreams soaking into thirsty dust

Maybe then and there you'll find another
Lover with a blank and empty heart
Filled with breath and old sails to discover
Strength to push the seas apart

On the day we met
I began to want you
On the day we met
I began to lose you too
Both of us circling round the moon
Both of us circling round the moon

There may come a day when you feel anger
China cracked and glued by clumsy hands
Veins of memory touching only hunger
the heart devours what it cannot understand

On the day we met
I began to want you
On the day we met
I began to lose you too
Both of us circling round the moon
Both of us circling round the moon

Maybe it was then I saw my future
Saw it as a shadow on the ground
Beneath the earth old nails to discover
Strength to hold my body down

On the day we met
I began to want you
On the day we met
I began to lose you too
Both of us circling round the moon

On the day we met
I began to want you, want you
On the day we met
I began to lose you too
Both of us circling round the moon
the both or us circling round the moon
both of us circling round the moon
Large World Turning
Written by: John Mellencamp
Someday this will all be over
Nothing lasts forever
Thank god for change
I love you now, we should stay together
No one's crying about a single thing

Large world turning
Live while you can
Live while you can
Large world turning
Live while you can
Live while you can

You may sleep where your lover leads you
Come and brush these crumbs from my bed
Tell me the truth, I will never leave you
I'll be happy by the baby's bed

Large world turning
Live while you can
Live while you can
Large world turning
Live while you can
Live while you can

When this world becomes an ocean
We will find the desert
Right next to the pig's tail
And watch the summer sun

Corrugated roofs with little white houses
Hide the dogs that walk on three legs
Someday this will all be over
No one's playing that pissin game

Large world turning
Live while you can
Live while you can
Large world turning
No one can see the end

Large world turning
No one sees the end
No one sees the end
Large world turning
Live while you can
Live while you can

 

[fox69]

"Close Enough"

"Close Enough"


I may not be a pillar in my town
Or have the kind of job you think that I should.
I know you see me out running around with a couple of people
You think are no good.

I've tried to clean it up a couple of times, but I'm a
Backslidin' fool when it comes to walkin' that line.
It's OK. You think you're better than me.
Yeah, that's all right, girl, that's all right.

[Chorus:]
'Cause I'm close enough for rock and roll,
Close enough for rock and roll,
Close enough for rock and roll.
I'm close enough for a little rock and roll.

Yeah, it's true, I don't plan my time.
When you're lookin' for me, I'm hard to find.
I know you don't wanna run around with me.
With my socks fallin' down, girl, I'm just poor company.

I've seen your face, and it's a one-eyed jack.
We like to talk about this or that.
None of these things really interest me.
Hey, that's all right, girl, that's all right.

[Chorus:]
'Cause I'm close enough for rock and roll,
Close enough for rock and roll,
Close enough for rock and roll.
I'm close enough for a little rock.

I know you think I'm a rough cut, baby.
I ain't as rough cut as I am the blood on your hands.
Gonna love that blood right off of your hands.

[Chorus:]
Yeah, that's all right, girl, that's all right.
Close enough for rock and roll,
Close enough for rock and roll,
Close enough for rock and roll.
I'm close enough for a little rock and roll.

 

[fox69]

"Clumsy Ol' World"

"Clumsy Ol' World"



She spends all our money
And then she tells me I'm too tight
She calls me Sunny
Cause she thinks that I'm so bright
She likes her love in the morning
I like it at night
Gee it's a clumsy ol' world
Gee it's a clumsy ol' world

She don't eat meat
But she smokes cigarettes
She remembers things
That I'm trying to forget
We both can hold a grudge
But she always forgives
Gee it's a clumsy ol' world
Gee it's a clumsy ol' world

Sometimes she'll meet me half way
But then she'll steal my half
We're always in each other's way
And that just makes us laugh

She says she can't quit me
But she doesn't know why
She gets mean and hateful
But she's the apple of my eye
We heart each other
With a love that'll never die
Gee it's a clumsy ol' world
Gee it's a clumsy ol' world

 

[fox69]

"Coming Down The Road"

"Coming Down The Road"



Well I heard the bells of freedom once
As I was coming down the road
Coming down the road
And I followed that echo wherever it would go
As I was coming down the road
But there always seemed to be trouble in my path
I found my hands tied behind my back
As I was coming down the road
Coming down the road

Well I heard the truth call my name
As I was coming down the road
Coming down the road
And I followed that voice to the valley below
As I was coming down the road
And it took me down a path where I was lost all the time
I found some truth but it could never be mine
As I was coming down the road
Coming down the road

And I saw myself for a second as I really am
As I was coming down the road
And I had to look away in disbelief I suppose
As I was coming down the road
I caught a glimpse of myself as others see me
And I wasn't the fella that I thought I'd be
As I was coming down the road
Coming down the road

I saw you out my window
As you was walking alone
Coming down the road
And I raised my hand as if to say hello
As I was coming down the road
But you didn't wave back
You just walked on by
Alone by yourself
Till the day you die
And I guess the truth and freedom before us all are lies
Somewhere down the road
Somewhere down the road

 

[fox69]

"Country Gentleman"

"Country Gentleman"


Country gentleman walked a crooked mile,
Got our money in his pocket.
Did it all with a very handsome smile.
Now, he's livin' it up in a great big office.
He ain't a-gonna help no poor man.
He ain't a-goona help no poor man.
He ain't a-gonna help no poor man.
He's just gonna help his rich friends.

He ain't a-gonna help no women.
He ain't a-gonna help no children.
He's just gonna help his rich friends.

Country gentleman, we see him on T.V.,
Glad handin' folks and chattin' to the nation.
We never knew what really to believe.
Just word upon slogan with emotional connection.

[Chorus:]
He ain't a-gonna help no poor man.
He ain't a-gonna help no children.
He ain't a-gonna help no women.
He's just gonna help his rich friends.

And in the papers all we'd ever read is
So and so big-shot signed his resignation.
Now, country gentleman he wants us to believe
That he's kind and honest with the best intentions.

[Chorus]

Country gentleman, now there's a bird that flew
High above his nation, prayed on its weakness.
Picked our bones and threw it in his stew.
Thank God he went back to California.

[Chorus]

 

[fox69]

"County Fair"

"County Fair"



Well the County Fair left quite a mess
In the county yard
Kids with eyes as big as dollars
Rode all the rides
Strip artists and con artists
Put on quite a show
And made some money
Then left town
Where they went I don't know

Hey all you suckers
I heard a fat woman say
Come on in for fifty cents
You can stay in here all day
So I took a chance
I went inside
Wasn't much there to see
So I asked her for my money back
And she just smiled at me

Saw Princess Tonyika taken off all her clothes
Rode some rides and played some games
Saw the Wild Man from Barneo
There was a black man playing the blues
Talked to some friends I hadn't seen in a while
Through a football through a hoop

Well I saw them loading up their trucks
Taking down the rides
Folding up all the tents
There's a full moon in the sky
Some were laughing some were cussing
As they worked
Saw one of them making love
To a local girl

I was minding my own business
It was quarter after two
When a fella walked up and said
Hey man
I remember you
And then he shoved me
And pulled out his knife
Stuck me three times in the chest
And I died that night

For the like of me I can't remember
Who he was
And why he'd put a knife in me
In the dusty parking lot
Everybody said
What a shame it was
But he knew better than staying out
Past twelve o'clock

Some people put no value
On a human life
And there are places we all go
That just ain't safe at night
If somebody would do this to me
They just might do it to you
So be careful where you go
And what you say or do

Well the County Fair left quite a mess
In the county yard

 

[fox69]

"Crazy Island"

"Crazy Island"



Hey Hey America
You're some kind of crazy island
You're a place where dreams can grow
And there's history in your mansions
Good fortune in your plantings
You're well respected we all know
Hey Hey America
Let's check your children
And see what they might know

Hey Hey America
With your salesmanship and your salaries
And your strip malls a growin'
And your handguns and your heresies
Don't hold no responsibility
In this land of easy millions
Hey Hey America
It's so thrillin' to see you grow

You're some kind of crazy island
You're some kind of crazy island

Well I prefer a sunny day
I just thought maybe I'd live a little bit longer that way
I don't think we should look the same
Or talk the same
Yeah I think it's a shame
And Hey Hey America
Across the new horizon
Are you sure that's the way we should go
'Cause I don't know
Maybe it's too late for all that

And Hey Hey America
You're wrapped up in your red, white and blue
Hey Hey America
Wrapped up in yourself and your red, white and blue
Hey Hey America
You're some kind of crazy island

You're some kind of crazy island

Hey Hey America
You're some kind of crazy island
You're a place where dreams can grow
And there's history in your mansions
Hey Hey America
You're some kind of crazy island
Some kind of crazy island

 

[fox69]

"Crazy Ones"

"Crazy Ones"


She's got tights on her legs
She's got a floppy French hat
Voodoo in her eyes
An endangered species on her back

She talks about the movies
She likes to talk about art
She can show you a good time
But you'll never touch her heart

[Chorus:]
Mama why do I always fall for the crazy ones
Mama why do they lay so heavy on my heart
Well I'm drawn to the devil every time we kiss
Mama why do the crazy ones leave me feeling like this

She's got backstage access
And she's a dancin' in the aisles
She looks a little sad and crooked
When you see her smile

She's got the magic heart
She says you cannot understand
She's got a secret hurt
She ain't gonna share with no man

[Chorus]

She's got her mind on her business
She never wants to be broke
Well, I hate to see her suffer
But she just does not get the joke

I can't afford her style of living
I can't afford to get so mad
Every time I think about her
It just makes me sad

[Chorus]

 

[fox69]

"Crumblin' Down"

"Crumblin' Down"



Some people ain't no damn good
You can't trust 'em
You can't love em
No good deed goes unpunished
And I don't mind being their whipping boy
I've had that pleasure
For years and years
No, no I never was a sinner
Tell me what else can I do
Second best is what you get
'Til you learn to bend the rules
Time respects no person
And when you lift up must fall
They're waiting outside
To claim my crumblin' walls

Saw my picture in the paper
Read the news around my face
And now some people
Don't want to treat me the same

When the walls
Come tumblin' down
When the walls
Come crumblin', crumblin'
When the walls
Come tumblin', tumblin'
Down
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah

Some people say I'm obnoxious and lazy
That I'm uneducated
And my opinipn means nothin'
But I know I'm a real good dancer
Don't need to look over my shoulder
To see what I'm after
Everybody's got their problems
Ain't no new news here
I'm the same old trouble
You've been having for years
Don't confuse the problem
With the issue, girl
It's perfectly clear
Just a human desire
To have you come near
Want to put my arms around you
Feel your breath in my ear
You can bend me
You can break me
But you better stand clear

When the walls
Come tumblin' down
When the walls
Come crumblin', crumblin'
When the walls
Come tumblin', tumblin'
Crumblin', tumblin'
Down

When the walls
Come (tumblin' down)
When the walls
Come (rumblin', rumblin')
When the walls
(When the walls)
Come tumblin', tumblin'
Down

Want to put my arms around you
Feel your breath in my ear
You can bend me
You can break me
But you better stand clear

When the walls
Come tumblin' down
When the walls
Come crumblin', crumblin'
When the walls
Come tumblin', tumblin'
Crumblin', tumblin'

When the walls
(When the walls)
Come tumblin' down
When the walls
(When the walls)
Come crumblin', crumblin'
When the walls
Come tumblin', tumblin'
Crumblin', tumblin'

When the walls
(When the walls)
Come tumblin' down
When the walls
Come crumblin', crumblin'
When the walls
Come tumblin', tumblin'
Crumblin', tumblin'
Down