Jack & Diane

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Okay, we've all heard the song. The other day, a good friend of mine stated that she was a little less enamored with the tune now that she got older as it may exploit and objectify women.

I looked into it, a bit. Here are JC's lyrics.

Jack & Diane by John Mellencamp

Little ditty bout Jack and Diane
Two American kids growin' up in the heartland
Jackie's gonna be a football star
Diane debutante backseat of Jackie's car

Suckin' on chili dogs outside the tastee freeze
Diane's sittin' on Jackie's lap
He's got his hand between her knees
Jackie say 'Hey Diane lets run off
Behind a shady tree
Dribble off those Bobby Brooks
Let me do what I please.'
And Jackie Say:

'Oh yeah life goes on
Long after the thrill of livin' is gone
Oh yeah say life goes on
Long after the thrill of livin' is gone.'

They walk on

Jackie sits back reflects on his thoughts for the moment
Scratches his head and does his best James Dean.
'Well you know, Diane, we oughta' run out of the city'
Diane says 'Baby, you ain't missin' no-thing'

Jackie say:

'Oh yeah life goes on
Long after the thrill of livin is gone
Oh yeay say life goes on
Long after the thrill of livin is gone'

Gonna let it rock
Let it roll
Let the Bible Belt come down
And Save My soul
Hold on to 16 as long as you can

Changes come around real soon
Make us women and men

Oh yeah life goes on
Long after the thrill of livin' is gone
Oh yeay say life goes on
Long after the thrill of livin' is gone

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

My breakdown:

First of, it's straight up art. It's brilliant. It's about young love. It's about being stupid. It's about making a mistake that might change your life forever and leave you believing that life goes on...long after the thrill is gone.

I believe it's about a pregnancy and the decision they have.

Jackie saying 'we oughta' run out of the city'. Diane answering, 'You ain't missing a no-thing.'

It may also be about an abortion:

Let the Bible Belt Come down and save my soul.

Changes come around real soon make us women and men.

All hammered home with the most depressing chorus of a pop song ever.

Life goes on long after the thrill of living is gone.

So what we have is a pop song. A happy song in the manner that is presented, but an innocence of youth song suddenly gone completely wrong, leaving children looking forward to the end of their life. It's based on making decisions meant to thrill ending in responsibility that is overwhelming, all-consuming. It concludes with the message:

Two American kids doing the best that they can.

What is really brilliant about the overview is that Mellencamp also followed up the song later in his career:

Diane and Jack went to a movie.

That's the line that starts Eden is Burning another brilliant song that implies that the Jack and Diane relationship went up in flames years later.

As is apt to happen in a large percentage of such early couplings.

He doesn't objectify women.

He shines light on a real problem.

Teen pregnancy.

YOLO

Children pretending to be adults.

Jack & Diane is a cautionary tale for teens.

May the Bible Belt save the soul of children in such situations.

A backhand to those who pray for salvation in a situation that is potentially avoidable.

Damn, I love Mellencamp.

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