John Mellencamp — The Real Life
Album: The Lonesome JubileeAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 245
Length: 3:55
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Suzanne divorced her husband
She got the keys to the car and the home
But her friends were really his friends
No one stops by to see her much anymore
So one night she goes back down to the old haunts
That once upon a time were her own
She didn't know nobody out there no more
And the whole experience just made her feel so old
She says
I want to live the real life
I want ot live my life close to the bone
Just because I'm middle-aged that don't mean
I want to sit around my house and watch T.V.
I want the real life
I want to live the real life
Jackson Jackson was a good kid
He had four years of college and a bachelor's degree
Started workin' when he was 21
Got fed up and quit
When he was 43
He said, "My whole life
I've done what I'm supposed to do
Now I'd like to maybe do something for myself
And just as soon as I figure out what that is
You can bet your life I'm gonna give it hell"
He says
I want to live the real life
I want ot live my life close to the bone
Just because I'm middle-aged that don't mean
I want to sit around my house and watch T.V.
I want the real life
I want to live the real life
I guess it don't matter how old you are
Or how old one lives to be
I guess it boils down to what we did with our lives
And how we deal with our own destinies
But something happens
When you reach a certain age
Particularly to those ones that are young at heart
It's a lonely proposition when you realize
That's there's less days in front of the horse
Than riding in the back of this cart
I say
I want to live the real life
I want ot live my life close to the bone
Just because I'm middle-aged that don't mean
I want to sit around my house and watch T.V.
I want the real life
I want to live the real life
She got the keys to the car and the home
But her friends were really his friends
No one stops by to see her much anymore
So one night she goes back down to the old haunts
That once upon a time were her own
She didn't know nobody out there no more
And the whole experience just made her feel so old
She says
I want to live the real life
I want ot live my life close to the bone
Just because I'm middle-aged that don't mean
I want to sit around my house and watch T.V.
I want the real life
I want to live the real life
Jackson Jackson was a good kid
He had four years of college and a bachelor's degree
Started workin' when he was 21
Got fed up and quit
When he was 43
He said, "My whole life
I've done what I'm supposed to do
Now I'd like to maybe do something for myself
And just as soon as I figure out what that is
You can bet your life I'm gonna give it hell"
He says
I want to live the real life
I want ot live my life close to the bone
Just because I'm middle-aged that don't mean
I want to sit around my house and watch T.V.
I want the real life
I want to live the real life
I guess it don't matter how old you are
Or how old one lives to be
I guess it boils down to what we did with our lives
And how we deal with our own destinies
But something happens
When you reach a certain age
Particularly to those ones that are young at heart
It's a lonely proposition when you realize
That's there's less days in front of the horse
Than riding in the back of this cart
I say
I want to live the real life
I want ot live my life close to the bone
Just because I'm middle-aged that don't mean
I want to sit around my house and watch T.V.
I want the real life
I want to live the real life
Comments (17)add comment
My favourite song along with Check It Out, on my favourite Mellencamp album
Long Live RP
Only 7 from me
Only 7 from me
ScottishWillie wrote:
There may not be room for two roughly similar American singer/songwriters in the UK market. Mellencamp may also not fit so neatly into the Americana pigeonhole as Springsteen does. Bruce used to write quirky songs about offbeat characters early in his career but from what I can tell he uses a fairly broad and conventional brush when painting the lives of individuals.
John Mellencamp is little know in the UK compared to Bruce Springsteen who is super massive on this side of the Atlantic. Never really understood why, when John has so much to offer.
There may not be room for two roughly similar American singer/songwriters in the UK market. Mellencamp may also not fit so neatly into the Americana pigeonhole as Springsteen does. Bruce used to write quirky songs about offbeat characters early in his career but from what I can tell he uses a fairly broad and conventional brush when painting the lives of individuals.
Just got my tix for The John Mellencamp Show coming to my town! Stoked! 
Ah...John M. Fits that Midwestern 'hippie-redneck" profile, to a tee.
No thanks. I need some music that won't drive me crazy.
Most jarring segue I think I've ever heard on RP in a dozen years.
FrankRizzo wrote:
Lyrics alone are worth at least an 8.
The fact that I can relate so strongly to the lyrics of this song is more than a little worrying!?!
(delete) wrote:
Not by a long shot. However, it is from right about the time that the radio stopped playing his music making it harder to find and appreciate.
The Little Bastard's last really good album, I think.
Not by a long shot. However, it is from right about the time that the radio stopped playing his music making it harder to find and appreciate.
I would love to sit around the house and watch TV :)
John Mellencamp is little know in the UK compared to Bruce Springsteen who is super massive on this side of the Atlantic. Never really understood why, when John has so much to offer.
Love the fiddle! Jammin.
One of his best albums.
Lyrics alone are worth at least an 8.
Thank you RP for surprising me yet again.
Lots of great memories wrapped around this album. Guess it's my Midwest farm roots...