I wish my grandmother and grandfather were still alive, because they were able to keep me grounded. John Mellencamp alivegrandfathergrandmother Change image and share on social
Hanging out is a waste of time. The only time I would hang out was when I was a kid, I would hang out in the streets. But once I started making records, I stopped hanging out. John Mellencamp hangkidmake Change image and share on social
Take 'Jack and Diane.' I was so disgusted with people thinking the line 'Hold on to sixteen as long as you can' meant to stay a teenager forever. What I meant was keep doing whatever makes you feel alive. John Mellencamp alivedianedisgust share on social
When you live in hysteria, people start thinking emotionally. John Mellencamp emotionallyhysterialive Change image and share on social
This cycle of make a record, tour has been going on for 20 years now. I don't even know why I do it sometimes. Do I need more money? Do I need more platinum and gold records? The only thing I can think of is ego. John Mellencamp cycleegogold share on social
All I'm doing is painting. It's my hobby. And that's that. John Mellencamp hobbypaint Change image and share on social
Music was so important to the culture when I was growing up in the Sixties and Seventies. We just expected that Bob Dylan was going to make a great record, and it was normal. It was like, 'Okay, here's another great record by Bob Dylan; here's another great record by Led Zeppelin.' John Mellencamp bobculturedylan share on social
When politicians use fear, they are playing into the enemy's hand. John Mellencamp enemyfearhand Change image and share on social
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. John Mellencamp guthrielotlyric Change image and share on social
