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90 Great Quotes By John Mellencamp For Your Euphonious Voyage

Famous As: Singer-Songwriter Best Known for His singles ‘Jack & Diane’, ‘Hurts So Good’ and ‘Crumblin' Down’
Born On: October 7, 1951
Born In: Seymour, Indiana, United States
Age: 72 Years
John Mellencamp is an American singer, musician, songwriter, actor, and painter. He is renowned for his captivating, populist brand of heartland rock, which highlights the traditional instrumentation. He shot to fame in 1980s with some notable numbers including, ‘Paper in Fire,’ ‘Hurts SO Good,’ ‘Pink Houses,’ ‘Jack & Diane,’ ‘Crumblin Down,’ and ‘Small Town,’ amongst various others. In 2008, he was inducted into the ‘Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.' He has been nominated 13 times for ‘Grammy Awards’ and has bagged the prestigious award once. He is an artist who has been both commercially and critically acclaimed. We have amassed some notable, inspiring and tuneful quotes and sayings by the illustrious artist, which have been cumulated from his songs, lyrics, thoughts, writings, interviews, tweets, dialogues and life. Let us take a look at what we can learn from John Mellencamp.
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They say life goes on long after the thrill of living

They say life goes on long after the thrill of living

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

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

John Mellencamp
I think Roosevelt had four terms, didn't he? I think we should go back to that, and we should go back to four years for a senator, four years for a congressman, and I think we'd see a huge change in our society.

I think Roosevelt had four terms, didn't he? I think we should go back to that, and we should go back to four years for a senator, four years for a congressman, and I think we'd see a huge change in our society.

John Mellencamp
My best songs come from a place outside myself.

My best songs come from a place outside myself.

John Mellencamp

I ended up writing songs and growing up in public with my songwriting. And it's a good thing for me back then: in the early '70s, there was a thing called artist development, where an artist could find his feet, find himself, find his voice. I think I made five or six albums before I sold five or six albums.

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

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

John Mellencamp
Broadway is a very different kind of place. It's kind of like Nashville in that there's a certain amount of people that are involved, and those people are what run it.

Broadway is a very different kind of place. It's kind of like Nashville in that there's a certain amount of people that are involved, and those people are what run it.

John Mellencamp
People have the right to say what they want to.

People have the right to say what they want to.

John Mellencamp
I believe in something, even if it's just me.

I believe in something, even if it's just me.

John Mellencamp
As I get older, I have a different look on life. I just try to be a little more tolerant and a little bit more centered about what's going on around me and not so emotional.

As I get older, I have a different look on life. I just try to be a little more tolerant and a little bit more centered about what's going on around me and not so emotional.

John Mellencamp
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.

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
American folk songs were about tragedy, right? They were about suffering and tragedy, and a lot of my songs are about that, even though they were misunderstood.

American folk songs were about tragedy, right? They were about suffering and tragedy, and a lot of my songs are about that, even though they were misunderstood.

John Mellencamp
I've been around so many people for so long that I take great delight in my own company.

I've been around so many people for so long that I take great delight in my own company.

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

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

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

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

John Mellencamp
I wish my grandmother and grandfather were still alive, because they were able to keep me grounded.

I wish my grandmother and grandfather were still alive, because they were able to keep me grounded.

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

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

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

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

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

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

John Mellencamp
For me to pretend I'm the keeper of the small town mentality or that's all I'm interested in is wrong.

For me to pretend I'm the keeper of the small town mentality or that's all I'm interested in is wrong.

John Mellencamp
My task with 'Uh-Huh' was to make a more even record and get away from juvenile topics like 'Hurts So Good.' But I also knew if I wanted to continue, I had to have more hits.

My task with 'Uh-Huh' was to make a more even record and get away from juvenile topics like 'Hurts So Good.' But I also knew if I wanted to continue, I had to have more hits.

John Mellencamp
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.

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.

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

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

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

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

John Mellencamp
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?

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?

John Mellencamp
I think it's ridiculous to try to sell records to teenagers, because teenagers don't buy my records. And there ain't that many teenagers out there in the marketplace.

I think it's ridiculous to try to sell records to teenagers, because teenagers don't buy my records. And there ain't that many teenagers out there in the marketplace.

John Mellencamp

'Jack & Diane' was originally about race. I was playing nightclubs, and I was seeing new American couples, mixed-race couples. I thought it was cool. The song was my effort to make a song about that, but of course the record-company guy didn't like it.

John Mellencamp

I have to say when a man lives for himself, it's hard to live with him. That's pretty much the story of all my divorces. I've been making records since I was 22 and done things my way, and it's hard for me to compromise. And of course, to have a successful relationship, one has to compromise. Sometimes I'm not good at it.

John Mellencamp

When I wrote 'Pink Houses,' nobody was talking about that, right? The next thing I know, you can't see the TV without hearing commercials with 'Listen to the heartbeat of America,' or 'Born the American way.' That whole America thing now - I hate it.

John Mellencamp
When did Jimmy Stewart not play Jimmy Stewart? When did John Wayne not play John Wayne? But that's what we like about them. When you talk about acting, you really have to respond to somebody's personality.

When did Jimmy Stewart not play Jimmy Stewart? When did John Wayne not play John Wayne? But that's what we like about them. When you talk about acting, you really have to respond to somebody's personality.

John Mellencamp