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According to
Mellencamp biographer David Masciotra, the song "describes the rewards and punishments of a typical American middle-class family" and professes that "our attempts to solve the mysteries of the heart and grasp the truth of humanity are fraught with disaster and disappointment."
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said that
Mellencamp's rough county-ish feel takes you into the heartland " and that the song "features a nice instrumental
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in
Indianapolis on December 11, 1987, during Mellencamp's massive Lonesome Jubilee tour.
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Masciotra calls it "a uniquely powerful testament to the mystery of inner life".
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336:(12th ed.). Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research, Inc. p. 649.
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389:. University Press of Kentucky. pp. 4, 100–103, 106, 122, 135.
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in 1988. The single was a top 20 hit, reaching number 14 on the
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Mellencamp biographer Paul Rees called its sound "uplifting".
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806:Words & Music: John Mellencamp's Greatest Hits
361:. Bloomington, Indiana: Author House. p. 5.
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262:The video was shot as a live performance at
208:released as the third single from his album
359:John Mellencamp: The Concert at Walter Reed
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771:Performs Trouble No More Live at Town Hall
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491:"John Mellencamp Chart History (Hot 100)"
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38:
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1152:Song recordings produced by Don Gehman
779:Plain Spoken: From the Chicago Theatre
247:line that sounds like an otherworldly
946:Key West Intermezzo (I Saw You First)
18:1988 single by John Cougar Mellencamp
7:
1072:
1070:
1090:. You can help Knowledge (XXG) by
798:The Best That I Could Do 1978–1988
576:Nothin' Matters and What If It Did
14:
1044:Ghost Brothers of Darkland County
1157:Songs written by John Mellencamp
1074:
499:. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
387:Mellencamp: American Troubadour
855:Ain't Even Done with the Night
445:. February 6, 1988. p. 10
297:
1:
763:Life, Death, Live and Freedom
704:Life, Death, Love and Freedom
728:Sad Clowns & Hillbillies
251:and leads into the verses."
467:Cash Box Pop Hits 1952-1996
414:. Atria Books. p. 94.
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385:Masciotra, David (2022).
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736:Strictly a One-Eyed Jack
552:Chestnut Street Incident
1162:Mercury Records singles
814:On the Rural Route 7609
470:. Sheridan Books, Inc.
464:Whitburn, Joel (2014).
332:Whitburn, Joel (2009).
1086:–related article is a
904:R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.
159:John Cougar Mellencamp
34:John Cougar Mellencamp
1167:1980s rock song stubs
1147:John Mellencamp songs
357:Bessman, Jim (2007).
822:Other People's Stuff
616:The Lonesome Jubilee
211:The Lonesome Jubilee
204:" is a 1987 song by
43:The Lonesome Jubilee
712:No Better Than This
410:Rees, Paul (2021).
264:Market Square Arena
57:"We Are the People"
1036:Falling from Grace
744:Orpheus Descending
656:Mr. Happy Go Lucky
632:Whenever We Wanted
282:Chart (1987–1988)
188:"Rooty Toot Toot"
161:singles chronology
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477:978-0-89820-209-0
436:"Single Releases"
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890:Lonely Ol' Night
869:Jack & Diane
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24:"Check It Out"
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991:Other singles
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981:My Sweet Love
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680:Cuttin' Heads
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584:American Fool
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544:Studio albums
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421:9781982112165
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396:9780813195582
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368:9781434346469
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275:Weekly charts
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133:Songwriter(s)
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1142:1988 singles
1092:expanding it
1081:
1066:
1051:Elaine Irwin
1042:
1034:
1025:George Green
1003:Travis Tritt
999:What Say You
925:Check It Out
924:
820:
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790:Compilations
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720:Plain Spoken
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640:Human Wheels
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449:December 21,
447:. Retrieved
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238:
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228:
216:
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202:Check It Out
201:
199:
181:Check It Out
180:
41:
15:
1082:This 1980s
1020:Discography
974:Our Country
918:Cherry Bomb
883:Pink Houses
755:Live albums
648:Dance Naked
568:John Cougar
560:A Biography
258:Music video
172:Cherry Bomb
145:Producer(s)
1137:1987 songs
1131:Categories
939:Wild Night
932:Pop Singer
897:Small Town
412:Mellencamp
319:References
152:Don Gehman
1084:rock song
967:Walk Tall
848:This Time
624:Big Daddy
608:Scarecrow
496:Billboard
306:Billboard
287:position
234:Reception
217:Billboard
1056:Meg Ryan
1030:Farm Aid
1001:" (with
443:Cash Box
240:Cash Box
62:Released
1013:Related
308:Hot 100
294:Cashbox
249:bagpipe
219:Hot 100
190:(1988)
185:(1988)
176:(1987)
125:Mercury
84:Indiana
67: (
1047:(2012)
1039:(1992)
825:(2018)
817:(2010)
809:(2004)
801:(1997)
782:(2018)
774:(2014)
766:(2009)
747:(2023)
739:(2022)
731:(2017)
723:(2014)
715:(2010)
707:(2008)
699:(2007)
691:(2003)
683:(2001)
675:(1999)
667:(1998)
659:(1996)
651:(1994)
643:(1993)
635:(1991)
627:(1989)
619:(1987)
611:(1985)
603:(1983)
600:Uh-huh
595:(1983)
587:(1982)
579:(1980)
571:(1979)
563:(1978)
555:(1976)
474:
418:
393:
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340:
270:Charts
103:Length
78:Studio
52:B-side
30:Single
439:(PDF)
120:Label
92:Genre
86:, US)
1088:stub
472:ISBN
451:2022
416:ISBN
391:ISBN
363:ISBN
338:ISBN
285:Peak
245:hook
69:1988
65:1988
312:14
303:US
298:14
292:US
32:by
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