The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
There's a black man with a black cat
Living in a black neighborhood
He's got an interstate running' through his front yard
You know, he thinks, he's got it so good
And there's a woman in the kitchen cleaning' up evening slop
And he looks at her and says:
"Hey darling, I can remember when you could stop a clock"
Oh but ain't that America, for you and me
Ain't that America, we're something to see baby
Ain't that America, home of the free, yeah
Little pink houses for you and me, oh for you and me
Well there's a young man in a T-shirt
Listenin' to a rock 'n' roll station
He's got a greasy hair, greasy smile
He says: "Lord, this must be my destination"
'Cause they told me, when I was younger
Sayin' "Boy, you're gonna be president"
But just like everything else, those old crazy dreams
Just kinda came and went
Oh but ain't that America, for you and me
Ain't that America, we're something to see baby
Ain't that America, home of the free, yeah
Little pink houses, for you and me, oh baby for you and me
Well there's people and more people
What do they know, know, know
Go to work in some high rise
And vacation down at the Gulf of Mexico
Ooo yeah
And there's winners, and there's losers
But they ain't no big deal
'Cause the simple man baby pays the thrills,
The bills and the pills that kill
Oh but ain't that America, for you and me
Ain't that America, we're something to see baby
Ain't that America, home of the free, yeah
Little pink houses for you and me, ooo, ooo yeah
Ain't that America, for you and me
Ain't that America, hey we're something to see baby
Ain't that America, oh the home of the free,
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Little pink houses babe for you and me, ooo yeah ooo yeah
Living in a black neighborhood
He's got an interstate running' through his front yard
You know, he thinks, he's got it so good
And there's a woman in the kitchen cleaning' up evening slop
And he looks at her and says:
"Hey darling, I can remember when you could stop a clock"
Oh but ain't that America, for you and me
Ain't that America, we're something to see baby
Ain't that America, home of the free, yeah
Little pink houses for you and me, oh for you and me
Well there's a young man in a T-shirt
Listenin' to a rock 'n' roll station
He's got a greasy hair, greasy smile
He says: "Lord, this must be my destination"
'Cause they told me, when I was younger
Sayin' "Boy, you're gonna be president"
But just like everything else, those old crazy dreams
Just kinda came and went
Oh but ain't that America, for you and me
Ain't that America, we're something to see baby
Ain't that America, home of the free, yeah
Little pink houses, for you and me, oh baby for you and me
Well there's people and more people
What do they know, know, know
Go to work in some high rise
And vacation down at the Gulf of Mexico
Ooo yeah
And there's winners, and there's losers
But they ain't no big deal
'Cause the simple man baby pays the thrills,
The bills and the pills that kill
Oh but ain't that America, for you and me
Ain't that America, we're something to see baby
Ain't that America, home of the free, yeah
Little pink houses for you and me, ooo, ooo yeah
Ain't that America, for you and me
Ain't that America, hey we're something to see baby
Ain't that America, oh the home of the free,
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Little pink houses babe for you and me, ooo yeah ooo yeah
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Ronald Reagan asked to use this as a campaign song in '84...Mellencamp said no one in hell.
I think Reagan should have read the verses.
You're absolutely right.<br /> <br /> This is why I don't like Mellencamp. Most people who listen to his music don't know what the songs are saying. That wipes out any redeeming social value they might have. He uses poor people as props.
@UnpopularPoet He expressed reluctance to object to Bush's use of "R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A." at a campaign event, telling Rolling Stone that despite his opposition to Bush's political positions, "I don't see any sense in being silly about it. It's entertainment. It's a song.
@UnpopularPoet Ooh... Steve. I like what you said about using poor people as props. I think there was a lot of that going on in the mid-80s, both in the media and in politics. Everybody talked about helping farmers and went around posing on farms and in small towns, but nobody really did anything concrete to change things.
I think this song is about how there comes a time in your life when you realize you're too old to be a dreamer. Where you realize that you can no longer be anything you want to be.
I think it's asking us to reevaluate the American Dream. Maybe that it isn't what we thought it was.
This song should be recognized as one of the best songs in rock & roll. Wonderfully written and performed, and one of my all-time favorites. I agree with all the above comments, but can anyone comment of the significance of "pink houses"?
The term "Pink Houses", refers to just that, pink houses. I lived in one for the first year of my life from 1954 to 55'. They were low-cost houses (which my parents refered to as the "projects") that were bulit in the late 40s' and early 50s' for all the new growing families most of which were military returning home from the war. (BABY BOOMERS) I would go back there with my parents to visit there old friends till I was 10-12 years old, and YES, ALL the houses were painted pink. Not a bright "shocking pink" but pink nontheless. I'm not sure why pink was the color of choice in the midwest but there you have it.
@twise I have seen several neighborhoods with pink houses as well. they were not all pink though. some were green and not all of the neighborhoods were projects. The colors were real close to the same as the little square pink and green party mints. I am from southern Indiana not far where I-65 runs through between Seymour and Louisville Kentucky. I have not only seen them in Indiana but around Kentucky as well.
i live in indianapolis, a hoosier just like john...and you drive down interstate 65 to downtown indy, and when you drive down I65 to downtown Indianapolis, you can see where the neighborhood roads just cut from where I65 was built, always reminds me of this song and the first couple of lines.
Great song, but the line about his wife being able to stop a clock always seemed a bit of a back-handed compliment and funny to me - like you had a face that could stop a clock?
@daherbie I believe he is saying that the man remembers when she was younger she was beautiful and or sexy enough that when guys noticed and stared at her it felt like time stood still. Now that they are older even though he still loves her and is still beautiful in his eyes her looks are not the same.
Kissfan,<br /> <br /> You got it. It's like, she was so gorgeous, even the clock had to stop and look.
And there's winners and there's losers But they ain't no big deal
i dont like this line. everyone is equal.
i do love the message of this song tho. america aint so great. especially when it cums to economic inequality. it is my opinion that people cannot be equal without economic, social, and political equality. i guess u can call me a communist.
as far as "And there's winners and there's losers But they ain't no big deal" i think that mellencamp is referring to the fact that rich people have it made, complete fuckups have dug their own graves. and it is the workers who keep america going but also have to slave every day
To be fair, and this from watching the video, I think he is referring to anyone that lets drugs (or whatever) interfere with their life. May not be the "best" life, but even a working man/woman can derail their lives with destructive behavior. In that way it is even. Just the drugs of choice are not.
@ThinkSolutions I don't think he's referring to people being unequal but that in life no matter how hard you try sometimes things don't workout. Also I think he is referring to those that even though they have the ability happen to be losers because they don't try.
Pink Houses are also the name of projects in Brooklyn. I'm not sure if that was what Mr. Mellencamp was referring to, but it could fit the theme of the song as well. I like when songs get the meaning across, but leave some room for interpretation.
As we celebrate Independence Day, I think America has to be reexamined and reevaluated. The ideas that our founders espoused are now old-fashioned. What was one was the truth-it's no anything but! America is full of hypocrisy and lies. Even with Obama in Office, America will Never Be a more perfect union! John Mellencamp understands this fact better than anyone in Rock. To Paraphrase his Midwest Guitar Friend Madonna, Nobody's Perfect. In angry heartland classic rocker Pink Houses, Mellencamp angrily writes about inequality-how the American people don't have it so good after all. The Indiana Hoosier Kitty Cat is angry and enraged!-Meow!-Mellencamp rages "Ain't That America for You and Me!"-as if things will never change! What's most shocking is the hopelessness on the sad rocker. The truth hurts. As his Meowing Cat voice gets angrier and sadder, Johnny Rebel just cries in Sad and Enraged Indiana Tears. The Pink House then is a stoic symbol that hard times are gonna be with us always-but we Americans just have to keep going to make America better. There is still hope. Mellencamp knows it. I know it. We all know it! Ain't that America for you and me! Happy Fourth!