A little ditty 'bout Jack & Diane
Two American kids growing up in the heart land
Jack, he's gonna be a football star
Diane's debutante, back seat of Jacky's car

Suckin' on chilli dog outside the Tastee Freez
Diane sitting on Jacky's lap
Got his hands between her knees
Jack he says
"Hey, Diane, let's run off behind the shady trees
Dribble off those Bobby Brooks
Let me do what I please"

Saying "Oh yeah
Life goes on, long after the thrill of living is gone"
Saying "Oh yeah
Life goes on, long after the thrill of living is gone"
They walk on

Jack he sits back, collects his thoughts for the moment
Scratches his head, and does his best James Dean
"Well then, there, Diane, we ought to run off to the city"
Diane says
"Baby, you ain't missing nothing"
But Jack he says, yeah

"Oh yeah, life goes on, long after the thrill of living is gone"
"Oh yeah"
He's saying "Life goes on, long after the thrill of living is gone"

Oh, let it rock, let it roll
Let the bible belt come and save my soul
Holdin' on to sixteen as long as you can
Change is coming 'round real soon
Make us women and men

"Oh yeah, life goes on, long after the thrill of living is gone"
"Oh yeah"
He's saying "Life goes on, long after the thrill of living is gone"

A little ditty 'bout Jack and Diane
Two American kids doin' the best they can


Lyrics submitted by Boonechic_21, edited by force263

Jack & Diane Lyrics as written by John Mellencamp

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Jack and Diane song meanings
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  • +4
    General Comment

    he summarizes the song in the last verse:

    "Hold on to 16 as long as you can Changes come around real soon Make us women and men"

    he's talking about kids growing up and realizing that the boring stuff they do daily is what they miss when they grow up. they realized that even if they find no joy or whatnot in it, life goes on, whether you're ready or not.

    sapphireskieson August 01, 2002   Link

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