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I Need A Lover Lyrics
I've been walking the streets in the evening
Racing through the human jungle at night
I'm so confused my mind is indifferent
Hey, I'm so weak won't somebody turn off the light
Electricity runs through the video
As I watch from this hole I call home
All the stony's are dancin' to the radio
And I got the world calling me up here tonight on the phone
Chorus:
I need a lover that won't drive me crazy
Some girl to thrill me and then go away
I need a lover that won't drive me crazy
Some girl that knows the meaning of
Hey hit the highway
Well I'm not wiped out by this poolroom life I'm living
Gonna quit this job, go to school, or head back home
Well, I'm not asking to be loved or be forgiven
I just can't face shaken in this bedroom one more night alone
I need a lover that won't drive me crazy
I need a lover that won't drive me crazy
I need a lover that won't drive me crazy
Some girl that knows the meaning of
Hey hit the highway
Racing through the human jungle at night
I'm so confused my mind is indifferent
Hey, I'm so weak won't somebody turn off the light
As I watch from this hole I call home
All the stony's are dancin' to the radio
And I got the world calling me up here tonight on the phone
I need a lover that won't drive me crazy
Some girl to thrill me and then go away
I need a lover that won't drive me crazy
Some girl that knows the meaning of
Hey hit the highway
Gonna quit this job, go to school, or head back home
Well, I'm not asking to be loved or be forgiven
I just can't face shaken in this bedroom one more night alone
I need a lover that won't drive me crazy
I need a lover that won't drive me crazy
I need a lover that won't drive me crazy
Some girl that knows the meaning of
Hey hit the highway
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In Yr 11 I went out with this chick who went beserk when we broke up & succeeded in losing me most of my friends. What friends I did have left used to joke that this song was about me - I need a lover who won't drive me crazy.
The term "stonies" in the song is a term used in the Bloomington, Indiana area (where John Mellencamp is from and continues to reside) to refer to "local people" (as opposed to the college students of Indiana University in Bloomington). "Stonies" is short for "stone cutters", local workers who mine the limestone quarries. Sometimes they are also called "cutters".
@Dunestrider like in Breaking Away, right? Only they're called "Cutters" in that, I'm guessing both nicknames were used, one being affectionate (Stonies), one pejorative (Cutters)...love this song, the intro, of course, but always loved the lyric.
@Dunestrider like in Breaking Away, right? Only they're called "Cutters" in that, I'm guessing both nicknames were used, one being affectionate (Stonies), one pejorative (Cutters)...love this song, the intro, of course, but always loved the lyric.
The musical intro is worth a listen by itself. Fantastic drum work anchors the all around tight musicianship during the two minute instrumental buildup.
The lyrics are simple, to the point and certainly inspired by a bad relationship. One of the greatest "kiss-off" songs of all time in my opinion. Nothing profound here, and perhaps a bit harsh in tone, but this song is musically inspired and thematically aggressive enough to demand repeat listens and a place in classic rock history.
Message is pretty clear on this one. Just a good guy looking for a good girl
@Dunestrider: That's something I would have never known had you not commented. I just made the obvious and less intelligent assumption he was referring to stoned people. Seriously, I love this site for this reason alone, all the random people who comment and expand knowledge about a song by explaining one simple word with some kind of local flavor to it. Makes me appreciate the simple yet solid songwriting in this one even more.
@lairfans12 Thanks! The only reason I know this myself (that "stonies" mean non-college locals) is because I used to live down there in the 70s (when this song was released). There are not that many limestone quarries in operation anymore, so I don't know if the locals are still referred to that way at the present time.
@lairfans12 Thanks! The only reason I know this myself (that "stonies" mean non-college locals) is because I used to live down there in the 70s (when this song was released). There are not that many limestone quarries in operation anymore, so I don't know if the locals are still referred to that way at the present time.