I do not think you guys really get what this song is about. It is about two young teens that are sexually active. She gets pregnant and has to "run to the city" to get an abortion. That is why she tells Jacky that he is not missing anything. When he says the thrill of living is gone, he means that they were wild and carefree, but then she got pregnant and everything changed. The thrill of living is gone, because this changed their life and the way they think. They realize they are not invincible, like most teens think they are. When he says hold on to 16 as long as you can, he is saying keep your innocence, and do not grow up too quickly, because life is hard. He is not saying life is over after 20; he is just saying that being young and innocent is fleeting, so enjoy it while you can and do not screw it up. Some of the words are wrong too. It is suppiose to say Diane and her old man have to run off to the city and it is supposed to say Jacky sits back and collects (not reflects) his thoughts for a moment.
Well... that is my view on the song at least. I have always loved this song.
Overall this song is about the hesitancy (if you are lucky and mostly sensible) and regret (if you are not) about becoming seriously (physically) involved with your (probable) first love. Basically, instant decisions you make (in the throes of passion or not) in your mid-late teens and even early 20's, can have a lasting - either positive or (more likely) negative - impact on the rest of your life. Tammit's comments on Jack and Diane over 10 years ago are among the best I've read here and his/her observations on teenagers thinking the whole world revolves around them and...
Overall this song is about the hesitancy (if you are lucky and mostly sensible) and regret (if you are not) about becoming seriously (physically) involved with your (probable) first love. Basically, instant decisions you make (in the throes of passion or not) in your mid-late teens and even early 20's, can have a lasting - either positive or (more likely) negative - impact on the rest of your life. Tammit's comments on Jack and Diane over 10 years ago are among the best I've read here and his/her observations on teenagers thinking the whole world revolves around them and that they shouldn't grow up too fast is spot on. Great song though.
@tammit1971 What are you basing your interpretation of these lyrics on? I'm not saying you're wrong at all, as a lot of songwriter's lyrics are deliberately left open for each listener's own personal interpretation. I was just wondering if you read an interview- or something-with Mellencamp about it? Another commentator here cites a 2014 interview with Mellencamp in which he explains that the song is about an inter-racial couple...so it makes sense how you picked up on the unspoken tabu theme within it. Anyhow, if I hadn't have read that comment about said interview I would have felt your interpretation...
@tammit1971 What are you basing your interpretation of these lyrics on? I'm not saying you're wrong at all, as a lot of songwriter's lyrics are deliberately left open for each listener's own personal interpretation. I was just wondering if you read an interview- or something-with Mellencamp about it? Another commentator here cites a 2014 interview with Mellencamp in which he explains that the song is about an inter-racial couple...so it makes sense how you picked up on the unspoken tabu theme within it. Anyhow, if I hadn't have read that comment about said interview I would have felt your interpretation was the closest to the the actual meaning implied in the lyrics.
I do not think you guys really get what this song is about. It is about two young teens that are sexually active. She gets pregnant and has to "run to the city" to get an abortion. That is why she tells Jacky that he is not missing anything. When he says the thrill of living is gone, he means that they were wild and carefree, but then she got pregnant and everything changed. The thrill of living is gone, because this changed their life and the way they think. They realize they are not invincible, like most teens think they are. When he says hold on to 16 as long as you can, he is saying keep your innocence, and do not grow up too quickly, because life is hard. He is not saying life is over after 20; he is just saying that being young and innocent is fleeting, so enjoy it while you can and do not screw it up. Some of the words are wrong too. It is suppiose to say Diane and her old man have to run off to the city and it is supposed to say Jacky sits back and collects (not reflects) his thoughts for a moment.
Well... that is my view on the song at least. I have always loved this song.
@tammit1971
@tammit1971
Overall this song is about the hesitancy (if you are lucky and mostly sensible) and regret (if you are not) about becoming seriously (physically) involved with your (probable) first love. Basically, instant decisions you make (in the throes of passion or not) in your mid-late teens and even early 20's, can have a lasting - either positive or (more likely) negative - impact on the rest of your life. Tammit's comments on Jack and Diane over 10 years ago are among the best I've read here and his/her observations on teenagers thinking the whole world revolves around them and...
Overall this song is about the hesitancy (if you are lucky and mostly sensible) and regret (if you are not) about becoming seriously (physically) involved with your (probable) first love. Basically, instant decisions you make (in the throes of passion or not) in your mid-late teens and even early 20's, can have a lasting - either positive or (more likely) negative - impact on the rest of your life. Tammit's comments on Jack and Diane over 10 years ago are among the best I've read here and his/her observations on teenagers thinking the whole world revolves around them and that they shouldn't grow up too fast is spot on. Great song though.
@tammit1971 What are you basing your interpretation of these lyrics on? I'm not saying you're wrong at all, as a lot of songwriter's lyrics are deliberately left open for each listener's own personal interpretation. I was just wondering if you read an interview- or something-with Mellencamp about it? Another commentator here cites a 2014 interview with Mellencamp in which he explains that the song is about an inter-racial couple...so it makes sense how you picked up on the unspoken tabu theme within it. Anyhow, if I hadn't have read that comment about said interview I would have felt your interpretation...
@tammit1971 What are you basing your interpretation of these lyrics on? I'm not saying you're wrong at all, as a lot of songwriter's lyrics are deliberately left open for each listener's own personal interpretation. I was just wondering if you read an interview- or something-with Mellencamp about it? Another commentator here cites a 2014 interview with Mellencamp in which he explains that the song is about an inter-racial couple...so it makes sense how you picked up on the unspoken tabu theme within it. Anyhow, if I hadn't have read that comment about said interview I would have felt your interpretation was the closest to the the actual meaning implied in the lyrics.