Between A Laugh And A Tear Lyrics

Lyric discussion by gborsos 

Cover art for Between A Laugh And A Tear lyrics by John Mellencamp

The two other posts begin to get at what this song is saying, but I think it’s about even more.

Paradise is material possessions, the big house, the nice car, …, and pleasant, yet shallow relationships.

The song is about getting to the point in life where one realizes that a life where these are the only things that matter isn’t much of a life at all. It hints at the things that are missing: nurturing the soul, having real friends, spending energy in meaningful ways. Yet, the person doesn’t know how to get from where they are to where they need to be and so they just keep going.

My Interpretation