@@jh648662 l do that because people think because you are a certain race you only like a certain kind of music. In high school they gave a party for a caucasian girl and the kids of my race and her race played the iron butterfly and Beatles and British invasion groups songs and said that was her music so l told them thats my music also l love country and folk and rock and well as Motown and rhythm and blues and some hip hop. That's why l say l am a black Detroit 60's chick when commenting on songs cause many even today are still surprised if a black person likes Enya or Celtic thunder or anything like that. I love all races and music my husband is white . Thanks for your comment. 😀
This was my nephews "fight" song back in 1990. They were trying to kick him out of school because he had AIDS. He was 13. He won and got to go back to school. Like John Cougar, we are from Indiana. Small town called Knightstown. He got the virus from being a hemophilia and having to have blood transfusions. Sadly, he passed away from complications from the desiese at 17 years old in 1995 Rest in heaven Paul ( PJ) Conley. Love and miss you forever!!! Still fighting for a cure honey!!!
RYAN WHITE!!! Yes, I remember the TV movie. So sad people were so cruel at the time, and so little understood was the disease. We've come a long way since then, but ignorance is still out there. Keep "fighting", and keep on keeping on. *hugs*
This is song is about fighting the good fight even tough you continually lose. Putting up resistance to unjust authority is important. You might not see the benefits of defying injustice in your lifetime but if you carry on the legacy you might actually win for those you love beyond your death.
Contakum That is a beautiful comment. Seriously. As I'm getting older, I'm realizing a lot of the people who were demonized by our media and our society were actually right. Dare to think for yourself. Stand up for what you believe. We may not live forever - but our ideology will...
Still fighting authority everyday all day. Mellencamp you seemed so ahead of your time. Appreciate and love your music more and more. It only gets better, it never gets old.
@John Mellencamp I am very surprised and appreciative of your support and appreciation for your fans, along with your music - please let the music keep coming.
I was in a shitty mood driving to work this morning, and this song came on the radio and totally raised my spirits. Weird, I've heard it a zillion times but for some reason it just clicked today how much I like it. Catchy as all hell.
+Tuan Jim I feel ya 100% man. That happens to me so many times, I swear I'm in the shittiest mood on the way to work sometimes and when a catchy song like this comes on, my mood just gets so much better. Just shows ya how great Mellencamp is and how good Classic Rock is.
Yep. I love all kinds of music, from classical to jazz to bizarre avant-garde stuff to punk and metal, and everything in between, but I'm a total sucker for a simple, catchy tune.
"growing up leads to growing old and then to dyin', and dyin' to me don't sound like all that much fun" has been in my head my entire life, and is as close to my life philosophy as I will ever find. Almost 40 years ago you could make radio songs with lines in that in it that would resonate for decade.
My dad was a huge fan of John Mellencamp! I remember buying one of his albums for my dad’s 36th birthday! (1986!) He is definitely an the music of the Mid-West!
living on Social Security is where. A lot of us are already dead. It's the Circle of Life, bro. Getting old sucks, but it's better than the alternative, most days.
I’m 19 I’m assuming your generation is people born from the 50s to 60s we might have life better now days in some ways but one thing is for sure and that is are music is nothing compared to this
All the boys loved this song in the 80s. Parents thought it was a punk song. The boys got called punks for diggin it. It was a great song. 80s totally rocked. 57 now. Still love it. Great memories.
I grew up on original MTV and while I always liked his music and videos as a child, as an adult I've grown to really appreciate him. Plus he's super hot here! I remember him being John Cougar Mellencamp. Legend.
When I fight authority it doesn’t always win, My family has a history of bucking authority and winning by the grace of God, I been doing that since I was a young kid and come out winning when God, Daddy, Momma, and my sisters and nephews and thier families got my back. however this songs’ got a talented singer and band and still rocks.
This song reminds me of my brother that passed away in 2005. He was always getting into a fight as a kiddo then as an adult he tested the authority but never anything illegal (no drugs) HE ALWAYS CAME OUT GRINNING! Rest In Peace Big Brother.
John COUGAR has and always will be the people's voice. His music is for all generations, it's our common ground that we can all talk about and relate to one another
This song needs played now more than ever! I’m not talking police I’m talking about the man! He is stepping way over the line. Rise up we the people! 🇺🇸
John Cougar Mellencamp I have been a fan of yours since before you made it in the music biz. Those were the good Ole days. Bloomington Indiana, Lake Bloomington. You were good then, you're even greater now. Miss you guy's, those days and Strombolli!!!
"All religious notions are founded solely on authority; all the religions of the world forbid examination and do not want one to reason; authority wants one to believe in God; this God is himself founded only on the authority of a few men who pretend to know him, and to come in his name and announce him on earth. A God made by man undoubtedly has need of man to make himself known to man." - "The Necessity of Atheism" by Percy Bysshe Shelley (They kicked him out of college for writing it.)
First 3 seconds of this song instantly takes me back to my childhood. i remember riding around town with my aunt and this song blaring out the t tops of her 78 vette. im 38 years old now and time has gone by so fast. what i wouldnt give just to go back to the 80s for a week
I am still listening in 2018 Mellcamps legacy.. Legacy that changed so many peoples lives, HE JUST DOESNT KNOW HOW MUCH HIS SONGS CHANGED MY LIFE.. I DONT KNOW WHAT I WOULD DO W/O J.MELLENCAMP.. IM FIGHTING AUTHORITY JOHN, IM NOT SITTING DOWN DOING NOTHING..IT MAY BE A LOOSING BATTLE, YOU WOULD BE PROUD.. I KNOW I AM ...
Every time I hear this song I recall going on an emergency call as a young paramedic. The patient was drunk and giving everyone a fight and refusing care the police were forced to restrain him...just then as if on que, this song came on MTV in this guys house! No joke! Picture him and the cop rumbling around to this song. My partner just look at the tv, looked up at me and smiled.
F-ing Brilliant situation to find yourself witnessing. Cheers for having the awareness to soak in the humor of the situation. I love the directional advice as to pinpoint precisely what we should be looking for and to paint that in kur head.looking for, and more then all, i appreciate that exact humor and the outline of what even made it anything more then just being the exact moment that it was at the time, blah blah, ok there I'm rambling again, hell there I go with tears in my eyeballs again🤦🏻♂️* Suddenly like a bolt of lightning, starts waiving shoulders and fists to an into drum break with Johnny🤷🏻( holy shite, this dude needs to get a grip,)
John you are a legend in your own time and I love every song you have ever sung. And I really like to watch you dance. Would have loved to have seen you live!!!
Almost by definition "Rock 'n' Roll" is about rocking the boat, rolling some stones - and kicking some ass. This song and video by John Cougar Mellencamp embodies everything I love about my favorite genre of music and of the human spirit.
Funny you mention it, a band called Andead covered this song and substituted the chorus of "I Fought the Law" for the "Oh Nooooo" part...and it fits in very well, oddly enough.
***** That's because John said when the song was being written he had "I Fought The Law" in mind and wanted it to sound similar or something like that. I can't remember it all but it's on his Wikipedia page.
This is the kind of song that gets you up off your butt and makes you move. It makes you feel alive. Great song that really rocks and has an awesome beat.
I'm mostly a punk rock kind of guy, but this song has always been inspirational to me. I feel like it's one of those songs that captures the anti-authority punk rock ethos, but sneaks it in with a catchy blues-rock sound that more people will hear. And in a way, that makes it even more subversive and effective.
@Mark Berenger it's nice to meet you and to be COMPLETELY honest i am were and will be REALLY REALLY selective with country since it LITERALLY always has been REALLY LOW in TALENT and i did do and/or PROBABLY will EQUALLY really LOVE rock metal and punk
Mellancamp was right on with this one. His group is Tight! This is one of those kickass numbers with a dynamite opening riff, and the rest is rhythm and Bass. Notably that drummer really does his job!
Yes, , this characterised American spirit in 84 when President was Reagan and previous one was Nixon BUT NOT in Trump's America because that authority was different. r/iamverysmart
Also: "I don't trust the government,” Mellencamp said in a 2016 interview with Rolling Stone. “I don't trust the Democrats. I don't trust the Republicans. I'm a little bit more Democratic than I am Republican, but really I'm a socialist." What a way to misappropriate a song just because you thought it agreed with you. Woof.
Wow! I hope I'm not the only 15 year old girl who thinks John is just so cute here and his music KICKS ASS! I hope to see him live soon, he is on tour. I've never seen him before.
Damn i am blessed as a child. This what my mom and i would listen to music. Till the sun came up Funny what to day bring. Memory i can't wait for her to get out. Happy 2020 fourth of July from phx,AZ
This song came out when I was 13. I don't know if it's me or the feeling of this music, but when I feel old, tired, and cynical, I play this and recall what it was to be young and idealistic. We get distracted by the business of life (as Authority wants us to be, so we don't pay attention to what it's doing). That distraction cost us a lot under Bush, and so I'm listening to this more and more these days, just to stay vigilant. Keep fighting authority, people.
I'd sing this on my way to the principal's office, skipping and shouting it as loud as I could. I used to get bullied EVERYDAY and because I stuck up for myself, I was punished for it
And that's one of the biggest problems in the United States today kids getting in trouble who fight back against bullies it creates more problems. When I was a kid in school growing up in the 80s it was very simple someone started to fight with you you had every right to hit them back. Someone try to bully you at every right you wouldn't get in trouble. Teaches principles they would ask simply who started and don't lie. The one who started would get detention. The other get back to class. Always happy my dad used to tell me let them always throw the first punch I never got in trouble.. my friend had to fight the whole school board because someone was picking on her side and she told him to fight back they try to punish him she won in the end though
I got an idea for somebody that's retired. They have time on their hands. Go through these old videos and see how these young people's live turn out......
I was in The Jr Olympics. The front of our tour bus read "Leather Pussers" 👏👍😆 When we lost , A cardboard sign on the back read "Leather Eaters " Thank you JCM 😆
