John's first record released was under the stage name "Johnny Cougar" at the behest of Tony DeFries, his first manager. Mellencamp claims it was against his knowledge and will, and he hated the name. A few years later in 1982, he made his break through with the album "American Fool" which includes the hit singles "Hurts So Good" and "Jack and Diane" under the stage name "John Cougar". With 1983's "Uh-Huh" album, he added back his real last name to become known as "John Cougar Mellencamp." By 1987's "The Lonesome Jubilee" he dropped the "Cougar" moniker altogether, and has been known henceforth as "John Mellencamp."
Mellencamp has always been socially and politically active and supported the "Vote for Change" Tour in 2004 opposing the policies of President George W. Bush. Mellencamp is a devout evangelical Christian and strongly believes in non-violence; he has spoken about his beliefs frequently in interviews.
Baltimore Oriole
John Mellencamp Lyrics
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Took one look at that mercury, forty below
No life for a lady
To be draggin' her feathers around in the snow
Leaving me blue, off she flew
To the Tangipaho-down Louisiana
Where a two-tiin' Jaybird
Met the divine Miss O
I'd like to ruffle his plumage
That Baltimore Oriole
Messed around with that big guy
Till he singed her wings
Forgivin' is easy-it's a woman like, now and then
Could happen to thing
Send her back home
Home ain't home without her warbling
How she can sing
Make a lonely man happy, Baltimore Oriole
Come down from that bough
Fly to your daddy now
The song "Baltimore Oriole" is a story about a woman who decides to leave her lover because she felt like she didn't belong in his world. The woman, referred to as a Baltimore Oriole in the song, felt like she was out of place in the cold winter weather and left her lover behind to go to Louisiana, where she met a new man. This new man, a "two-tiin' Jaybird," charmed her with his singing, and she became infatuated with him. Her lover, the singer, is jealous and exclaims that he would like to "ruffle his plumage," but forgives her because he knows that "it's a woman like, now and then, [it] could happen to [a] thing."
The singer deeply misses the Baltimore Oriole and pleads with her to come back home. He longs to hear her sing and expressed that "Home ain't home without her warbling, how she can sing," and that for him, the Baltimore Oriole's singing made a lonely man happy. The song ends with the singer asking the Baltimore Oriole to come down from the bough and fly back to him.
Line by Line Meaning
Took one look at that mercury, forty below
The weather was too cold for the Baltimore Oriole to stay in that town.
No life for a lady
It was not an ideal situation for a lady to live in such cold weather.
To be draggin' her feathers around in the snow
The bird would be uncomfortable and unhappy to walk around in the snow.
Leaving me blue, off she flew
The singer was sad when the bird left.
To the Tangipaho-down Louisiana
The Baltimore Oriole moved to Louisiana instead.
Where a two-tiin' Jaybird
There was another bird in Louisiana, a Jaybird.
Met the divine Miss O
The Jaybird met the Baltimore Oriole.
I'd like to ruffle his plumage
The singer was frustrated with the Jaybird for causing the Baltimore Oriole to leave him.
That Baltimore Oriole
Referring to the bird that he likes a lot.
Messed around with that big guy
The Baltimore Oriole was involved with the Jaybird.
Till he singed her wings
The Jaybird hurt the Baltimore Oriole, which upset the singer.
Forgivin' is easy-it's a woman like, now and then
The singer understood that sometimes women can make mistakes and it is easy to forgive them.
Could happen to thing
Mistakes could happen to anyone.
Send her back home
The singer wants the Baltimore Oriole to return home.
Home ain't home without her warbling
The singer missed the sound of the Baltimore Oriole singing.
How she can sing
The singer appreciates the Baltimore Oriole's singing talent.
Make a lonely man happy, Baltimore Oriole
The Baltimore Oriole's singing could cheer up a lonely person.
Come down from that bough
The singer wants the Baltimore Oriole to come back down to him.
Fly to your daddy now
The singer refers to himself as the bird's daddy and wants her to come back to him.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: HOAGY CARMICHAEL, PAUL FRANCIS WEBSTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind