Upon its release, "Cherry Bomb" reached number one on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart, number 12 on the Adult Contemporary chart, and number eight on the Hot 100. Internationally, "Cherry Bomb" peaked at number four in New Zealand and number five in Canada, earning a gold certification in the latter country. The music video for the song features a couple dancing intimately with one another near a jukebox while Mellencamp dances by himself, interspersed with vintage video clips.
Cherry Bomb
John Mellencamp Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In an eight room farmhouse, baby
When my brothers and friends were around
There was always somethin' doin'
Had me a couple of real nice girlfriends
Stopped by to see me every once in a while
When I think back about those days
All I can do is sit and smile
That's when a sport was a sport
And groovin' was groovin'
And dancin' meant everything
We were young and we were improvin'
Laughin' laughin' with our friends
Holding hands meant somethin' baby
Outside the club "Cherry Bomb"
Our hearts were really pumpin'
Say yeah, yeah, yeah
Say yeah, yeah, yeah
The winter days they last forever
And the weekends went by so quick
Went ridin' around this little country town
We were goin' nuts, girl, out in the sticks
One night me with my big mouth
A couple guys had to put me in my place
When I see those guys these days
We just laugh and say do you remember when
That's when a sport was a sport
And groovin' was groovin'
And dancin' meant everything
We were young and we were improvin'
Laughin' laughin' with our friends
Holding hands meant somethin' baby
Outside the club "Cherry Bomb"
Our hearts were really pumpin'
Say yeah, yeah, yeah
Say yeah, yeah, yeah
Say yeah, yeah, yeah
Say yeah, yeah, yeah
Seventeen has turned thirty-five
I'm surprised that we're still livin'
If we've done any wrong
I hope that we're forgiven
Got a few kids of my own
And some days I still don't know what to do
I hope that they're not laughin' too loud
When they hear me talkin'
Like this to you
That's when a sport was a sport
And groovin' was groovin'
And dancin' meant everything
We were young and we were improvin'
Laughin', laughin' with our friends
Holding hands meant so much baby
Outside the club "Cherry Bomb"
Our hearts were really pumpin'
Say yeah, yeah, yeah
Say yeah, yeah, yeah
The lyrics of John Mellencamp's song Cherry Bomb are a nostalgic reminiscence of days gone by, times of youth, and carefree adventures. The singer describes his younger self living on the outskirts of town in an eight-room farmhouse where there was always something to do, with brothers and friends around. He recalls having a couple of real nice girlfriends and friends, and how holding hands with them meant something back then. He thinks about those days with a smile, remembering how sport was a sport, grooving was grooving, and dancing meant everything.
As Mellencamp reminisces, it becomes evident that his memories are linked to a particular place - the club "Cherry Bomb," where he went with his friends. Memories of laughter, friendship, and youthful energy during those times are still as vivid as ever. With time, things changed, and Mellencamp, now a grown man, describes how he has kids of his own and often wonders what he should do. Despite the changes, he qualifies that the memories of those youthful years of grooving, sport and hanging out with friends at "Cherry Bomb" remain evergreen.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I lived on the outskirts of town
I resided on the fringes of urbanization
In an eight room farmhouse, baby
I stayed in a large house with eight rooms, my dear
When my brothers and friends were around
Whenever my siblings and buddies were present
There was always somethin' doin'
There was always something going on
Had me a couple of real nice girlfriends
I had a few really nice female companions
Stopped by to see me every once in a while
They came to visit me occasionally
When I think back about those days
Whenever I reminisce about those times
All I can do is sit and smile
All I can do is sit and smile
That's when a sport was a sport
That was when athletics was pure
And groovin' was groovin'
And dancing was expressive
And dancin' meant everything
And dancing was everything
We were young and we were improvin'
We were young and getting better at everything
Laughin' laughin' with our friends
Laughing and having a good time with our buddies
Holding hands meant somethin' baby
Holding hands had significance, baby
Outside the club "Cherry Bomb"
Standing outside the establishment 'Cherry Bomb'
Our hearts were really pumpin'
Our hearts were racing
The winter days they last forever
The cold season seems to continue without end
And the weekends went by so quick
But the weekends passed too quickly
Went ridin' around this little country town
We drove around this small rural area
We were goin' nuts, girl, out in the sticks
We went crazy, girl, out in the middle of nowhere
One night me with my big mouth
One night, because of my overactive mouth
A couple guys had to put me in my place
A couple of guys had to teach me a lesson
When I see those guys these days
When I see those guys today
We just laugh and say do you remember when
We just laugh and ask, 'Do you remember when?'
Seventeen has turned thirty-five
Being young at seventeen seems like eons ago, now at thirty-five
I'm surprised that we're still livin'
I'm amazed we're still alive
If we've done any wrong
If we have committed any wrong
I hope that we're forgiven
I desire our forgiveness
Got a few kids of my own
I now have a few children of my own
And some days I still don't know what to do
And sometimes I'm still not sure what to do
I hope that they're not laughin' too loud
I hope they're not laughing too loudly
When they hear me talkin'
When I speak like this
Like this to you
Like this to you
Holding hands meant so much baby
Holding hands had great significance, baby
Say yeah, yeah, yeah
Say yeah, yeah, yeah
Say yeah, yeah, yeah
Say yeah, yeah, yeah
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Mellencamp
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ericengbloom3857
@@carolfoster6814Me to, I got my first front row tickets ever up to stage, right in middle!
I snuck in my 35 mm
Camera this was back in Pink Houses tour
I got the droplets coming off his brow to his fingers
Changing cords!
All his band members too in motion playing!
OUTSTANDIND!
HE IS TRUELY
THE AMERICAN
MICK JAGER!
HIS KICK ASS
AMERICAN ROCK N ROLL SOUL !
SMALL TOWN
FROM THE MIDWEST AND FARM.
TAKE THAT TO THE BANK ALL DAY LONG.
CODOOS
LOVE YA JOHN
BRO!
@nuggetella
Small town, Check it out, big Daddy, it's all a winning streak..!
If the world is to be ruled by feelings, what feeling should rule the world..?
😇
🍺❤🤙
👉😷💉
🌳🍏🐍
🌎 🔮
🤲 🎖
🇳🇱🇺🇲🇷🇺
💰
🦇
🕳
📈🖱📉
@christineadams1284
Edward Gomez
Sad but True. 😢
Rural America will Never come back, it will be called, "The Wild-lands Project" no humans allowed with 6 Mega Regions people will be forced to relocate and live in a city. 😢
UN Agenda 2030, Mega Regions, no more rural living by 2050.
Gill bates is buying up all the farm land in the midwest and across the country, Soylent green will be the food of the future, 3D printed.
I am glad I am 55 yrs old, I hope I do not live more than another decade less would be better, I do not want to live in a cashless society, I love my gas powered car and cold hard cash.
If the gvt would just leave us alone we would be just fine but no, they have to Control people.
Technocrats Communism UBI, universal basic income, no jobs, robots are taking over.
Rothschild:
Georgia, Jeckyll island, 12-23-1913:
"Give me control of a countries money and I care not who makes the laws".
We ALL became slaves. 😢
Depopulation Eugenics
This is so sad the plans the UN has for the "New World Order" aka "Reset".
Luciferians of the Mystery Religions rule this earth. 👹👹👹
The "Fallen Ones" never died, "They Live" among us. 👽
In 1954, Eisenhower signed a Treaty.
Guess where all of our technology came from?
Watch Phil Schneider.
Have a great weekend.
Everyone take your masks off, this is an Occult ritual showing that Slaves obey lies, 99% recovery, read the ingredients before you put a foreign substance in your body that will change your God given D N A.
Nano 5 G, Terminator.
@felixjarikresblog3587
As a Nigerian, I kept wondering myself as years went by why I was so addicted to John Cougar Mellencamp's music. Can't precisely say why. But I love his style, his simple down-to-earth lyrics. They wash me over with sweet nostalgia.
@edwardx4979
Welcome my Nigerian brother to the world of John Mellencamp and his great music!
@nancyan4242
James taylr up on the roof
@felixjarikresblog3587
@S Loveless: Know what you mean. Time were much simpler, sweeter, and dreamlike lol
@LadyTTennessee
Because it’s soulful and good music 💙
@patsyhodge9071
Thats so lovely Felix.
@deidraleitner5787
A black lady here still grooving to “The Cougar” over 30 years later. I saw him in concert back in ‘86, I was 18! I loved how the crowd was so diverse! He is beyond talented, he played damn near every instrument.
@patsyhodge9071
Love it. Hi from NZ - over Australia way. Lol.
@rubytuesday9539
@John Mellencamp wow, you're actually here, commenting. I just subbed your channel. I'm not too familiar with your music but like this song, and a couple others from your hit list. Great to learn that you're an accomplished musician too.
(I wish my high school experience would've been more like this song)
@e.d693
43 and this is relaxing house music, nostalgia on 1000