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.
For The Children
John Mellencamp Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As to when life really begins
I wish I could tell you where we went
When our days here come to an end
Wish I could see the future
The same way I see the past
Wish I could draw a conclusion
Why nothing here seems to last
[Chorus]
I can't even make a guess
Or an uneducated thought
All I can do here is my best
And be thankful for what we've got
Why do so many suffer
Oppressed to the end of time
Why does freedom move so slowly
Unable to speak its mind
Some say it's a circle
Others think we live on the wing
Why are promises broken
And some think life don't mean a thing
[Chorus]
I hope you can be a child of life
With big dreams for everyone
And know that dyings as natural as birth
And our troubles here they don't last long
I have worried about many things
Most of which did not come to pass
Hope you find someone to give you love
And that your love will last
[Chorus]
We've got
For The Children by John Mellencamp is a song that reflects on life's biggest mysteries and unanswered questions. The opening lines of the song capture the essence of the track, as Mellencamp wishes he could answer the most fundamental questions about life: when it begins, where it ends, and what the future holds. He then goes on to ponder universal issues like why do people suffer, why is freedom hard to achieve, and why promises are so often broken. The chorus offers no answers or even educated guesses; instead, it advises we do our best and appreciate what we have.
The song's verses are written in a reflective manner, highlighting Mellencamp's worries and doubts, but the chorus offers hope and positivity. He urges children to dream big and reminds listeners that death is a natural part of life, and the troubles of the world we currently occupy will not last forever. Mellencamp concludes by offering some parental advice, hoping that children will find someone who loves them and that their love will last.
Line by Line Meaning
I wish I could give you an answer
I wish I knew the answer to life and all its complexities
As to when life really begins
At what exact moment does life begin for every individual?
I wish I could tell you where we went
I wish I knew where we go when we eventually leave this world
When our days here come to an end
When our time on earth is over
Wish I could see the future
I wish I had the ability to forsee what is to come
The same way I see the past
As easily as I am able to recall the past
Wish I could draw a conclusion
I wish I could come to a definitive answer on certain issues
Why nothing here seems to last
Things in life always seem to come to an end, and it's hard to understand why
I can't even make a guess
I don't even have the ability to guess at some questions
Or an uneducated thought
I can't even come up with a wild guess on some things
All I can do here is my best
The best I can do is simply try my hardest
And be thankful for what we've got
I can be grateful for all the things we have in our lives
Why do so many suffer
It's hard to understand why so many people go through extreme difficulties in their lives
Oppressed to the end of time
Some people seem to suffer for their entire lives
Why does freedom move so slowly
It can be frustrating when it takes a long time to see progress towards greater freedom
Unable to speak its mind
Sometimes, it feels like freedom's progress is held back by those who don't want to allow it
Some say it's a circle
Some people believe that life operates in cycles
Others think we live on the wing
Others think that life is unpredictable and we just have to go with the flow
Why are promises broken
It's hard to understand why people don't keep their word more often
And some think life don't mean a thing
Some people can fall into the belief that life is meaningless
I hope you can be a child of life
I hope that you can live your life with unbridled joy and energy
With big dreams for everyone
I hope that you can dream big and aspire to do great things for everyone
And know that dyings as natural as birth
I hope that you can understand that death is a natural part of life, just like birth is
And our troubles here they don't last long
I hope that you can remember that the troubles we face in life are usually temporary
I have worried about many things
I have spent a lot of time worrying about many different issues in life
Most of which did not come to pass
Most of the things I have worried about never actually happened
Hope you find someone to give you love
I hope that you are able to find someone who truly loves and cares for you
And that your love will last
I hope that your love will last a lifetime
We've got
The song ends here
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHN MELLENCAMP
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind