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.
Take What You Want
John Mellencamp Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stick your money on the line
Create the situation there, one more time
Your name it means nothing
And the dreams that we live
And now you don't care if she is, the girl from next door
She's never been known for nothing, but a motor street whore
And you see me as nothing, to me, yeah-ah yeah
[Chorus:]
You can take what you want
Take what you want
Take what you want
But just don't take it away
You can stay if you want
Stay if you want
Stay if you want
But just don't stay all day
'Cause you know it means nothing, to me
Don't see much sense in lying here with you
The sex is over now, what is there left to do
Conversation, conversation baby, I don't talk that much
And now I don't know when I'm gonna see you again
I'm leaving tomorrow and this will all start again
I hope you don't believe that you was a failure
And you see it means nothin' to be a man
[Chorus: x2]
But you know it means nothing
Yeah you know it means nothing
Yeah you know it means nothing, to me
In "Take What You Want," John Mellencamp sings about a fleeting encounter with a woman who has no meaning to him beyond the physical pleasures they share. He asks her to put her life on the table and stick her money on the line, creating a situation of risk and exposure for both of them. Despite their physical intimacy, the woman is just a "motor street whore" to him, and Mellencamp doesn't see much sense in lying there with her after sex. He doesn't know when he'll see her again or if she even cares, and he hopes she doesn't believe she's a failure for their brief encounter. In the end, Mellencamp affirms that their exchange means nothing to him.
The song is a gritty and honest portrayal of a one-night stand, in which both parties are using each other for their own gratification. The lyrics are raw and unapologetic about the transactional nature of the encounter, with Mellencamp refusing to sugarcoat the emptiness of the experience. However, there are hints of vulnerability and regret beneath the surface, as Mellencamp laments the fleeting nature of their connection and questions the value of his own masculinity.
Line by Line Meaning
Put your life on the table
Expose yourself and your true nature, hold nothing back
Stick your money on the line
Risk everything you own, put it all on the line
Create the situation there, one more time
Recreate the situation you want one more time and make the most of it
Your name it means nothing
Your identity is insignificant, you are just another face in the crowd
And the dreams that we live
The aspirations that drive our lives
And now you don't care if she is, the girl from next door
You don't care who she is or where she comes from
She's never been known for nothing, but a motor street whore
She is widely recognized as a promiscuous woman who engages in sexual activities for money
You don't believe nothin' that you can't see
You trust only what can be seen or perceived by the senses
And you see me as nothing, to me, yeah-ah yeah
To you, I am insignificant
Chorus: You can take what you want
You are free to take anything you desire
Take what you want
Claim anything that you desire
Take what you want
Possess anything that you desire
But just don't take it away
Don't rob me of what belongs to me
You can stay if you want
You are free to continue staying here
Stay if you want
Remain here, if you choose to do so
Stay if you want
You are welcome to stay here
But just don't stay all day
Don't overstay your welcome
'Cause you know it means nothing, to me
Your presence holds no significant value to me
Don't see much sense in lying here with you
Spending time with you doesn't seem to make sense anymore
The sex is over now, what is there left to do
Sexual activity between us is over; there is no reason to continue dwelling in it
Conversation, conversation baby, I don't talk that much
I am not a talkative person, and I'm not interested in engaging in meaningless conversations
And now I don't know when I'm gonna see you again
It's unclear when we'll have the chance to meet again
I'm leaving tomorrow and this will all start again
Leaving here tomorrow allows me to escape this meaningless routine and re-start it all over again
I hope you don't believe that you was a failure
I hope you don't lose self-respect and self-esteem by seeing the situation in a negative light
And you see it means nothin' to be a man
Being classified as a man doesn't necessarily hold much worth or relevance
Chorus: x2
Same as above
But you know it means nothing
You are aware that this all means nothing in the grand scheme of things
Yeah you know it means nothing
You are certain that this entire situation is insignificant
Yeah you know it means nothing, to me
To me, this entire scenario is just a minor and insignificant part of my life
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHN MELLENCAMP
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
dburr13
He's come a long way from this!...Good to hear some early Mellencamp.
misslantana52
Oh this is great...love him way back then straight up till now! ♥
Dennis Moore
This was actually released in 1983 but recorded in 1977 MCA refused to release it back in 1977!
Joe Rouleau
WOW! That's going back!!!
hoprabbitbunny
John had to twisted in his early career!