Saturday July 4, 2020 “Our Country” John Mellencamp

A touch of patriotism for this Independence Day from All American singer/songwriter John Mellencamp.

 Born in Seymour, IN John (Cougar) Mellencamp is an American musician, singer-songwriter, painter, actor, and film director who has been nominated for thirteen Grammys, is a member of the Rock & Roll and Songwriters Halls of Fame, is one of the original founders of Farm Aid, has twenty seven albums/CDs, has sold nearly thirty million records and started his musical career in a glam rock band.

 He is good friends with Billy Joel and Keith Urban references a Mellencamp concert in Australia that he attended as a young man as a musical epiphany for him.

 Mellencamp has said in interviews that his job is to write popular songs and it is hard work, but that’s his job and he does it so he can paint which is his passion.  In a review of his paintings in Art Space they stated that  "Mellencamp paints handsomely grotesque portraits in oil that are as solemn and stirring as his hit songs are catchy and inspirational.”  His paintings have sold anywhere from $2,500 to $40,000. 

 Stay safe and well...and try to appreciate the many good things in this USA.

Well, I can stand beside ideas I think are right

And I can stand beside the idea to stand and fight

I do believe there's a dream for everyone

This is our country

 There's room enough here for science to live

And there's room enough here for religion to forgive

And try to understand other people of this land

This is our country

 From the east coast to the west coast

Down the Dixie Highway

Back home

This is our country

 And poverty could be just another ugly thing

And bigotry would be seen only as obscene

And the ones that run this land

Help the poor and common man

This is our country

 From the east coast to the west coast

Down the Dixie Highway

Back home

This is our country

 The dream is still alive

Some day it will come true

And this country

It belongs to folks like me and you

So let the voice of freedom

Sing out through this land

This is our country

 From the east coast to the west coast

Down the Dixie Highway

Back home

This is our country

 From the east coast to the west coast

Down the Dixie Highway

Back home

This is our country