John Mellencamp Week - "Paper In Fire"

This is my other favorite of Johnny's (I call him Johnny) songs.  The first one is Check It Out, which I posted a few months ago on the #YearlongMixtape.  Both are from his 1987 album, The Lonesome Jubilee.

John has said that the song was inspired by the New Testament Book of Revelations - and the fire is Hell - if we don't watch ourselves, we will be cast into the fire.  I'm not a traditionally religious person, but it could be interpreted as karma as well.

The lyrical imagery is so rich - I'm posting them in their entirety because they are great.  And there is an incredible energy in the music.  It's a rock/country/gospel combination that - I don't know how to explain it, but it's very powerful.  I FEEL this song with my mind, body, and soul.

Here's a story about the making of the video, from John's former backup singer, Crystal Taliefero-Pratt (scroll halfway down for the story): http://www.mellencamp.com/index.php?page=news&n_id=1457

She had a dream
And boy it was a good one
So she chased after her dream
With much desire
But when she got too close
To her expectations
Well the dream burned up
Like paper in fire

Paper in fire
Stinkin' up the ashtrays
Paper in fire
Smokin' up the alleyways
Who's to say the way
A man should spend his days
Do you let them smolder
Like paper in fire

He wanted love
With no invovlement
So he chased the wind
That's all his silly life required
And the days of vanity
Went on forever
And he saw his days burn up
Like paper in fire

There's a good life
Right across the green field
And each generation
Stares at it from afar
But we keep no check
On our appetites
So the green fields turn to brown
Like paper in fire

#YearlongMixtape

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myo9wXrNUP4