Mellencamp Week - "Pink Houses"

A great song about the good people that the American Dream forgot about.

One of the reasons why I love Matthew McConaughey is that he's a massive fan of John's.  In 2001, he presented John with the Billboard Century Award (which I think is for good songwriting, and longevity in the business, or something like that), and I think his speech sums up a lot of why I love him.  Here's part of it:

"He's the only musician I've ever listened to whom I believed has been speaking to me. It's like he's been reading my mail. His music let me know that I wasn't the only kid in the world who was trying to believe in something. That I wasn't the only kid in the world who was confused, bored, and running away from myself. He believes that the birth of something is when it's [at its] most beautiful, that [if] children don't grow up to know better, they grow up to know worse.

He takes life seriously. He'll tell you straight out, "I've got two moods. I'm either pissed off or I'm all right, but I ain't never happy." He believes blood is thicker than water and worth more than a dollar bill. He says life ain't easy, and if you do things your own way and you give a damn, you will pay a high price. But, if you're honest, your pillow will be your piece of mind. John believes in the American dream: for you, for me, for himself, and all of those out there who have never even had a chance to dream about it. He says hold on to your ideals, stay strong, and don't sell your soul to the devil in the name of greed and instant gratification.

But don't misunderstand me. John Mellencamp is not a preacher. Instead of talking about religion, instead of talking about politics, he's singing about culture and humanity. He'll be the first to say, "Hey man, it's about the message, not the messenger. I sing about how it's supposed to be, not how I am." John knows that we're all sinners. And as quick as he is to condemn, he'll forgive just as soon on one condition: that you're doing the best you can do. He challenges hypocrisy. He will not accept sleepwalking through this life. He asks us to be accountable because judgment day is going to come. Now whether that was Sept. 11 or when you move on from this life, you better take inventory right now so [that] when you do get there, you don't realize in vain that, "Hey man, the bed's made, but there's no sheets on it." What is the value left in love and happiness when you're sleeping with your back to your loved one and you can't tell your best buddy that you love him? A world without color is a world without sound. So get with it. Enjoy every single day in this whole catastrophe of life because the pendulum will continue to swing between a laugh and a tear. And you know what? That's as good as it gets for us. Between a laugh and a tear. So there ain't no reason to stop trying. That's John Mellencamp."

#YearlongMixtape

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOfkpu6749w