They like to get you in a compromising position
They like to get you there and smile in your face
They think, they're so cute when they got you in that condition
Well I think, it's a total disgrace

CHORUS:
I fight authority, authority always wins
I fight authority, authority always wins
I been doing it, since I was a young kid
I've come out grinnin'

Well I lived on the outskirts of town
In an eight room farmhouse, baby
When my brothers and friends were around
There was always somethin' doin'
Had me a couple of real nice girlfriends
Stopped by to see me every once in a while
When I think back about those days
All I can do is sit and smile

That's when a sport was a sport
And groovin' was groovin'
And dancin' meant everything

Written by: John Mellencamp

Ain't no golden gates gonna swing open
Ain't no streets paved in natural pearl
Ain't no angel with a harp come singin'
Leastways not that I know of in this world
In these days of uncertain futures
Who knows what the masters might do
They got their big deals goin' on, goin' on
Got nothing to do with me and you
If I could I'd get us a big suite
Overlooking the Park

Written by: John Mellencamp and John Prine

So you went to a party at Jacqueline Onassis
If you're so smart why don't you wear glasses
So you can see what you're doin' to me
So you can see what you're doin' to me
So you can see what tomorrow might bring

Underneath your breath you know I heard you cussin'
You were talkin' to my second cousin
Were you talkin' about me
Were you talkin' about me

Written by: John Mellencamp and Will Cary

Riding in the park with your golden tan
You got your new tattoo half devil half man
Straddlin' a stallion made of chrome and steel
Spittin' out fire this cat's for real

He'll be a lovin' mother for ya, don't you know
He'll be a lovin' mother for ya, don't you know

Everybody's got their attitudes
Some are nice and some are rude

Written by: John Mellencamp

There's a black man with a black cat livin' in a black neighborhood
He's got an interstate runnin' through his front yard
You know he thinks that he's got it so good
And there's a woman in the kitchen cleanin' up the evenin' slop
And he looks at her and says, Hey darlin', I can remember when
you could stop a clock.

CHORUS:
Oh but ain't that America for you and me

Written by: Dan Ross, John Mellencamp, and Larry Crane

You may drive around in your town
Ina brand new shiny car
Your face in the wind your haircut's in
And your friends think you're bizarre
you may find a cushy job and I hope that you go far
But if you really want to taste some cool success
You better learn to play guitar

CHORUS:

Play guitar--play guitar (3X)

Written by: John Mellencamp

You ain't goin' nowhere
Gonna sit by this pool until you fall in
Didn't know what you were getting into
When you walked in to this room now did you kid
We got some girls over here
We got some boys over there
And they're here just for your fun
So have some dinner, baby, play some records
But just remember one thing son

CHORUS:
This is serious business

Written by: John Mellencamp and George Green

Well I've been up to the mountain
Seen the ashes down below
I had breakfast with the wise man
He told me what he thought I should know
And I've been to bed with Jezebel
And I found the well was deep
And I'd trade in my ambitions
For a warmer place to sleep

Well I've seen the heart of darkness
Read the writing on the wall