Who Sang Diane if Your Gonna Do Him Wrong Again

FlourishAnyway believes in that location is a playlist for just near any state of affairs and is on a mission to unite and entertain the world through song.

The archetype rock song "Jack and Diane" by John Cougar Mellencamp is a teen anthem most cherishing youth. Information technology has since sparked a number of pop, rock, country, and parody songs that reference it. Brand a "Jack and Diane" playlist of your favorites.

scottwebb via Pixabay, Free Domain, modified by FlourishAnyway

A Piddling Ditty About Jack and Diane

Tin can you believe that it'south been over 35 years since the footling ditty virtually Jack and Diane was released? What other vocal in rock history is so iconic that even decades afterward it withal inspires other songs to reference it in their own lyrics?

"Jack and Diane" by John Cougar Mellencamp is a teen anthem most cherishing youth while yous still tin. Jack and Diane are doing the best they tin to make it in a world that's pushing them to grow up quickly. In the years since the song hitting the top of the music charts, it has also sparked a number of pop, stone, state, and novelty tunes that reference its teen lovers.

Make a "Jack and Diane" throwback playlist to celebrate this classic every bit well as your favorite tunes that give it a nod in some fashion. In addition, commemorate those magic teenage years through music and consider what eventually becomes of the young couple "long after the thrill of living is gone."

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i. "Jack and Diane" by John Cougar Mellencamp

Holdin' on to sixteen every bit long as you lot can
Change is coming 'round real before long
Brand the states women and men ... .

Jack and Diane are ii young and carefree teens appreciating the simplicity of late adolescence before life gets suddenly more than difficult. This anthem of American youth describes two teenagers coming of historic period in middle America, exploring their independence and sexuality before the responsibility and predictability of adulthood sets in. Everyone eventually learns that truthful "adulting" isn't every bit fun as beingness on the cusp of it.

Some reports signal that "Jack and Diane" was originally nearly an interracial couple, and the record publishers allegedly insisted that the singer modify the lyrics.

Other people assert that the famous tune alludes to Diane going to the metropolis to terminate the couple's unwanted pregnancy. (To me, that requires a lot of creative interpretation! She could be at college in the city, for all we know.)

John Cougar Mellencamp, who has gone by various versions of his name, eloped with his pregnant loftier school girlfriend when he was xviii, becoming a father 6 months after graduating. Considering teen pregnancy tends to repeat itself across generations, he became a grandfather at only 37 years old.

two. "I Go Back" by Kenny Chesney

Hearing the song "Jack and Diane" prompts the narrator in this 2004 country vocal to wax nostalgic for his first love. Similar a time auto, the classic rock ditty instantly transports him back in time to when he drove his high school girlfriend out to the levy in his truck. It was probably playing on the radio at the time.

For young lovers, fourth dimension seems to stand yet, and and so poof ... it'southward gone. The narrator comments that we all accept a song that is somehow stamped in our memories. For him, "Jack and Diane" is one of them. What song takes you lot back? If you like songs virtually memories, then hither is a playlist that will jog yours.

3. "I Was Jack (You Were Diane)" by Jake Owen"

Did you accept a Jack or a Diane love interest in your youth? In this 2022 country song, the narrator addresses his long-agone high school girlfriend and compares their by human relationship to that of the iconic young couple in John Cougar Mellencamp's classic tune.

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Hearing "Jack and Diane" makes him feel like information technology was only yesterday, and he wonders whether his old girlfriend reacts in the same way that he does to hearing the song:

Practice yous turn it up, exercise you sing along
Every fourth dimension yous hear that song?
Like we did then
Like we did when ...

Do you close your eyes? Does it brand you laugh?
Do the memories take y'all back?

He hopes that wherever she is now, she recalls him fondly when the song comes on.

4. "American Dream" past MKTO

Oh, no! This 2022 pop vocal turns the nostalgia of "Jack and Diane" Americana on its ear. Whereas the rock archetype salutes Jack's dreams of being a football star and gives a nod to "two American kids doin' the best they can," this uptempo pop vocal is most underdogs who "escape from nowhere United states of america."

This tune'southward teens seek change and desire to make their mark on the world by fleeing to California. They soundly reject the American dream of two kids and a life in favor of having their own lives. Then, they throw cold water in the face of gushy sentimentality with this bit of honesty about the famous fictional couple (say information technology ain't and then!):

This own't the aforementioned summer song that yous used to know
'Crusade Jack left Diane 30 years agone
The world is spinning too fast for you and me
And so tell me whatsoever happened to the American dream.

5. "28 Days" by LFO

In the midst of conflict with his girlfriend, the beau in this 2002 pop song asks, "What would Jack and Diane do?" The narrator is a wannabe rock star who will be separated from his girlfriend for the next 28 days. She is upset because he'll be gone however again and doesn't approve of his wild lifestyle while on the road. Although he wants to be with her, at the same time he wants to pursue his dreams: "you got your life and I got mine." Why did Diane put upwardly with this from Jack?

six. "No Such Affair Every bit A Cleaved Heart" past Old Dominion

With a shout out to John Cougar Mellencamp's "Jack and Diane," this 2022 country song is about living life to the fullest fifty-fifty though you may face hardships. The song'south narrator encourages you to keep chasing the dream and dear similar in that location's no such matter as a cleaved eye.

He wonders what challenges his parents faced equally a couple and how they made it through. His thoughts also turn to the famous fictional couple from Mellencamp'southward classic rock song:

I wonder if Jack and Diane ever fabricated it
After the drums and the guitars all faded?
Was the best they could exercise good enough
Or did the heartland but consume 'em upward?

What exercise you call back happened to the couple? Did their honey survive?

"The magic of first dearest is our ignorance that it can ever end." - Benjamin Disraeli, British statesman

StarFlames via Pixabay, Gratuitous Domain, modified by FlourishAnyway

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vii. "Drivin' Effectually Song" past Filly Ford (featuring Jason Aldean)

If you grew up in a small town similar I did, then you know that on weekend nights, driving around town is the thing to practice. Information technology's like a parade with no signal. This country song from 2013 celebrates the favorite pastime of the small "Jack and Diane town" where y'all work for the weekend and on Fridays and Saturdays, y'all bulldoze around existent boring with large dreams in your pocket.

If yous spend weekends cruising town, why non add together some of these songs almost dwelling house and hometowns to your driving effectually playlist?

8. "Ain't Always Pretty" by Logan Mize

Singing nearly the mundane details of everyday life in this 2022 land song, the blue neckband narrator appreciates that sometimes the piffling things in life are what matters most. He appreciates being able to take someone to express mirth with at the canton fair and share a seat with at the corner pub. The narrator likes the way his partner sings and enjoys sharing a front porch swing with her. They share a life of simple abundance:

Like Jack and Diane but singin' our ditty
Life goes on, it own't always pretty, only yous are.

9. "My Lips Your Kiss" past Blackjack Billy

Somebody throw some water on the guy in this rockin' country 2022 vocal. He's trying to convince the girl he'southward attracted to that she belongs with him. The trouble is, he'due south getting a trivial overheated doing it.

The guy makes a quick reference to "Jack and Diane" and her riding effectually shotgun in his erstwhile truck. He wants to hold easily for awhile then press his lips to hers, put his hands on her hips, and see where that leads. Dude, what happened to dinner first?

x. "Why Don't I Miss Yous?" by Bowling For Soup

Take you lot always had a failed relationship and couldn't explain why it ended? That's the gist of this 2006 rock vocal. The narrator recalls getting his loftier schoolhouse girlfriend's name tattooed beyond his heart. (I bet he doesn't regret that.)

They were crazy in love at the time and went through a lot together:

Two young kids like Jack and Diane
Falling at the speed of low-cal
And called-for up never felt so correct.

Voted "Most Likely to Succeed," the young couple had plans to take over the world, however, their dreams fizzled out so did they. Now, his "Diane" is ever on his mind (certainly every fourth dimension he looks at that tattoo). Oddly, however, he finds that he doesn't miss her. She's just a affiliate from yesterday, and the page has turned.

xi. "Nosotros Were That Song" past Brett Kissel

This tricky 2022 country melody features a narrator who totally identifies with the ditty, "Jack and Diane." He makes the example that he and his former girlfriend were just like the characters in the archetype song—utterly smitten high schoolhouse lovers who never quite made it to "forever" status:

We were the allow go, we were the heartbroke
Nosotros didn't know that it would end this way
We were the almost, aye but not quite
We were the steel guitars that cry
And the line almost loving and leaving
And lone in the might-take-been
The might-have-been.

12. "Eden Is Burning" past John Cougar Mellencamp

Is this 1998 rock song truly the followup to "Jack and Diane"? Mellencamp clearly seems to describe it that way in the video introduction to a higher place.

As an developed couple, Jack and Diane take gone to see a film with comic Richard Pryor, known for tragically setting himself afire while in a drug-induced psychotic state. One of them turns to the other and admits that although they had love on their side, nada lasts forever. Then they enquire, "How could have I been wrong almost you lot?" The called-for of Eden symbolizes the death of their innocence and the end of the belief that young dear can last.

"Talk not of wasted affection; affection never was wasted." - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, American poet

Free-Photos via Pixabay, Free Domain, modified by FlourishAnyway

13. "You Were Right" by Built to Spill

Being correct isn't e'er what it's cracked up to be. This angst-filled 1999 tune uses lines from famous rock songs then throws them back in your face as right or wrong.

It'due south about being able to relate your life to popular music. Amidst the famous lyrics it features is the line from "Jack and Diane," "life goes on long after the thrill of living is gone."

xiv. "Diane" by Cam

Okay, and so there'due south technically no mention of Jack in this country vocal from 2017, but I'm convinced that he's actually the husband these two women have unwittingly been sharing. (Oh, Diane! That scoundrel!) Cheating happens to the best of spouses and to the worst of them.

A mistress places a call to a wife (Diane) when she discovers that the human she's been dating is married. She asks to meet Diane so that she tin repent for sleeping with Diane'due south husband:

Oh, I hope I didn't know he was your homo
I would have noticed a gold nuptials band, Diane
I'd rather you detest me than non understand
Oh, Diane.

Many people describe this as a vocal that flips the script on Dolly Parton's archetype "Jolene." For other country songs virtually cheating, click here.

15. "Buckingham Blues" past Weird Al Yankovic

Leave it to Weird Al Yankovic, the jackwagon of songwriters, to generate this novelty dejection song. It was timely dorsum in 1983, describing the lives of Prince Charles and Lady Diana using the basic "Jack and Diane" idea. Knowing what nosotros know now, however, this parody just seems a little sad.

sixteen. "Homer and Marge" past Weird Al Yankovic

Weird Al Yankovic strikes over again. He was a cameo character on The Simpsons several times, playing himself. In 2017, he introduced this parody of "Jack and Diane" to describe the animated boob tube evidence's main characters, Homer and Marge Simpson:

Little ditty 'bout Homer & Marge
Her eye was every bit big equally his tum was large
Oh yeah, they say, "Dearest goes on
Long afterward the grilled cheese sandwich is gone."

"First love is simply a piffling foolishness and a lot of marvel." - George Bernard Shaw, Irish playwright

xdorin via Pixabay, Free Domain

17. "One Day At A Time" by Deana Carter

The woman in this 2005 country vocal describes her BFF in high school. Together they were Thelma and Louise, pretending there were no rules and belting out every word to "Jack and Diane." Her friend was a wild menu and they had planned to head to Hollywood together to make it big.

Unfortunately, the friend turned effectually and headed dorsum home, marrying the hometown football star. That's the manner many pocket-size towns work. They're like boomerangs.

This content is authentic and true to the best of the author'due south knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2022 FlourishAnyway

FlourishAnyway (author) from U.s. on April 03, 2020:

Peggy - I'm glad you learned a little something with this commodity. Thanks for stopping by!

Peggy Woods from Houston, Texas on Apr 02, 2020:

Information technology is amazing just how many other songs referenced that original nigh Jack and Diane. I continually acquire from reading your posts about different songs.

FlourishAnyway (author) from USA on Feb 21, 2019:

Dolores - That song is definitely an earworm for anyone who lived back in the day particularly! Thanks for stopping by! Accept a cracking solar day!

Dolores Monet from East Coast, United States on February 21, 2019:

I never realized how many times this archetype vocal has been referenced in other tunes! I love your music articles, they are so interesting. I one time rented a beach plate and learned that the owners were named Jack and Diane. What a hoot! Simply I could non get that vocal out of my caput all week!

FlourishAnyway (writer) from USA on September 03, 2018:

Shannon - I had noticed a small batch of them and that made me question, like you. Information technology'due south a pretty remarkable song that can take that kind of impact to be referenced in other songs. Strange!

Shannon Henry from Texas on September 02, 2018:

Funny. I was on a road trip with my kids and my dad a calendar month or so ago and I remember telling him that I wonder how many songs reference Jack and Diane. LOL....

Here's 1 you missed. Jessica Simpson's "I Call up I'grand in Beloved With You lot." Seems like there'south another one on the tip of my tongue somewhere, only I can't quite think of it.. . .Nah, I'1000 thinking of Keith Urban's "John Cougar, John Deer, John three:16". It makes reference to John, only not to Jack and Diane - to my knowledge, anyway. And the Jessica Simpson song only utilizes the guitar rift from "Jack and Diane."

FlourishAnyway (author) from USA on July xx, 2018:

Genna - Glad y'all enjoyed this. I don't know of many other songs that are referenced like this in other songs. Unique, certainly!

Genna Eastward from Massachusetts, USA on July xiv, 2018:

Who knew there would be so many songs that reference Jack and Diane? Cougar'southward is a classic - "the canticle of American youth." And so truthful! Thank you for this absurd collection of songs.

FlourishAnyway (author) from USA on July 04, 2018:

Cynthia - It'southward a shame that we can't fast forrard our young dear interests to meet what they'd be like as middle aged people or old folks. They'd seem a lot less exciting, I'd think, if we could get a peek into the future. I'm also glad I didn't marry anyone from my small town. Thank you for reading and commenting! Have a wonderful week!

Cynthia Zirkwitz from Vancouver Island, Canada on July 04, 2018:

Your statement nigh about the discovery that "adulting" is less exciting than being on the cusp is really at the heart of all the coming-of-age nostalgia. I had a couple of friends in my small town adolescence actually named Jack and Diane. They weren't coupled for very long, just it was serendipitous when Jack'south cousin, Elaine, re-connected Diane and I on Facebook after almost l years (yes, my teen adventures predate the Mellencamp song by quite a bit.)

I also would like to comment that it might take 40 or more years to recognize that those hormonally hopped-up times are best left to languish in the backroads of memory. I have seen some of the gilt boys as old guys, and I am always so grateful to take met and married the boy I met when I left my small town to live in the big city.

FlourishAnyway (author) from USA on June 28, 2018:

Dora - Thanks for stopping by. I'm fascinated that some folks haven't heard of the classic song. I appreciate you playing along regardless.

Dora Weithers from The Caribbean on June 28, 2018:

The song and story of Jack and Diane are new to me, but I find the whole saga very interesting. Thanks for highlighting information technology.

FlourishAnyway (author) from USA on June 28, 2018:

Linda - It's made quite an impact on American culture, capturing not simply the 80s era but also the feeling of being trapped by growing up in a small town even though yous take big dreams. Many people identify with it because they either escaped the small town or didn't.

Linda Crampton from British Columbia, Canada on June 27, 2018:

I've never heard of Jack and Diane or any of the songs about them, so this was an educational article for me. It'south very impressive that one song could have such a big effect for and so long!

FlourishAnyway (author) from USA on June 27, 2018:

Linda - I could never practise that type of playlist although I enjoy that music. I capeesh you stopping by!

Linda Lum from Washington State, United states on June 26, 2018:

I had NO inkling! I sure retrieve the original by Mellencamp, but I guess I tend to listen more to the melody than the lyrics (and probably spend likewise much time on the FM punch listening to the Russian masters and Bach).

What a fun list. Thanks for taking the time to compile this.

FlourishAnyway (author) from USA on June 26, 2018:

Heidi - I capeesh the compliment! I began to notice the references recently and they piqued my interest. They made me wonder just how many more existed!

Heidi Thorne from Chicago Area on June 26, 2018:

Dang! I didn't realize there were then many songs with this reference, aside from John Mellencamp's. You are the music research goddess! :)

FlourishAnyway (author) from USA on June 26, 2018:

Peg - That floored me as well. 36 years to be precise! Where did that time become?

FlourishAnyway (author) from Us on June 26, 2018:

Peggy - The older I become the more I feel nostalgic almost that song. He's an awesome vocalist, and it's a great song. The teen years are a tough fourth dimension of life, however, and I'd never want to relive them!

FlourishAnyway (writer) from U.s. on June 26, 2018:

Beak - Glad you liked this. Many people would exist hard pressed to generate a lot of these tunes.

FlourishAnyway (author) from United states on June 26, 2018:

Frank - I was amazed there were so many. I began noticing them a few months back and decided to become digging.

FlourishAnyway (author) from United states of america on June 26, 2018:

Mary - I moved to a small town earlier my teen years and information technology was so suffocating, just my parents enjoyed the sense of customs. As soon every bit I was able to do so, I ran from information technology and have never been back. Information technology sounds similar you had a whole lot of oversight in your hometown whereas I did non. Glad we both turned out okay!

Peg Cole from North Dallas, Texas on June 26, 2018:

Jack and Diane's song has been out there for 35 years? Oh, my. I remember it playing in the tiptop hits like it was yesterday. What a great drove of songs. Love that Al Yankovic. He can actually twist a tune.

Peggy Woods from Houston, Texas on June 26, 2018:

I probably heard that song Jack and Diane merely never paid much attending to it. And then I listened to the video to hear the entire matter. John Cougar Mellencamp is certainly right about one thing. Those teen years wing by and machismo plus the responsibilities that come with information technology shortly arrive to stay.

Bill Holland from Olympia, WA on June 26, 2018:

I had no idea there were that many songs that mentioned those two lovers....how weird! The beginning i was obvious, merely no fashion did I think of the others.

Frank Atanacio from Shelton on June 26, 2018:

I was playing the weird Al's song and laughed as I read your hub. 17 is a lot... great job compiling...:)

Mary Norton from Ontario, Canada on June 26, 2018:

I wish I had this liberty of expression when I was a teen. I grew up in a small town within a family unit oriented environment and so we had parties and discos only parents are ever effectually. Sometimes, I wonder what it would have been if I grew up in North America.

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Source: https://spinditty.com/playlists/Songs-About-Jack-and-Diane

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