Share the Jack & Diane Chords And Strumming:
Did You Know? John Mellencamp wrote Jack & Diane about the Tennessee Williams film Sweet Bird of Youth. He considered it a terrible record to make and found it hard to make the timing sound good with a full band. He said that the clapping was originally used only a a guide to keep time and was going to be removed but then he realised that the song didn't work without it. The electric guitar player on the song is Mick Ronson from David Bowie's band, John said about working with him -
'Mick was very instrumental in helping me arrange that song, as I'd thrown it on the junk heap. All of a sudden, for 'Jack & Diane,' Mick said, 'Johnny, you should put baby rattles on there.' I thought, 'What the f*ck does put baby rattles on the record mean?' So he put the percussion on there and then he sang the part 'let it rock, let it roll' as a choir-ish-type thing, which had never occurred to me. And that is the part everybody remembers on the song. It was Ronson's idea'
More...
Difficulty Level Of Original Recorded Song: Blue Pick
Most Advanced Rhythm: Blue Pick
Most Advanced Chord Change: Blue Pick
Click to scroll to the version for your level:
Quick Navigation/Choose Your Difficulty Level:
Blue Pick Level
Jack & Diane Chords And Strumming, John Mellencamp
Open Chords:
Open D chord
Open A chord
Barre Chords:
A, D, E, E/A, D/A, Esus4,
Amaj9, C#m/A
Strumming:
Verse/Chorus -
|D U(m)U(m)U D |D DU(m)UD(du)|
Bridge -
|D U D U(m)U D |D DU(m)UD |
"Zero Gravity" Ending -
|D (m)U(m) D |D (m)U(m)U(m)U|
Tempo: 104 bpm Key: A
Intro -
Verse 1 -
A little ditty 'bout Jack & Diane
Two American kids growing up in the heart land
Jack, he's gonna be a football star
Diane's debutante back seat of Jacky's car
Bridge (Instrumental) -
Verse 2 -
Suckin' on chilli dog outside the Tastee Freez
Diane sitting on Jacky's lap
Got his hands between her knees
Jack he says "Hey, Diane, let's run off behind a shady tree
Dribble off those Bobby Brooks
Let me do what I please"
Chorus -
Saying "Oh yeah life goes on, long after the thrill of living is gone"
Saying "Oh yeah life goes on, long after the thrill of living is gone"
They walk on
Intro -
Verse 3 -
Jack he sits back, collects his thoughts for a moment
Scratches his head, and does his best James Dean
"Well then, there, Diane, we ought to run off to the city"
Diane says "Baby, you ain't missing nothing"
But Jack he says, yeah
Chorus -
"Oh yeah life goes on, long after the thrill of living is gone"
"Oh yeah they say life goes on, long after the thrill of living is gone"
Middle 8 (No Guitar)
Oh, let it rock, let it roll
Let the bible belt come and save my soul
Holdin' on to sixteen as long as you can
Change is coming 'round real soon
Make us women and men
Bridge (Instrumental) -
Chorus -
"Oh yeah, life goes on, long after the thrill of living is gone"
"Oh yeah, life goes on, long after the thrill of living is gone"
Ending -
A little ditty 'bout Jack and Diane
Two American kids doin' the best they can
Final Chord Strum: A
Want My Personal Help With Your Guitar Playing?
Click below to discover how I can help you -
We'll have a 45 minute call over zoom and we'll start with diagnosing your current situation. Then we'll see if my process will work for you and map out an action plan to get you playing your favourite songs confidently.
Jack & Diane Videos
Jack & Diane Lyrics
A little ditty 'bout Jack & Diane
Two American kids growing up in the heart land
Jack, he's gonna be a football star
Diane's debutante, back seat of Jacky's car
Suckin' on chilli dog outside the Tastee Freez
Diane sitting on Jacky's lap
Got his hands between her knees
Jack he says
"Hey, Diane, let's run off behind a shady tree
Dribble off those Bobby Brooks
Let me do what I please"
Saying "Oh yeah
Life goes on, long after the thrill of living is gone"
Saying "Oh yeah
Life goes on, long after the thrill of living is gone"
They walk on
Jack he sits back, collects his thoughts for a moment
Scratches his head, and does his best James Dean
"Well then, there, Diane, we ought to run off to the city"
Diane says
"Baby, you ain't missing nothing"
But Jack he says, yeah
"Oh yeah, life goes on, long after the thrill of living is gone"
"Oh yeah"
He's saying "Life goes on, long after the thrill of living is gone"
Oh, let it rock, let it roll
Let the bible belt come and save my soul
Holdin' on to sixteen as long as you can
Change is coming 'round real soon
Make us women and men
"Oh yeah, life goes on, long after the thrill of living is gone"
"Oh yeah"
He's saying "Life goes on, long after the thrill of living is gone"
A little ditty 'bout Jack and Diane
Two American kids doin' the best they can
Share the Jack & Diane Chords And Strumming: