The songs and sounds of Scarecrow is a far cry from the braggadocio John Cougar Mellencamp showed in his earlier "Hurt So Good" and rebelliousness in "Authority Song". The harder-edged electric rock sound with pounding riffs yielded five singles and pushed him at his apex in the 80's rock arena, alongside big names like Bruce Springsteen and Prince.
"Rain On The Scarecrow" definitely does indicate that. The Reagan era saw many farms closed down but what makes this song poignant and angry is the destruction of the farmers' morale. It's not just the land that's being taken away, but a man's dignity in feeding a country's people. "There's 97 crosses planted in the courthouse yard/and 97 families who lost 97 farms."
I never got tired of hearing "Small Town", despite the fact I hated the one I lived in. Must've been that catchy guitar and Kenny Aronoff's drums that did it. But in JCM's ode to the small town he grew up in, we learn more about his roots, his parents, his upbringing, and himself, of course. A small town reflects who he is: "Yeah, I can be myself here in this small town/And people let me be just what I want to be." However, I take issue when he self-deprecatingly calls himself a boring romantic. Boring? Hardly!
"Minutes To Memories" is the interraction between an old man and a younger one riding a bus. The old man tells about his life, and his value in certainties. His advice to the young man may be one to us all: "Days turn to minutes/and minutes to memories/Life sweeps away the dreams/That we have planned/You are young and you are the future/So suck it up and tough it out/And be the best you can."
The intense stomp of "Lonely Ol' Night" more or less emphasizes the need for human company, because "ain't they all [lonely ol' nights]?"
From the way he beholds "Face Of The Nation", it's one of JCM's state of the union addresses. Poverty is the one thing identified here, as well as the absence of the golden rule, which is yet another chop at Reaganomics. "I don't recognize it [the face of the nation] no more," he sings.
"Justice and Independence '85" is an allegory of America and how it has gone awry. Independence Day marries a girl named Justice, and together they have a child named the Nation, but the girl and child leave on their own. "Well, Nation grew up and got himself a big reputation/Couldn't keep the boy at home oh no/He just kept runnin' round and round and round and round/Independence and Justice, well, they felt so ashamed/When the Nation fell down they argued who was to blame." Very accurate portait of America!
The mid-paced "Between A Laugh And A Tear", which features Rickie Lee Jones as accompanying vocalist, details how one can be mentally jaded when one's dreams fall through, and is a personal song about my state of mind: "Through the days you feel a little used up/And you don't know where your energy's gone/It's just your soul feelin' a little downhearted." That's me, all right.
"Rumbleseat" is an amusing rocker about a guy who's so self-pitying, he says, "I feel for the sorry for the world/I feel sorry for you/Yes I am a pitiful sight/I can't even get one thing right." As the song goes on, though, he decides to "stop putting myself down/I'm gonna turn my life around." Lesson for me, you think?
"You've Got To Stand For Somethin'" is a slap against the gossip-mongering, warmongering mentality, with references to Vanessa Williams's scandal. As he says, "The American people/paid a high price for justice/And I don't know why." "We've got to start respectin' this world/or it's gonna turn around and bite off our face" he says. You tell'em, Cougar!
"R.O.C.K. In The U.S.A." is an engaging rocker, that's a nod to the 60's music JCM grew up with--with even a small flute and organ section--, and the musicians who took a risk to follow their dreams. The mention of Frankie Lyman, Bobby Fuller, the Shangri-Las, made me want to find out who these artists were. And yes, "let's don't forget James Brown."
"The Kind Of Fella I Am" shows JCM to be ordinary, not impressed with flashy extravagant nothings, but also jealous when it comes to a woman.
A very mature, socio-political commentary with rocking sensibilities from Seymour, Indiana's small town guy.