We don’t know much about this song. It was on John Mellencamp’s “Life, Death, Love and Freedom,” which would make number 5 on the Rolling Stone’s list of 50 Best Albums of the Year in 2008.
We know the original was produced by T Bone Burnett, who gives the song some depth and texture … and heavy smoker Mellencamp was experiencing a late-in-life voice change, getting rougher every minute.
I’ll put the lyrics and chords below. The song is about a man who just wants to be left alone and has no friends. It’s the ultimate blues song, and the way Mellencamp presents it, you’d immediately think it was about himself.
And we know this tidbit … The Sun (Oct. 10, 2008) asked Mellencamp who John Cockers is. He said “He’s just a lot of people that I see who are so selfish or so ignorant they can’t recognize the value of life. There are a million John Cockers and you’ll see them when you walk down the street, when they cut you off in their car and tell you: ‘Get the f–k out of my way!’ In the United States, values and respect for other people have dissipated. ‘I don’t accommodate nobody!’ is the first line in the song and a lot of people feel that way.”
Says Rolling Stone: The ’90s were Mellencamp’s lost decade, as he had become embittered with the industry and had no use for the burgeoning musical trends: hip-hop and grunge. “I was trying to do as little as I could.” “My records were paint-by-numbers.”
In 2008, Mellencamp was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame along with The Dave Clark Five, The Ventures and Madonna.
Mark Urso, vocal and rhythm guitar.
Produced by Mark Urso at River Song Music.
With Brandon Raimondo and Brandon Lanphear.
December, 2021, Westerly, RI.
For the forthcoming album “Organized Chaos.”
Lyrics
I don’t accommodate nobody! I just take care of myself
Got a house down on a dusty road – I don’t need nobody else
I got a wife and some kids … I don’t know where they’re at
I know many many people, but I ain’t got no friends
Well I used to have some values; now they just make me laugh
I used to think things would work out fine but they never did do that
All these bosses and the rules! It’s hard for me to fit in
Must be ten million people, but I ain’t got no friends
Well I’m a little isolated! – I live most days in my head!
And when I go to sleep at night I got no sheets on my bed
I’m a little hard headed … I can’t wait for this to end
I see people coming and going, but I ain’t a got no friends
Well I look out of my window into the darkness of night
My head gets to spinning so I shut out the light
I don’t care if I see tomorrow! If I had a reason I’d pretend
I know one thing for certain! I ain’t a got no friends
Well one of these days my anger, get the best of my soul
In one desperate moment I’m gonna dig me a hole
I’m gonna lie down in it and let be what will be
When the morning sun rises there’ll be no one to mourn for me
When the morning sun rises there’ll be no one to mourn for me
I don’t accommodate nobody! I just take care of myself
Got a house down on a dusty road – I don’t need nobody else
I got a wife and some kids … I don’t know where they’re at
I know many many people, but I ain’t got no friends
I know many many people, but I ain’t got no friends
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E-Z Chords for Performers
Have a wonderful day friends!
Thanks to Brandon and Brandon for your help!
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Mark Urso
mark@markurso.com
@MusicVidNet