Jack And Diane Guitar Tab

American Fool Tabs:

Jack And Diane

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JOHN COUGAR MELLENCAMP - Jack and Diane
Album: The Best That I Could Do

Tabbed By: PortoJohn (John Damiani)
___________________________________________________________

Standard Tuning: EADGBe

INTRO

  (Let Ring)                .
e|--5-----5--5--4--4--5--4--2------------------------------|
B|--5-----5--5--5--5--5--5--3------------------------------|
G|--6-----6--6--4--4--6--4--2--x-x---------x-x-x-x---------|
D|--7-----7--7--6--6--7--6--4--x-x-0-0-----x-x-x-x-0-0-----|
A|-----------------------------x-x---------x-x-x-x---------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------|


VERSE 1

e|--5--7--x-x--4----4--4--x-x-2--x-2--x-4----5--4--x-x-----|
B|--5--5--x-x--5----5--5--x-x-3--x-3--x-5----5--5--x-x-----|
G|--6--6--x-x--4----4--4--x-x-2--x-2--x-4----4--4--x-x-----|
D|---------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------|

e|--5--7--x-x--4----4--4--x-x-2--x-4--x-5----5--5--x-x-----|
B|--5--5--x-x--5----5--5--x-x-3--x-5--x-5----5--5--x-x-----|
G|--6--6--x-x--4----4--4--x-x-2--x-4--x-6----6--6--x-x-----|
D|---------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------|

Play twice, then:


FIRST INTERLUDE

e|---------------------------------------------------------|
B|--2--3--2--3/5-------5----x-x-3--x-3--5--5--5--x-x-------|
G|--2--2--2--2/4-------4----x-x-2--x-2--4--6--4--x-x-------|
D|--2--4--2--4/6-------6----x-x-4--x-4--6--6--6--x-x-------|
A|------------------0--------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------|

e|---------------------------------------------------------|
B|--2--3--2--3/5-------5----x-x-3--x-3--2>-------x-x-------|
G|--2--2--2--2/4-------4----x-x-2--x-2--2>-------x-x-------|
D|--2--4--2--4/6-------6----x-x-4--x-4--2>-------x-x-------|
A|------------------0--------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------|


VERSE 2

e|--5--7--x-x--4----4--4--x-x-2--x-2--x-4----5--4--x-x-----|
B|--5--5--x-x--5----5--5--x-x-3--x-3--x-5----5--5--x-x-----|
G|--6--6--x-x--4----4--4--x-x-2--x-2--x-4----4--4--x-x-----|
D|---------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------|

e|--5--7--x-x--4----4--4--x-x-2--x-4--x-5----5--5--x-x-----|
B|--5--5--x-x--5----5--5--x-x-3--x-5--x-5----5--5--x-x-----|
G|--6--6--x-x--4----4--4--x-x-2--x-4--x-6----6--6--x-x-----|
D|---------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------|

(play twice)


CHORUS

e|--5--7--x-x--4----4--4--x-x-2--x-2--x-4----5--4--x-x-----|
B|--5--5--x-x--5----5--5--x-x-3--x-3--x-5----5--5--x-x-----|
G|--6--6--x-x--4----4--4--x-x-2--x-2--x-4----4--4--x-x-----|
D|---------------------------------------------------------| x 3
A|---------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------|

e|--5--7--x-x--4----4--4--x-x-2--x-4--x-5>-----------------|
B|--5--5--x-x--5----5--5--x-x-3--x-5--x-5>-----------------|
G|--6--6--x-x--4----4--4--x-x-2--x-4--x-6>-----------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------| x 1
A|---------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------|
                                           "Now walk on..."

SECOND INTERLUDE

e|--5-----5--5--4--4--5--4--2------------------------------|
B|--5-----5--5--5--5--5--5--3------------------------------|
G|--6-----6--6--4--4--6--4--2--x-x---------x-x-x-x---------|
D|--7-----7--7--6--6--7--6--4--x-x-0-0-----x-x-x-x-0-0-----| x 2
A|-----------------------------x-x---------x-x-x-x---------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------|


VERSE 3

e|--5--7--x-x--4----4--4--x-x-2--x-2--x-4----5--4--x-x-----|
B|--5--5--x-x--5----5--5--x-x-3--x-3--x-5----5--5--x-x-----|
G|--6--6--x-x--4----4--4--x-x-2--x-2--x-4----4--4--x-x-----|
D|---------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------|

e|--5--7--x-x--4----4--4--x-x-2--x-4--x-5----5--5--x-x-----|
B|--5--5--x-x--5----5--5--x-x-3--x-5--x-5----5--5--x-x-----|
G|--6--6--x-x--4----4--4--x-x-2--x-4--x-6----6--6--x-x-----|
D|---------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------|

(play twice)


BRIDGE

e|---------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------|
D|------DRUMS--------ONLY----------|
A|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|
  "Oh let it rock,  let it roll..."

There are vocals here for 8 measures, followed by a 4-measure 
drum solo. Then, it goes into the following:


FIRST INTERLUDE

e|---------------------------------------------------------|
B|--2--3--2--3/5-------5----x-x-3--x-3--5--5--5--x-x-------|
G|--2--2--2--2/4-------4----x-x-2--x-2--4--6--4--x-x-------|
D|--2--4--2--4/6-------6----x-x-4--x-4--6--6--6--x-x-------|
A|------------------0--------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------|

e|---------------------------------------------------------|
B|--2--3--2--3/5-------5----x-x-3--x-3--2>-------x-x-------|
G|--2--2--2--2/4-------4----x-x-2--x-2--2>-------x-x-------|
D|--2--4--2--4/6-------6----x-x-4--x-4--2>-------x-x-------|
A|------------------0--------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------|


CHORUS

e|--5--7--x-x--4----4--4--x-x-2--x-2--x-4----5--4--x-x-----|
B|--5--5--x-x--5----5--5--x-x-3--x-3--x-5----5--5--x-x-----|
G|--6--6--x-x--4----4--4--x-x-2--x-2--x-4----4--4--x-x-----|
D|---------------------------------------------------------| x 3
A|---------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------|

e|--5--7--x-x--4----4--4--x-x-2--x-4--x-5>-----------------|
B|--5--5--x-x--5----5--5--x-x-3--x-5--x-5>-----------------|
G|--6--6--x-x--4----4--4--x-x-2--x-4--x-6>-----------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------| x 1
A|---------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------|


OUTRO

e|---------------------------------------------|
B|--5----5---5---5------3-------5---5----------|
G|--6----6---4------4---2-------4------4-------|
D|--7----7---6----------4-------6--------------|
A|-----------------------------------------0---|
E|---------------------------------------------|

e|---------------------------------------------|
B|--5----5---5---5---------3---3--2>-----------|
G|--6----6---4------4------2---2--2>-----------|
D|--7----7---6-------------4---4--2>-----------|
A|---------------------0----------0>-----------|
E|---------------------------------------------|
    1      2   3    4  1     2       3     4

Into:

e|--5-----5--5--4--4--5--4--2------------------------------|
B|--5-----5--5--5--5--5--5--3------------------------------|
G|--6-----6--6--4--4--6--4--2--x-x---------x-x-x-x---------|
D|--7-----7--7--6--6--7--6--4--x-x-0-0-----x-x-x-x-0-0-----|
A|-----------------------------x-x---------x-x-x-x---------| x 4
E|---------------------------------------------------------|

Fade out.

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Source: http://www.guitarmasta.net/j/john_mellencamp/265774.html

Tab Discussion, Comments, and Critiques


No Picture chivo Wanna Be	#1 by chivo rivers at Aug 19, 1970 at 7:57 AM EST
	its a song about not taking anything for granted when your young and you dont have to deal with all the stuff adults do.

No Picture GT Wanna Be	#2 by GT at Mar 11, 1974 at 9:29 AM EST
	he summarizes the song in the last verse: "Hold on to 16 as long as you can Changes come around real soon Make us women and men" he's talking about kids growing up and realizing that the boring stuff they do daily is what they miss when they grow up. they realized that even if they find no joy or whatnot in it, life goes on, whether you're ready or not.

No Picture Michael Rhythm Player	#3 by Michael Roache at Jul 27, 1975 at 9:09 PM EST
	by SpineofaJellyFish on 02-12-2005 @ 12:45:59 PM "Hold onto 16 as long as you can" is an awesome, so true to. This song is about children, and how we don't realize how wonderful life is when you're young. "Life goes on, long after the thrill of living is gone." I love that line. Appreciate life when you're young, cause when you're old, you'll lose the thrill of living. i disagree kinda. yeah its a bittersweet song, life is such a thrill when youre young, even going outside to play in the backyard is an adventure and you learnt something new. life always goes on, but whether you let the thrill of living go or not is your choice. whether you let yourself get caught up in the monotony of everyday life, study, work... this song reminds me to live life to the fullest. you only live once. great song 1

No Picture Dev1 Average	#4 by Dev1 at Jan 16, 1976 at 12:42 AM EST
	i think its about treasuring when youre young b/c one day you will grow up and wish you did more when you were young. and that you should hang on to your relationships when you are young.

No Picture michael Wanna Be	#5 by michael Dittrich at Nov 15, 1978 at 6:21 PM EST
	whose hands were between who's knees and who was suckin on a chilli dog

No Picture A.D.D. Wanna Be	#6 by A.D.D. at Jan 20, 1980 at 2:15 PM EST
	This song is great! I'm only 13 years old, and I love it. Every time I hear it on the radio, I have to turn the volume all the way up.

No Picture Casey Wanna Be	#7 by Casey at Jan 20, 1980 at 6:00 PM EST
	Man I WAS 16 when this song came out. And I understood what he was saying even then. Enjoy the innocence and simplicity of youth, before the grind and responsibilities of adulthood hit. And boy is he right. I love life, but thank God I had no idea at 16 how much harder it all gets.

No Picture Justin Average	#8 by Justin Dosser at Feb 14, 1981 at 3:12 PM EST
	This song was inspired by the film 'Splendor in the Grass' (1961) starring Natalie Wood and Warren Beatty. Brilliant story... heartbreaking.

No Picture Adam Wanna Be	#9 by Adam Doyle at Jul 7, 1981 at 4:11 AM EST
	"Hold onto 16 as long as you can" is an awesome, so true to. This song is about children, and how we don't realize how wonderful life is when you're young. "Life goes on, long after the thrill of living is gone." I love that line. Appreciate life when you're young, cause when you're old, you'll lose the thrill of living.

No Picture Redryder Rhythm Player	#10 by Redryder at Nov 7, 1983 at 3:20 AM EST
	It's about people screwing up the same way their parents did. And their kids are gonna do the same. Basically it's the story of life.

No Picture Terence Average	#11 by Terence Taylor at Feb 12, 1984 at 8:02 PM EST
	I think its about puberty, and teen sex. Jack and Diane are gonna do it!!

No Picture Clay Wanna Be	#12 by Clay Swartz at Feb 17, 1988 at 1:05 AM EST
	always reminds me of a girl I liked when I was 16 who told me it was her favourite song. Also rebellion against the authorities when you are a teenager. “let the Bible belt come & save my soul” also resonated with me – the stuffy conservativeness of the provincial town I lived in where everyone seemed to be a Christian fundamentalist & also the Lutherans at my school preaching it but being hypocrites. Later found out that Mellencamp was brought up Lutheran, which explained a lot about why I "get" his songs.

No Picture xour distancex Average	#13 by xour distancex at Jun 8, 1989 at 5:13 PM EST
	it's a great song... the first time i heard it i thought it was the jessica simpson song and later found out she stole it but changed a couple notes ...so that makes it alright?

No Picture FUCK EMO Badass	#14 by FUCK EMO at Apr 28, 1990 at 11:48 PM EST
	Man, I loved this song when I was little... The video with the old school pictures and the white hands clapping the beat... This song is still great

No Picture scott Rhythm Player	#15 by scott o'brien at Dec 28, 1991 at 12:30 PM EST
	i like the song, but i don't quite get what it means. yeah, i like the hands clapping in it too

No Picture moss Average	#16 by moss levenson at Oct 20, 1993 at 3:26 AM EST
	I love this song, everytime it comes on the radio I have to sing-a-long. In my opinion this song is basically about growing up and the innocence of having a first love. There's a strong message that we should make the best out of the time we have know. The part that goes: "Well you know Diane, we oughtta run off to the city Diana says baby you ain't missin' no-thing." Clearly shows that the best of times is right now, and to cherish your youth.

No Picture billy Wanna Be	#17 by billy tams at Jul 2, 1995 at 3:06 PM EST
	Diane's sittin' on Jacky's lap He's got his hand between her knees Jacky say "Hey Diane lets run off Behind a shady tree" Dribble off those Bobby Brooks Let me do what I please. And Jacky Say Oh yeah life goes on Jack wants to fool around with Diane and Diane is into it because she is a little slut.

No Picture Adam Wanna Be	#18 by Adam Martinez at Jan 6, 1996 at 4:18 AM EST
	It's a simple song about holding onto your youth. Classic.

No Picture Ben Average	#19 by Ben Brown at Jun 21, 2000 at 8:02 AM EST
	This is one of those real heartfelt songs, it's so good. I love the lyric "life goes on". Oh yeah, life goes on.

No Picture alex Lead Player	#20 by alex beaulieu at Aug 22, 2001 at 1:49 AM EST
	this is a brilliant "Carpe Diem" song. On the same level of brilliance as Andrew Marvell's poem "To his Coy Mistress"

No Picture RJ Average	#21 by RJ Rehmann at Nov 7, 2002 at 12:13 PM EST
	its a song about not taking anything for granted when your young and you dont have to deal with all the stuff adults do.

No Picture cinn Professional Badass	#22 by cinn mcrickson at Jul 18, 2004 at 4:02 AM EST
	its a song about not taking anything for granted when your young and you dont have to deal with all the stuff adults do.

No Picture The Major Rajor Rhythm Player	#23 by The Major Rajor . at Feb 5, 2005 at 10:29 AM EST
	its a song about not taking anything for granted when your young and you dont have to deal with all the stuff adults do.

No Picture Megan Average	#24 by Megan at Dec 7, 2005 at 7:40 AM EST
	ive always loved this song, my dad used to listen to it. im not exactly sure what it means either tho.