The Hard Times
Everybody is aware of John Mellencamp’s befuddling “suckin’ on chili dogs” line, so we sat down with the aging rocker to learn the real meaning of his 1982 hit “Hurts So Good.”
We’ve been hearing this song in department stores and doctor’s office waiting rooms our whole lives, so it was nice to hear its meaning directly from the source. Unfortunately, his response ended up being much more than we had expected, so much so that we can only present you with a portion of the interview’s transcript.
The Hard Times: Hi, Mr. Mellencamp, it’s very nice to meet you!
John Mellencamp: Likewise!
HT: You’ve had a number of hits throughout your career, but we want to focus on “Hurts So Good” in particular. Can you tell us what that song is about?
JM: Oh, I thought it was obvious. That song is a
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