Country music star Jake Owen just dropped the lead single from his forthcoming album. “I Was Jack (You Were Diane)” is set to hit country radio on March 12th!
Although Jake Owen’s spin on John Mellencamp’s 1982 “Jack & Diane” is quite different from the original, Jake still wanted to get Mellencamp’s blessing. “This song takes me back every time I hear it, every time I sing it, every time I play it,” Owen told iHeart Country. “Any time you take a sample of a song where you’re paying homage to a song by using it’s original qualities, which that’s what this song is truly doing. It’s just common courtesy to reach out the original writers and composers of that original song, John Mellencamp being that guy. We felt it was necessary to reach out to him and get his blessing on it. It was pretty fulfilling to know what he said, ‘Yeah, I like that. You guys run with it.’ So we did. With his blessing I think this makes this that much sweeter. So everybody’s excited about it!”
The original version was about two kids enjoying life together, but Owen’s song is about two kids looking back on the good old days.
Check out “I Was Jack (You Were Diane)” below…
“I Was Jack (You Were Diane)” Lyrics
It was yesterday, it was years ago
We were singing every word on the radio
Kinda like the songs could save our souls
Somehow, someway
He was flowing fast, we was jumping in
Blue jean halo hanging off the wind
Two American kids just like them
Every time we play
It blew us away
Do you turn it up, do you sing along
Every time you hear that song
Like we did then, like we did when
Do you close your eyes, does it make you laugh
Do the memories take you back
To 6 packs and a Chevy Cheyenne
Way back when I was Jack and you were Diane
Yeah, and the music played
Yeah we were never growing up or growing old
Breaking up or letting go
Girl just like rock ‘n’ roll where’ it gone
But I hope like hell every now and again
I blow across your mind like that summer wind
And you’re holding on the sixteen long as you can
Every time that it comes on
Do you turn it up, do you sing along
Every time you hear that song
Like we did then, like we did when
Do you close your eyes, does it make you laugh
Do the memories take you back
To 6 packs and a Chevy Cheyenne
Way back when I was Jack and you were Diane
Oh yeah
Do you turn it up, do you sing along
Every time you hear that song
Does it still move ya, baby hallelujah
Do you close your eyes, does it make you laugh
Do the memories take you back
To 6 packs and a Chevy Cheyenne
Way Back when I was Jack and you were Diane
Yeah way back
Way on back
When I was Jack and you were Diane
Yeah do you close your eyes
Does it make you laugh
When I was Jack and you were Diane
Yeah do the memories take you back
Take you back, take you back
Be sure to share this new song with other Jake Owen fans!
