Atap to play
Dtap to play
Etap to play
Key
A Major
Difficulty
Beginner
Capo
None
Chords
A · D · E
John Mellencamp’s iconic coming-of-age rock anthem about two American kids doing the best they can. Beginner difficulty in the key of A.
Driving Rock (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: Keep a steady, bouncy rhythm to match the song’s feel.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
A D A
Little ditty ’bout Jack and Diane
A D A
Two American kids growin’ up in the heartland
A D A
Jackie’s gonna be a football star
A D A
Diane’s debutante in the back seat of Jackie’s car
A D A
Suckin’ on a chili dog outside the Tastee Freez
A D A
Diane’s sittin’ on Jackie’s lap
A D
He’s got his hands between her knees
A D A
Jackie say, “Hey Diane, let’s run off behind a shady tree
D A
Dribble off those Bobby Brooks
D
Let me do what I please”
Chorus
A
Oh yeah, life goes on
D A
Long after the thrill of livin’ is gone
A
Oh yeah, life goes on
D A
Long after the thrill of livin’ is gone
They say, “Oh yeah, life goes on
D A
Long after the thrill of livin’ is gone”
Verse 2
A D A
Now Jack, he’s gonna be a doctor
A D A
And Diane’s a beautician in the town
A D A
And Jack, he sits up drinkin’ all night
A D A
Dreamin’ of that little piece of paradise
A D
Oh, let it rock, let it roll
A
Let the Bible Belt come and save my soul
A D A
Holdin’ on to sixteen as long as you can
A D
Change is comin’ ’round real soon
A
Make us women and men
Chorus
A
Oh yeah, life goes on
D A
Long after the thrill of livin’ is gone
A
Oh yeah, life goes on
D A
Long after the thrill of livin’ is gone
They say, “Oh yeah, life goes on
D A
Long after the thrill of livin’ is gone”
Bridge
A D A
Now a young boy walks down the street
A D A
And a young girl waits for him to meet
A D A
And the world turns and the world goes
A D A
And the world turns and the world goes
Verse 3 / Outro
A D A
Little ditty ’bout Jack and Diane
A D A
Two American kids doin’ the best they can
A D A
Little ditty ’bout Jack and Diane
A D A
Two American kids doin’ the best they can
A D A
Little ditty ’bout Jack and Diane
A D A
Two American kids doin’ the best they can
A D A
Little ditty ’bout Jack and Diane
A D A
Two American kids doin’ the best they can
Practice tip: Master the simple A to D chord change, as it’s the core of the song. Strum lightly on the “Suckin’ on a chili dog” breakdown.
Atap to play
Dtap to play
Etap to play
Key
A Major
Difficulty
Beginner
Tuning
G-C-E-A
Chords
A · D · E
John Mellencamp’s iconic coming-of-age rock anthem about two American kids doing the best they can. Beginner difficulty in the key of A.
Driving Rock (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: Keep a steady, bouncy rhythm to match the song’s feel.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
A D A
Little ditty ’bout Jack and Diane
A D A
Two American kids growin’ up in the heartland
A D A
Jackie’s gonna be a football star
A D A
Diane’s debutante in the back seat of Jackie’s car
A D A
Suckin’ on a chili dog outside the Tastee Freez
A D A
Diane’s sittin’ on Jackie’s lap
A D
He’s got his hands between her knees
A D A
Jackie say, “Hey Diane, let’s run off behind a shady tree
D A
Dribble off those Bobby Brooks
D
Let me do what I please”
Chorus
A
Oh yeah, life goes on
D A
Long after the thrill of livin’ is gone
A
Oh yeah, life goes on
D A
Long after the thrill of livin’ is gone
They say, “Oh yeah, life goes on
D A
Long after the thrill of livin’ is gone”
Verse 2
A D A
Now Jack, he’s gonna be a doctor
A D A
And Diane’s a beautician in the town
A D A
And Jack, he sits up drinkin’ all night
A D A
Dreamin’ of that little piece of paradise
A D
Oh, let it rock, let it roll
A
Let the Bible Belt come and save my soul
A D A
Holdin’ on to sixteen as long as you can
A D
Change is comin’ ’round real soon
A
Make us women and men
Chorus
A
Oh yeah, life goes on
D A
Long after the thrill of livin’ is gone
A
Oh yeah, life goes on
D A
Long after the thrill of livin’ is gone
They say, “Oh yeah, life goes on
D A
Long after the thrill of livin’ is gone”
Bridge
A D A
Now a young boy walks down the street
A D A
And a young girl waits for him to meet
A D A
And the world turns and the world goes
A D A
And the world turns and the world goes
Verse 3 / Outro
A D A
Little ditty ’bout Jack and Diane
A D A
Two American kids doin’ the best they can
A D A
Little ditty ’bout Jack and Diane
A D A
Two American kids doin’ the best they can
A D A
Little ditty ’bout Jack and Diane
A D A
Two American kids doin’ the best they can
A D A
Little ditty ’bout Jack and Diane
A D A
Two American kids doin’ the best they can
Practice tip: Master the simple A to D chord change, as it’s the core of the song. Strum lightly on the “Suckin’ on a chili dog” breakdown.
Atap to play
Dtap to play
Etap to play
Key
A Major
Difficulty
Beginner
Left Hand
Root notes
Chords
A · D · E
John Mellencamp’s iconic coming-of-age rock anthem about two American kids doing the best they can. Beginner difficulty in the key of A.
Driving Rock (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: Keep a steady, bouncy rhythm to match the song’s feel.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
A D A
Little ditty ’bout Jack and Diane
A D A
Two American kids growin’ up in the heartland
A D A
Jackie’s gonna be a football star
A D A
Diane’s debutante in the back seat of Jackie’s car
A D A
Suckin’ on a chili dog outside the Tastee Freez
A D A
Diane’s sittin’ on Jackie’s lap
A D
He’s got his hands between her knees
A D A
Jackie say, “Hey Diane, let’s run off behind a shady tree
D A
Dribble off those Bobby Brooks
D
Let me do what I please”
Chorus
A
Oh yeah, life goes on
D A
Long after the thrill of livin’ is gone
A
Oh yeah, life goes on
D A
Long after the thrill of livin’ is gone
They say, “Oh yeah, life goes on
D A
Long after the thrill of livin’ is gone”
Verse 2
A D A
Now Jack, he’s gonna be a doctor
A D A
And Diane’s a beautician in the town
A D A
And Jack, he sits up drinkin’ all night
A D A
Dreamin’ of that little piece of paradise
A D
Oh, let it rock, let it roll
A
Let the Bible Belt come and save my soul
A D A
Holdin’ on to sixteen as long as you can
A D
Change is comin’ ’round real soon
A
Make us women and men
Chorus
A
Oh yeah, life goes on
D A
Long after the thrill of livin’ is gone
A
Oh yeah, life goes on
D A
Long after the thrill of livin’ is gone
They say, “Oh yeah, life goes on
D A
Long after the thrill of livin’ is gone”
Bridge
A D A
Now a young boy walks down the street
A D A
And a young girl waits for him to meet
A D A
And the world turns and the world goes
A D A
And the world turns and the world goes
Verse 3 / Outro
A D A
Little ditty ’bout Jack and Diane
A D A
Two American kids doin’ the best they can
A D A
Little ditty ’bout Jack and Diane
A D A
Two American kids doin’ the best they can
A D A
Little ditty ’bout Jack and Diane
A D A
Two American kids doin’ the best they can
A D A
Little ditty ’bout Jack and Diane
A D A
Two American kids doin’ the best they can
Practice tip: Master the simple A to D chord change, as it’s the core of the song. Strum lightly on the “Suckin’ on a chili dog” breakdown.
Atap to play
Dtap to play
Etap to play
Key
A Major
Difficulty
Beginner
Tuning
gDGBD (Open G)
Chords
A · D · E
John Mellencamp’s iconic coming-of-age rock anthem about two American kids doing the best they can. Beginner difficulty in the key of A.
Driving Rock (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: Keep a steady, bouncy rhythm to match the song’s feel.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
A D A
Little ditty ’bout Jack and Diane
A D A
Two American kids growin’ up in the heartland
A D A
Jackie’s gonna be a football star
A D A
Diane’s debutante in the back seat of Jackie’s car
A D A
Suckin’ on a chili dog outside the Tastee Freez
A D A
Diane’s sittin’ on Jackie’s lap
A D
He’s got his hands between her knees
A D A
Jackie say, “Hey Diane, let’s run off behind a shady tree
D A
Dribble off those Bobby Brooks
D
Let me do what I please”
Chorus
A
Oh yeah, life goes on
D A
Long after the thrill of livin’ is gone
A
Oh yeah, life goes on
D A
Long after the thrill of livin’ is gone
They say, “Oh yeah, life goes on
D A
Long after the thrill of livin’ is gone”
Verse 2
A D A
Now Jack, he’s gonna be a doctor
A D A
And Diane’s a beautician in the town
A D A
And Jack, he sits up drinkin’ all night
A D A
Dreamin’ of that little piece of paradise
A D
Oh, let it rock, let it roll
A
Let the Bible Belt come and save my soul
A D A
Holdin’ on to sixteen as long as you can
A D
Change is comin’ ’round real soon
A
Make us women and men
Chorus
A
Oh yeah, life goes on
D A
Long after the thrill of livin’ is gone
A
Oh yeah, life goes on
D A
Long after the thrill of livin’ is gone
They say, “Oh yeah, life goes on
D A
Long after the thrill of livin’ is gone”
Bridge
A D A
Now a young boy walks down the street
A D A
And a young girl waits for him to meet
A D A
And the world turns and the world goes
A D A
And the world turns and the world goes
Verse 3 / Outro
A D A
Little ditty ’bout Jack and Diane
A D A
Two American kids doin’ the best they can
A D A
Little ditty ’bout Jack and Diane
A D A
Two American kids doin’ the best they can
A D A
Little ditty ’bout Jack and Diane
A D A
Two American kids doin’ the best they can
A D A
Little ditty ’bout Jack and Diane
A D A
Two American kids doin’ the best they can
Practice tip: Master the simple A to D chord change, as it’s the core of the song. Strum lightly on the “Suckin’ on a chili dog” breakdown.
Atap to play
Dtap to play
Etap to play
Key
A Major
Difficulty
Beginner
Tuning
G-D-A-E
Chords
A · D · E
John Mellencamp’s iconic coming-of-age rock anthem about two American kids doing the best they can. Beginner difficulty in the key of A.
Driving Rock (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: Keep a steady, bouncy rhythm to match the song’s feel.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
A D A
Little ditty ’bout Jack and Diane
A D A
Two American kids growin’ up in the heartland
A D A
Jackie’s gonna be a football star
A D A
Diane’s debutante in the back seat of Jackie’s car
A D A
Suckin’ on a chili dog outside the Tastee Freez
A D A
Diane’s sittin’ on Jackie’s lap
A D
He’s got his hands between her knees
A D A
Jackie say, “Hey Diane, let’s run off behind a shady tree
D A
Dribble off those Bobby Brooks
D
Let me do what I please”
Chorus
A
Oh yeah, life goes on
D A
Long after the thrill of livin’ is gone
A
Oh yeah, life goes on
D A
Long after the thrill of livin’ is gone
They say, “Oh yeah, life goes on
D A
Long after the thrill of livin’ is gone”
Verse 2
A D A
Now Jack, he’s gonna be a doctor
A D A
And Diane’s a beautician in the town
A D A
And Jack, he sits up drinkin’ all night
A D A
Dreamin’ of that little piece of paradise
A D
Oh, let it rock, let it roll
A
Let the Bible Belt come and save my soul
A D A
Holdin’ on to sixteen as long as you can
A D
Change is comin’ ’round real soon
A
Make us women and men
Chorus
A
Oh yeah, life goes on
D A
Long after the thrill of livin’ is gone
A
Oh yeah, life goes on
D A
Long after the thrill of livin’ is gone
They say, “Oh yeah, life goes on
D A
Long after the thrill of livin’ is gone”
Bridge
A D A
Now a young boy walks down the street
A D A
And a young girl waits for him to meet
A D A
And the world turns and the world goes
A D A
And the world turns and the world goes
Verse 3 / Outro
A D A
Little ditty ’bout Jack and Diane
A D A
Two American kids doin’ the best they can
A D A
Little ditty ’bout Jack and Diane
A D A
Two American kids doin’ the best they can
A D A
Little ditty ’bout Jack and Diane
A D A
Two American kids doin’ the best they can
A D A
Little ditty ’bout Jack and Diane
A D A
Two American kids doin’ the best they can
Practice tip: Master the simple A to D chord change, as it’s the core of the song. Strum lightly on the “Suckin’ on a chili dog” breakdown.
Atap to play
Dtap to play
Etap to play
Key
A Major
Difficulty
Beginner
Harp Key
C Diatonic
Chords
A · D · E
John Mellencamp’s iconic coming-of-age rock anthem about two American kids doing the best they can. Beginner difficulty in the key of A.
Driving Rock (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: Keep a steady, bouncy rhythm to match the song’s feel.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
A D A
Little ditty ’bout Jack and Diane
A D A
Two American kids growin’ up in the heartland
A D A
Jackie’s gonna be a football star
A D A
Diane’s debutante in the back seat of Jackie’s car
A D A
Suckin’ on a chili dog outside the Tastee Freez
A D A
Diane’s sittin’ on Jackie’s lap
A D
He’s got his hands between her knees
A D A
Jackie say, “Hey Diane, let’s run off behind a shady tree
D A
Dribble off those Bobby Brooks
D
Let me do what I please”
Chorus
A
Oh yeah, life goes on
D A
Long after the thrill of livin’ is gone
A
Oh yeah, life goes on
D A
Long after the thrill of livin’ is gone
They say, “Oh yeah, life goes on
D A
Long after the thrill of livin’ is gone”
Verse 2
A D A
Now Jack, he’s gonna be a doctor
A D A
And Diane’s a beautician in the town
A D A
And Jack, he sits up drinkin’ all night
A D A
Dreamin’ of that little piece of paradise
A D
Oh, let it rock, let it roll
A
Let the Bible Belt come and save my soul
A D A
Holdin’ on to sixteen as long as you can
A D
Change is comin’ ’round real soon
A
Make us women and men
Chorus
A
Oh yeah, life goes on
D A
Long after the thrill of livin’ is gone
A
Oh yeah, life goes on
D A
Long after the thrill of livin’ is gone
They say, “Oh yeah, life goes on
D A
Long after the thrill of livin’ is gone”
Bridge
A D A
Now a young boy walks down the street
A D A
And a young girl waits for him to meet
A D A
And the world turns and the world goes
A D A
And the world turns and the world goes
Verse 3 / Outro
A D A
Little ditty ’bout Jack and Diane
A D A
Two American kids doin’ the best they can
A D A
Little ditty ’bout Jack and Diane
A D A
Two American kids doin’ the best they can
A D A
Little ditty ’bout Jack and Diane
A D A
Two American kids doin’ the best they can
A D A
Little ditty ’bout Jack and Diane
A D A
Two American kids doin’ the best they can
Practice tip: Master the simple A to D chord change, as it’s the core of the song. Strum lightly on the “Suckin’ on a chili dog” breakdown.