John Mellencamp - Hotdogs And Hamburgers Lyrics






Drivin' down on a dry summer's day
Old Route 66 and I was just a kid
Met a pretty little Indian girl
Along the way
Got her into my car
And tried to give her a kiss
I'll give you beads and wampum
Whatever it takes girl, to make you trade
She jumped into the back seat
And she kind of flipped her lid
She said you're tryin' to get something for nothing
Like the pilgrims in the olden days

We rode for a while till the sun went away
And I realized it was sort of an honor
Bein' around this girl
I felt embarrassed
Of what I tried to do earlier that day
She was the saddest girl I ever knew
She told me stories about the Indian nations
And how the white man stole their lives away
And although she kinda liked me
She could never trust me
And when the sun comes up
We'd go our different ways

[Chorus:]
Now everybody has got the choice
Between hotdogs and hamburgers
Every one of us has got to choose
Between right and wrong
And givin' up or holdin' on

So I dropped her off at some railroad crossing in Texas
An old Indian man was waiting there
He smiled and thanked me
But he saw right through me
I could tell he didn't like me
For my kind he did not care
Because to him I was the white man
The one who sold him something that he already owned
And it was like he'd been riding in the car right there with us
And I felt ashamed of my actions
And the way the west was really won
So I drove down the highway
Till I came to Los Angeles
The town of the angels
The best this country can do
I got down on my knees
And I asked for forgiveness
I said, Lord, forgive us for we know not what we do

[Chorus]





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John Mellencamp Hotdogs And Hamburgers Comments
  1. b.... ....

    True Brilliance!!

  2. G.... A....

    Whatever roads we take in Life... Have faith and trust in yourself...

  3. a.... ....

    I adore this song !!!!!!!!!!!!!

  4. A.... D....

    One of the best story tellers of all time 💖

  5. T.... R....

    Love music ..... always come back to my favorite... JM .

  6. n.... h....

    By 1991 he was a different musician yawn should left cougar in

  7. r.... b....

    Howdy John. You are coming through Albuquerque and we are coming to say hi. From 84 to 2019, you kept the vein.

  8. P.... ....

    why "Hotdogs and Hamburgers"? I don't get why he refers to food.

    P.... ....

    it is american way

    P.... ....

    Elizabeth Pitsor Okay thanks. Now this I understand. But why does he say, that we have the choice between these two foods. I understand why he says, that we can choose between right or wrong, but why the food? What does this mean?

    P.... ....

    @Platyboss because at Bqq it is ac hoice between hotdogs and hamburgers the American way,,lol

    P.... ....

    @Platyboss I agree with the American theme of "hot dogs and hamburgers", but I also think John meant it as saying, No need to complicate the issue. Right or wrong, give up or hold on, etc.,etc.,. Make the choice, (make it the right one), as easy as choosing between hot dogs or hamburgers.

  9. M.... B....

    Id like a polish sausage please.

  10. C.... S....

    Another ripper song from Johnny boy

  11. d.... a....

    i'll love that indian girl forever

  12. A.... D....

    A better Mellencamp song with a similar theme is 'Sweet Evening Breeze'

  13. A.... D....

    I always loved the title but the song is just ok...

  14. G.... A....

    Good tunes ..with a chapter of the American past...

  15. J.... C....

    The older you get the more sense Johns songs make. Been listening since he first hit the scene

  16. J.... L....

    Mellencamp for Kennedy show

  17. S.... A....

    I tell my children this all the time... they hate it!!

  18. J.... S....

    looking for this cd. My dad got this for me back when I was 16 as well as my 1st cd player back then and he was on his Lonesome Jubilee tour. I lost this cd during my divorce. It was one of my favorite. I got tickets for his show in Seattle but my dad didn't let me go. This was my favorite song on the cd...even 30 years ago

  19. a.... ....

    One of my favourite, great song!

  20. R.... C....

    Went through two cassettes and two CDs of this one. One the best albums of my life. It was very good times when this came out.

    R.... C....

    I so agree.... same here

  21. H.... G....

    His best song

    H.... G....

    Harry Gorman no doubt

  22. C.... A....

    Chills the soul. Astounding song, brilliant album. Must a listened to this record around the clock for months and months. Saw this tour back to back nights in Chicago. Still sounds great today! Ahhhh good memories.

  23. m.... b....

    "Like Boston's first album, AC/DC's " Back In Black", every song on this masterpiece rocks. Not simple like the aforementioned, but rather, deep, sophisticated, and well thought out. True in every sense of the word." Standing Bull

  24. L.... R....

    so many memories!!! Driving across middle US to this song....

  25. L.... C....

    Thank you lamarridley2!!!  One of JM's finest!!!

  26. M.... W....

    I like the line "and I realized that it was sort of an honor to be around this girl".  Kinda reminds me of a special woman in my life!!  Thanks so much for uploading this one Iamarridley2

  27. J.... M....

    Great song from a great album, JM finest moment...

  28. j.... c....

    1988, fifth row center, Brendan Bryne arena, New Jersey. One of the best shows I've ever seen. I'll never forget it. Thank you John.

    j.... c....

    Lovedtothave seentat Peace

  29. j.... p....

    The way the west was REALLY won.....think about it...nobody wants to.....too sad....selling me something I already owned...somethings never change.

  30. k.... ....

    すごく好きです。古き良きロック!

  31. J.... S....

    Great great great song. This album was excellent from start to finish. Mellencamp is still vastly underrated as a songwriter. He is right up there with Dylan IMO

  32. d.... ....

    The Lonesome Jubilee is a great album. His best work in my opinion.

  33. D.... ....

    I always dug this song. But now that I paid some attention to the lyrics, its a brilliant gem. Paints a picture like a scene from a movie. Brings tears. Most people wouldnt know from the title.

  34. J.... M....

    This song reminds me about driving back in my Los Angeles hometown playing this in the cassette tape deck on my way to Venice Beach,man I remember those days that is truly when time stood still..........Thanks for the post!!

  35. m.... ....

    Thanks for posting this.

  36. c.... ....

    The freedom of choice and everything, brought back to " hamburgers or hotdogs". Live is truly what WE make of it.

  37. c.... ....

    The freedom of choice and everything, brought back to " hamburgers or hotdogs". Live is truly what WE make of it.

  38. T.... R....

    one of the best songs ever wrought.......i give it 5 stars....2 thumbs ups...a masterpiece...and whatever you can say about something amazing

    T.... R....

    always one of my favourites... i love the way the song builds, it feels like a jamming session, like they're on the porch, people keep turning up with instruments and join in, the tune just gets bigger and bigger.... love it. Not forgetting the poignant lyrics. Only Mellencamp could write a seriously profound social commentary as upbeat as this.

  39. a.... ....

    I like the line...'She was the saddest girl i ever knew'.

  40. t.... ....

    i wonder if this song is where Tim & Eric got the idea for their "hamburgers and hot dogs too" song

    XD

  41. m.... ....

    Cherry Bomb is also really good, especially as I get closer to 35 lol .. but the lyrics to this are extremely powerful and well thought of.

  42. m.... ....

    Check It Out was my favourite from this wonderful album for many years, but my grandma was part Indigenous and it's hard not to relate to this. Many thanks for posting, hope it gets more views !!

  43. T.... H....

    Thanks for uploading this one. It's always been one of my favorite John tunes. Definitely under-rated.

  44. y.... ....

    I love this song!!!

  45. T.... ....

    Cheers for posting this dude ;) Nice to have the lyrics too, love this song so much.