Mellencamp wrote the about his experiences growing up in a small town in Indiana, having been born in Seymour, Indiana, and living in Bloomington, Indiana, which, at the time of the release of the song, was much smaller.
Mellencamp wrote the about his experiences. Mellencamp was growing up in a small town in Indiana. Mellencamp was having been born in Seymour, Indiana. Mellencamp was living in Bloomington, Indiana. Bloomington, Indiana was much smaller. This was at the time of the release of the song.