<P> According to Mellencamp , `` Jack & Diane '' was based on the 1962 Tennessee Williams film Sweet Bird of Youth . He said of recording the song : `` ' Jack & Diane ' was a terrible record to make . When I play it on guitar by myself , it sounds great ; but I could never get the band to play along with me . That 's why the arrangement 's so weird . Stopping and starting , it 's not very musical . '' Mellencamp has also stated that the clapping was n't supposed to be included in the finished song . It was recorded with the clapping in order to help keep tempo and then it was to be removed . However , he realized the song did not work without it . </P>
what is the song jack and diane about
based on the 1962 Tennessee Williams film Sweet Bird of Youth