John Mellencamp: Plain Spoken Live from The Chicago Theatre (2018 TV Movie)

John Mellencamp: Self

Quotes 

• John Mellencamp : True art is always a surprise. It's not constructed. If it doesn't surprise the person that's writing it - it's not going to surprise the person that's listening. Art always has to be a surprise.

• John Mellencamp : If you want to know what I think, then you better be prepared to hear something that you might not want to hear. It doesn't make it right, what I think; but it is what I think. It doesn't make it true, what I think, but it makes it - what I think. You're asking me what I think. You're asking me what this song means. You're asking me what this painting means; which are ridiculously stupid questions. Ridiculously uncalled-for questions. These things only mean something to you, if they mean something to you. If the artist has to explain it to you, what it means; then you're missing the whole point of the exercise. You're missing the point of understanding true art. If you want an explanation, then you need to go back to your television, where they spell things out for you very slowly and carefully.

• John Mellencamp : There is no reward in this world, for settling for something you don't want. There is no reward in this world, for settling for something you don't want. There is no reward in this world, for settling for something you don't want. I said it three times - it's important. If you settle for something you don't want then you're going to be disillusioned, you will feel cheated, and you're not living life to the fullest. That's my deadfast rule for myself. I do not want to settle for something I don't want. There's no reward in this, there's no crown in heaven waiting for me because I settled for something I don't want. So, I always take ownership. If it turns out good; great. If it turns out bad, it's my responsibility. Ultimately and finally, it's down to me. And it's down to you.