Play Guitar

Album: Uh-Huh (1983)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • No money? No car? If you still want to get with the ladies, then you better learn to play guitar. That's the advice John Mellencamp doles out in this song, a send-up of superficial rock star culture.

    Mellencamp didn't need his guitar to land the ladies. He got into music as a means of creation and expression, so the idea of picking up a guitar to impress chicks seemed strange. Uglier dudes see it differently.
  • By this time, Mellencamp had transitioned from his original stage name, Johnny Cougar, which was forced on him when he started in the business, to John Cougar Mellencamp. He wanted to make music on his terms, telling thought-proving stories and speaking his truth in his songs, but he quickly learned he couldn't do that unless he became popular, and that meant coming up with hit songs. It took a few years, but after his 1982 album American Fool, he had the hits, which meant he could start calling the shots.

    "Play Guitar" was released as a single from his next album, Uh-huh, which kept the hits coming ("Pink Houses," "Authority Song"). It wasn't a pop hit, but found it's way onto some rock radio stations, as many in the industry got the joke.

Comments: 1

  • Joe from OregonThis definitely has one of the most in your face, strangle-the-guitar guitar solos ever. I love this song. And my guitar has definitely picked up a check or two for me.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.

Richard Marx

Richard MarxSongwriter Interviews

Richard explains how Joe Walsh kickstarted his career, and why he chose Hazard, Nebraska for a hit.

Commercials

CommercialsFact or Fiction

Was "Ring Of Fire" really used to sell hemorrhoid cream?

John Doe of X

John Doe of XSongwriter Interviews

With his X-wife Exene, John fronts the band X and writes their songs.

Yoko Ono

Yoko OnoSongwriter Interviews

At 80 years old, Yoko has 10 #1 Dance hits. She discusses some of her songs and explains what inspired John Lennon's return to music in 1980.

Loreena McKennitt

Loreena McKennittSongwriter Interviews

The Celtic music maker Loreena McKennitt on finding musical inspiration, the "New Age" label, and working on the movie Tinker Bell.