Well I lived on the outskirts of town
In an eight room farmhouse, baby
When my brothers and friends were around
There was always somethin' doin'
Had me a couple of real nice girlfriends
Stopped by to see me every once in a while
When I think back about those days
All I can do is sit and smile

That's when a sport was a sport
And groovin' was groovin'
And dancin' meant everything
We were young and we were improvin'
Laughin' laughin' with our friends
Holding hands meant somethin' baby
Outside the club "Cherry Bomb"
Our hearts were really pumpin'
Say yeah, yeah, yeah
Say yeah, yeah, yeah

The winter days they last forever
And the weekends went by so quick
Went ridin' around this little country town
We were goin' nuts, girl, out in the sticks
One night me with my big mouth
A couple guys had to put me in my place
When I see those guys these days
We just laugh and say do you remember when

That's when a sport was a sport
And groovin' was groovin'
And dancin' meant everything
We were young and we were improvin'
Laughin' laughin' with our friends
Holding hands meant somethin' baby
Outside the club "Cherry Bomb"
Our hearts were really pumpin'
Say yeah, yeah, yeah
Say yeah, yeah, yeah

Say yeah, yeah, yeah
Say yeah, yeah, yeah

Seventeen has turned thirty-five
I'm surprised that we're still livin'
If we've done any wrong
I hope that we're forgiven
Got a few kids of my own
And some days I still don't know what to do
I hope that they're not laughin' too loud
When they hear me talkin'
Like this to you

That's when a sport was a sport
And groovin' was groovin'
And dancin' meant everything
We were young and we were improvin'
Laughin', laughin' with our friends
Holding hands meant so much baby
Outside the club "Cherry Bomb"
Our hearts were really pumpin'
Say yeah, yeah, yeah
Say yeah, yeah, yeah


Lyrics submitted by geekusa

Cherry Bomb Lyrics as written by John Mellencamp

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Cherry Bomb song meanings
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5 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    I remember hearing a story from a forestry worker in the small town where my grandparents lived how in his younger & wilder days he’d copped a beating from some other guys he knew & that he was being a pain in the arse & probably deserved it. – “Me & my big mouth. Some guys had to put me in my place. when I see those guys these days, we just laugh & say ‘do you remember when?’”

    When I heard this song, it was almost as if he had written it!

    tsarzanon February 03, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    the lyrics an alot of other websites say,"thats when a smoke was a smoke" and thats what it sounds like to me

    1adrenilan8junky7on June 18, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I think this is one of his best.

    emuInAmuumuuon April 23, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Listening to this song I can see it I like a movie.
    I remember when a sport was a sport and not a political platform. Same, unfortunately, goes for some musicians like J.M. I dont like when they get political. IMO

    JerseyJackon September 27, 2020   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    A song about wanting to go back to your youth

    kfe2on January 29, 2006   Link

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