Walk Tall
Encyclopedia
"Walk Tall" is a song written by rock musician John Mellencamp
which protests the Bush administration
's policies. It can be found on his 2004 compilation Words & Music: John Mellencamp's Greatest Hits
.
During a concert in July, 2006, former vice president Dan Quayle
walked out as Mellencamp performed the song after he introduced it as being for "those being ignored by the current administration." http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/15049856.htm There are two versions of the song. The album version has the lyrics "So be careful of those killing in Jesus' name/ He don't believe in killing at all." The single version that was released to radio replaces those lines with: "And I wish you all along the sidelines/ And the strength to walk tall." Mellencamp said the record company asked him to provide less controversial lyrics for the version sent out to radio stations to give the song a better chance of getting airplay. "Walk Tall" was produced by Babyface, who also plays guitar and provides backing vocals on the song.
In 2004, Mellencamp spoke to CMT about his inspiration for writing the song: "'Walk Tall' really was written ... you know, I heard Woody Guthrie
say in some kind of documentary that it was important for him to write songs about people and try to make them feel good about themselves. He said, 'I ain't gonna write no more songs that would make anybody feel bad about themselves.' And I always kind of took that with me as a songwriter. I didn't always do that, but in today's world where there seems to be so much ... I don't know ... fear and hatred toward each other, it seemed like, "If you can write an inspirational song, John, you should probably try to do it," you know? So that's where that came from. That's how that song was written."
John Mellencamp
John Mellencamp, previously known by the stage names Johnny Cougar, John Cougar, and John Cougar Mellencamp, is an American rock singer-songwriter, musician, painter and occasional actor known for his catchy, populist brand of heartland rock that eschews synthesizers and other artificial sounds...
which protests the Bush administration
George W. Bush administration
The presidency of George W. Bush began on January 20, 2001, when he was inaugurated as the 43rd President of the United States of America. The oldest son of former president George H. W. Bush, George W...
's policies. It can be found on his 2004 compilation Words & Music: John Mellencamp's Greatest Hits
Words & Music: John Mellencamp's Greatest Hits
Words & Music: John Mellencamp's Greatest Hits is a greatest hits album by American rock and roll artist John Mellencamp. This 2-disc set was released October 19, 2004 on the Island and UTV Records labels....
.
During a concert in July, 2006, former vice president Dan Quayle
Dan Quayle
James Danforth "Dan" Quayle served as the 44th Vice President of the United States, serving with President George H. W. Bush . He served as a U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator from the state of Indiana....
walked out as Mellencamp performed the song after he introduced it as being for "those being ignored by the current administration." http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/15049856.htm There are two versions of the song. The album version has the lyrics "So be careful of those killing in Jesus' name/ He don't believe in killing at all." The single version that was released to radio replaces those lines with: "And I wish you all along the sidelines/ And the strength to walk tall." Mellencamp said the record company asked him to provide less controversial lyrics for the version sent out to radio stations to give the song a better chance of getting airplay. "Walk Tall" was produced by Babyface, who also plays guitar and provides backing vocals on the song.
In 2004, Mellencamp spoke to CMT about his inspiration for writing the song: "'Walk Tall' really was written ... you know, I heard Woody Guthrie
Woody Guthrie
Woodrow Wilson "Woody" Guthrie is best known as an American singer-songwriter and folk musician, whose musical legacy includes hundreds of political, traditional and children's songs, ballads and improvised works. He frequently performed with the slogan This Machine Kills Fascists displayed on his...
say in some kind of documentary that it was important for him to write songs about people and try to make them feel good about themselves. He said, 'I ain't gonna write no more songs that would make anybody feel bad about themselves.' And I always kind of took that with me as a songwriter. I didn't always do that, but in today's world where there seems to be so much ... I don't know ... fear and hatred toward each other, it seemed like, "If you can write an inspirational song, John, you should probably try to do it," you know? So that's where that came from. That's how that song was written."