John Mellencamp plays his song "Paper In Fire" live in concert at the Golden Gate Theatre in San Francisco, California on March 17, 2023. Paper In Fire appeared on Mellencamp's ninth studio album, The Lonesome Jubilee (1987). It reached Number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart. John Mellencamp is a Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter from Seymour, Indiana. Mellencamp is on tour for his 76-date Live And In Person Tour. Joining him onstage were Andrew York (guitar), Mike Wanchic (guitar), John Ginnell (bass), Dane Clark (drums), Lisa Germano (violin / mandolin), and Troye Kinnett (accordion / keyboards).

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Paper In Fire lyrics:

She had a dream
And boy it was a good one
So she chased after her dream
With much desire
But when she got too close
To her expectations
Well the dream burned up
Like paper in fire

Paper in fire
Stinkin' up the ashtrays
Paper in fire
Smokin' up the alleyways
Who's to say the way
A man should spend his days
Do you let them smolder
Like paper in fire

He wanted love
With no involvement
So he chased the wind
That's all his silly life required
And the days of vanity
Went on forever
And he saw his days burn up
Like paper in fire

Paper in fire
Stinkin' up the ashtrays
Paper in fire
Smokin' up the alleyways
Who's to say the way
A man should spend his days
Do you let them smolder
Like paper in fire

There is a good life
Right across the green fields
And each generation
Stares at it from afar
But we keep no check
On our appetites
So the green fields turn to brown
Like paper in fire

Paper in fire
Stinking up the ashtrays
Paper in fire
Smoking up the alleyways
Who's to say the way
A man should spend his days
Do you let them smolder
Like paper in fire

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Live And In Person Tour (2023):

Feb. 5-6 —Bloomington, IN @ Indiana University Auditorium
Feb. 8 — Charlotte, NC @ Ovens Auditorium
Feb. 10 — Atlanta, GA @ Fox Theatre
Feb. 11 — Jacksonville, FL @ Moran Theater
Feb. 13-15 — Clearwater, FL @ Ruth Eckerd Hall
Feb. 18-19 — Orlando, FL @ Walt Disney Theater
Feb. 21-22 — Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Broward Center for the Performing Arts
Feb. 24 — New Orleans, LA @ Saenger Theatre
Feb. 25 — Sugar Land, TX @ Smart Financial Centre
Feb. 26 — San Antonio, TX @ Majestic Theatre
Feb. 28 — Austin, TX @ Bass Concert Hall
Mar. 1 — Dallas, TX @ Texas Trust CU Theatre
Mar. 11 — Portland, OR @ Keller Auditorium
Mar. 13-14 — Vancouver, BC @ Orpheum
Mar. 15 — Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theatre
Mar. 17-18 — San Francisco, CA @ Golden Gate Theatre
Mar. 19 — Fresno, CA @ Saroyan Theatre
Mar. 21 — Sacramento, CA @ SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center
Mar. 22 — Los Angeles, CA @ Dolby Theatre
Mar. 24-25 — Las Vegas, NV @ Wynn Las Vegas
Mar. 27 — Denver, CO @ Ellie Caulkins Opera House
Apr. 3-4 — Kansas City, MO @ Midland Theatre
Apr. 6-8 — Minneapolis, MN @ State Theatre
Apr. 10-11 — Milwaukee, WI @ Riverside Theater
Apr. 13-14 — Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre
Apr. 17-18 — Louisville, KY @ Kentucky Center
Apr. 19 — Peoria, IL @ Civic Center Theater
Apr. 21-22 — St. Louis, MO @ Stifel Theatre
Apr. 24 - 25 — Memphis, TN @ Orpheum Theatre
May 5-6 — Evansville, IN @ Old National Events Plaza
May 8-10 — Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium
May 12-13 — Cincinnati, OH @ Aronoff Center
May 15-16 — Ft. Wayne, IN @ Embassy Theatre
May 17 — Columbus, OH @ Palace Theatre
May 19 — Greenville, SC @ Peace Center
May 20 — Durham, NC @ DPAC
May 22-23 — Pittsburgh, PA @ Benedum Center
May 25-26 — Cleveland, OH @ Playhouse Square
June 2 — Baltimore, MD @ The Lyric
June 3 — Philadelphia, PA @ Kimmel Cultural Campus
June 5-7 — New York, NY @ Beacon Theatre
June 10 — Boston, MA @ Wang Theatre
June 11 — Providence, RI @ Providence Performing Arts Center
June 13 — Albany, NY @ Palace Theatre
June 14 — Syracuse, NY @ Landmark Theatre

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John Mellencamp official bio:

John Mellencamp's career in music has spanned more than 35 years during which time he transitioned from pre-fab pop idol to one of the most highly regarded mature songwriters of a generation. Mellencamp fell in love with music at an early age and was fronting a soul band in his native Indiana by the time he was 14. He would go on to release 26 albums with domestic sales exceeding 40 million units.

He has been nominated for 13 Grammys, was recipient of Billboard's Century Award, ASCAP Foundation's Champion Award, The Woody Guthrie Award, Q's Classic Songwriter Award and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Mellencamp has amassed 22 Top 40 hits and holds the record for the most tracks by a solo artist to hit #1 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks Chart. The social activism reflected in his songs was one of the key catalysts that launched Farm Aid, the concert series and organization that has addressed the struggle of American family farmers for more than 25 years.

John Mellencamp continues to live and work in Bloomington, Indiana. He is the father of two sons, Hud and Speck and three daughters, Michelle, Teddi Jo and Justice.