Music Videos

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JOHN MELLENCAMP

JOHN LONGENECKER - Camera Operator

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Listen to The Music | I'm Not Running Anymore

Written by: John Mellencamp

Holly told me, "You better give me a child"
I said, "Holly, there's no way
We don't even like each other all that much
We couldn't make it one more day"
She said, "You better look out, buster
The next time you see me you're gonna pay"
I said, "Holly, I'm not running anymore
But I'm on my way"

I'm on my way
I'm on my way
I'm on my way
But I'm not running anymore

Well I got two circus clowns here who like to fight
They got one black eye and a bloody nose
They are the hoodlums of my third wife
Whatever I say they will oppose
I try to teach those clowns something
Like how to make it day to day
I say, "Hey, you kids, I'm not running anymore
But I'm on my way"

I'm on my way
I'm on my way
I'm on my way
And I'm not running anymore

Well I look in the mirror - what the hell happened to me?
Whatever I had has gone away
I'm not the young kid that I used to be
So I push the hair back out of my face
That's O.K., I knew this would happen
But I was hopin' not today
Hey Baby, I'm not running anymore
But I'm on my way

I'm on my way
I'm on my way
I'm on my way
And I'm not running anymore

I'm on my way
I'm on my way
I'm on my way
And I'm not running anymore

For sure!

New Mellencamp video captures essence of small town by Stephanie Holmes

Despite the biting cold weather, a 60-member video production crew worked diligently Saturday around nearly 100 people who gathered to catch a glimpse of John Mellencamp and his band on the Monroe County Courthouse Square. A video for "I'm Not Running Anymore," the fourth song on Mellencamp's self-titled release from Columbia Records, was shot from about 8:00 a.m. until nearly 11:30 p.m. on the corner of Walnut and Kirkwood Avenues in the midst of typical Saturday happenings. "I think it's pretty interesting," senior Josh Suhrheinrich said. "When is the last time you saw people playing guitar in 15-degree weather?"

Though few onlookers had actually planned to spend part their afternoon watching Mellencamp perform, the majority of the crowd was excited and seemed to welcome the diversion. "I've listened to him since I've been in junior high," said Bloomington resident Kevin Gallagher. "I thought I'd just stop and watch." Mellencamp's hometown experience has become a running theme in his music over the years, but it is evident in his personal life as well. "It is just a part of him," Elaine Irwin-Mellencamp, Mellencamp's wife said. "In fact, it as much a part of him as being a songwriter or a dad." According to the producers, the proposed format of the video is to capture Mellencamp's evolving sense of self.

"The whole idea was to let John do a performance in his hometown. The video will feature images and close-ups of John displayed through multiple boxes, and these boxes will collectively compose John as a person and small town father," video producer David Glean said. "It's been beautiful to do in the snow, and all of these images together make this all about John." Although the middle of a small Midwestern town might not seem to be an ordinary stage for a video shoot, line producer Harry Sandler said the location was chosen for its overall beauty and gothic allure." It's not exactly what you'd expect," he said. "We wanted a downtown setting with traffic and people going through the images, and with the snow and ice it's going to be a very David Hockney-esque video."

Even though the ice and snow were positive aesthetic factors, they were also a technical concern for the production crew. "That (the snow and ice) has been the day's only wildcard," first assistant director Scott Javine said. "The biggest challenge is to get the cameras and the cold weather to coexist happily." Mellencamp pointed out that there were 11 cameras on location to capture a slice of Bloomington's life. "It (the video) is more about the location," Mellencamp said. "Even though we are all used to seeing the courthouse, I want to show it because it is very unique." Production assistant Courtney Kaiser also suggested the strong connection between Indiana and Mellencamp's music. "It's the concept of Mellencamp trying to relate," she said. "He likes including the town and people as a part of his music." After several takes, Mellencamp and his band finished their set and retreated from the cold, but the production crew continued its work. "We expected this turnout," Bloomington Police Officer Tom Ballard said. "We knew a lot of people would want to watch, and we were ready to handle the situation."

The Associated Press

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) -- John Mellencamp stayed close to home when he shot his latest, aptly titled video "I'm Not Running Anymore.'' Music fans and curious onlookers braved biting cold Saturday to watch Mellencamp and his band film around the Monroe County Courthouse Square.

"I want to be in the video so badly,'' said Elizabeth Tompkins, who stood for hours as the 14-hour filming brought Bloomington traffic to a standstill.

Jeanne Sutton took her chances and came down from Chicago to see the shoot, which just happened to be on her birthday. She found out about it from a Web site devoted to Mellencamp, whose new album, "John Mellencamp,'' was released late last year. "My husband asked me what I wanted for my birthday, and I said, 'I want to go to Bloomington.'''

The song, flavored with groove and hip-hop samples, was written about Mellencamp's two young sons with his current wife, Elaine Irwin. Will the boys end up in the video? "They'll weasel their way in somehow,'' Irwin joked. "But they're not supposed to be.''