Authority Song

When discussing this song, Mellencamp called it "our new version of 'I Fought The Law.'" It's typical of Mellencamp's rebel attitude: "growing up leads to growing old and then to dying."

Mellencamp had a complex relationship with authority, which unlike what's stated in this song, didn't win. He grew up in Seymour, Indiana, where nobody had ever become famous. Ignoring the many naysayers, he went to New York and earned a record deal, which he learned wasn't a big deal after all, as labels were hiring photogenic young rockers by the hundreds. Most of these aspiring superstars came from cities and were willing to play the game, doing whatever the label deemed necessary. Mellencamp clashed with this culture, but didn't have a clear direction. He tried on a number of public personas before establishing his identity as a heartland rocker with his 1982 American Fool album. By Uh-huh, he was still focused on making hits, but imbuing them with more subtext and artistry. He was also transitioning his stage name, becoming "John Cougar Mellencamp" for the first time (he started recording as "Johnny Cougar," and then, "John Cougar").

Thanks to "Jack & Diane" and "Hurts So Good," Mellencamp was big star by the time this song was released, and much of his success was owed to MTV. He hated making videos, and "Authority Song" paired him with a director who had equal disdain for the form: Jay Dubin, who told Songfacts, "It just has to look nice and exist for a few short minutes. There's no magic in it." The video, in black and white, shows Mellencamp as a boxer stepping into the ring, but without gloves and without ever actually fighting.