Cherry Bomb

by John Mellencamp

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Lyrics

Well,

The I ter lived on the out skirts of town

in an eight room farm house, ba by.

When my in’ broth ers and friends were a round

(G)there was al ways some thin’ do in’.

Had me a cou ple of real nice girl friends stopped (Am)by to to see me ev ’ry (C)once in a while.

When I think back a bout those days we just (Am)all I can do “Do is re (C)sit (G)and (Am)smile.

That’s when a sport was a sport,

and groov in’ was groov (Am)in’,

and danc in’ meant ev (Am)’ry thing.

We were young and we were im prov in’.

Laugh in’, laugh in’ with (Am)our friends.

Hold in’ hands meant (Am)some thin’, ba by.

Out side the club,

(Am)“Cher ry Bomb,”

our hearts were (Am)real ly thump in’.

Say, “Yeah, (G)yeah, yeah.”

Say, “Yeah, yeah, yeah.”

The I en days, has they last for ev er,

but the week ends went so quick.

in’.

Went rid in’ a ers and this tle coun try

(G)we were go in’ girl, out in the

One night, a me with my big mouth, a cou ple (Am)guys had to put me don’t in (C)what my to place.

When I see those guys laugh these days when they (Am)laugh and can say, in’ you re (C)mem (G)ber (Am)when?”

That’s when a sport was a sport,

and groov in’ was groov (Am)in’,

and danc in’ meant ev (Am)’ry thing.

We were young and we were im prov in’.

Laugh in’, laugh in’ with (Am)our friends.

Hold in’ hands meant (Am)some thin’, ba by.

Out side the club,

(Am)“Cher ry Bomb,”

our hearts were (Am)real ly thump in’.

Say, “Yeah, (G)yeah, yeah.”

Say, “Yeah, yeah, yeah.”

Say, “Yeah, yeah, (G5)yeah.”

Say, “Yeah, yeah, (G5)yeah.”

Cherry Bomb by John Mellencamp — Easy Piano for Kids

This page shows “Cherry Bomb by John Mellencamp in our color-coded kid songbook view — every note is colored by pitch (red C, orange D, yellow E, green F, blue G, purple A, pink B) and the lyrics sit directly under each note, so children can sing along while they play. The song is in the key of G at 100 BPM, a medium-difficulty arrangement — try slowing the tempo down using the BPM control.

Tips for parents & teachers

  • Start at 50% tempo using the BPM control. Speed up only when your child can play through without stopping.
  • Turn on the metronome from the top bar to build steady rhythm.
  • Use the segmented OFF / C / 1 button to toggle note labels on the staff and keys — kids learn note names faster with letters showing.
  • Tap a measure number on the timeline to jump to a specific section for repeat practice.

Frequently asked questions

Is "Cherry Bomb" good for a child learning piano?
Yes — this color-coded arrangement is designed for ages 4-12. Each note is colored by pitch so kids match colors to keys, no music reading required. Lyrics sit under every note for sing-along play.
What age can start with "Cherry Bomb"?
Children as young as 4 can follow the color-coded notes. By age 6-7 most kids can play through the song themselves with light guidance. Parent help is recommended for the first few sessions.
Do we need a piano teacher to use this?
No — the color-coded format is designed to be self-explanatory. Parents with no music background can supervise. Teachers can also use it as an introductory lesson tool.
Can we print the sheet music?
Yes — tap "Download Sheet Music" above for a free printable PDF with the same color-coded notes that appear on screen.
How many chords does "Cherry Bomb" use?
Just 8 chords: Am, Am7, Apow, Bm, C, Em, G, Gpow. Take it one section at a time.
What other John Mellencamp songs work for kids?
Try "I NEED A LOVER", "RAIN ON THE SCARECROW", "CHECK IT OUT". All play with color-coded notes; pick a familiar tune to keep kids engaged.