Small Town

· by John Mellencamp

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Lyrics

Well, I was (G)born in a small town,

and I (G)live in a small town;

prob ’ly (G)die in a small town.

Oh, those (Dm)small

com mun i (G)ties.

All my (G)friends are so small town,

my par ents (G)live in the same small town.

My (G)job is so small town, pro vides (Dm)lit tle op por tu ni ties.

Well, I was (G)born in a small town,

and I (G)live in a small town;

prob ’ly (G)die in a small town.

Oh, those (Dm)small

com mun i (G)ties.

All my (G)friends are so small town,

my par ents (G)live in the same small town.

My (G)job is so small town, pro vides (Dm)lit tle op por tu ni ties.

No, I (C)can not for get where it (C)is that I come from, I (F)can not for get (C)the peo ple who (G)love me.

Yeah, I can (F)be my (C)self here in (F)this small (C)town, and (F)peo ple let (C)me be just what I (G)want to be.

Got noth ing a (G)gainst a (F)big town,

still hay seed e nough to say, (F)“Look who’s in the big (G)town.” But my bed is in a (G)small town; oh, and that’s (Dm)good e nough for (G)me.

Well, I was (G)born in a small town,

and I can (G)breathe in a small town.

Gon na (G)die in this small town, and that’s (Dm)prob ’ly where they’ll bur y me.

Small Town by John Mellencamp — Easy Piano for Kids

This page shows “Small Town” 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 C at 114 BPM, a comfortable easy-level arrangement perfect for first-time learners.

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 "Small Town" 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 "Small Town"?: 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.
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.