Paper In Fire John Cougar Mellencamp 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 fare 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 Chorus There is a good life Right across this green field 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 Chorus