EconGoneCountry

Supply and demand with a twang

Title: American Kids

​Artist: Kenny Chesney

Economic Concepts: Demand; Complimentary goods; Substitute goods

Details: For those of legal age, 'Jack and Coke' is a classic American pairing.  Kenny Chesney notes a slight twist on this favorite in "American Kids", when he sings about a women who 
puts "Jack in her Cherry Coke…"  You can use this song as an example of complimentary goods when discussing the determinants of demand.  In addition, it could also be used to examine substitute goods.  For example, Pepsi could be used in place of Coca-Cola, while George Dickel could be used in place of the Jack Daniels.   

Lyrics: 
Doublewide Quick Stop midnight T-top
Jack in her Cherry Coke town
Momma and Daddy put their roots right here
'Cause this is where the car broke down
Yellow dog school bus kickin' up red dust
Pickin' us up by a barbed wire fence
M-tv on the RCA
No A.C in the vents

We were Jesus save me, blue jean baby
Born in the USA
Trailer park truck stop, faded little map dots
New York to LA

We were teenage dreamin', front seat leanin'
Baby, come give me a kiss
Put me on the cover of the Rollin' Stone
Uptown down home American kids

Growin' up in little pink houses
Makin' out on living room couches
Blowin' that smoke on a Saturday night
A little messed up, but we're all alright

Baptist church parkin' lot, tryin' not to get caught
Take her home and give her your jacket
Makin' it to second base, but sayin' you went all the way

Monday afternoon at practice
Sister's got a boyfriend Daddy doesn't like
Now he's sittin' out back, 3030 in his lap
In the blue bug zapper light

We were Jesus save me, blue jean baby
Born in the USA
Trailer park truck stop, faded little map dots
New York to LA

We were teenage dreamin', front seat leanin'
Baby, come give me a kiss
Put me on the cover of the Rollin' Stone
Uptown down home American kids

Growin' up in little pink houses
Makin' out on livin' room couches
Blowin' that smoke on a Saturday night
A little messed up, but we're all alright

We were Jesus save me, blue jean baby
Born in the USA
Trailer park truck stop, faded little map dots
New York to LA

We were teenage dreamin', front seat leanin'
Baby, come give me a kiss
Put me on the cover of the Rollin' Stone
Uptown down home American kids

Growin' up in little pink houses
Makin' out on living room couches
Blowin' that smoke on a Saturday night
A little messed up, but we're all alright   ​​​​