Mellencamp observed an old black man sitting outside his small pink shotgun house with his cat in his arms, completely unperturbed by the traffic speeding along the highway in his front yard.

"[3][4] Mellencamp has stated many times since the release of "Pink Houses" that he is unhappy with the song's final verse.

At an October 2014 press conference, he stated: "A long time ago, I wrote a song called 'Pink Houses.'

[12] "Pink Houses" along with "Our Country" was played by Senator John McCain at political events for his 2008 presidential campaign.

[12][13] In January 2009, Mellencamp played "Pink Houses" at We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial.