Rain on the Scarecrow

Rain on the Scarecrow is a song by American singer-songwriter John Mellencamp, released in 1986 as the fourth single from his eighth studio album, Scarecrow (1985). Written by Mellencamp and George M. Green, the song marked a shift in Mellencamp’s lyrical focus from personal nostalgia to political commentary. It addresses the devastating effects of the 1980s farm crisis in the United States, particularly on small, family-owned farms.

Backed by a sparse, guitar-driven arrangement, the song became one of Mellencamp's most acclaimed protest tracks. It reached number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was later performed at the first Farm Aid concert in 1985. Critics have praised its emotional depth and gritty realism, noting it as a cornerstone of the heartland rock genre.