In 2010, 'Pink Houses' was used by the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) at events opposing same-sex marriage. In January 2009, Mellencamp played 'Pink Houses' at We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial. Mellencamp contacted the McCain campaign pointing out Mellencamp's support for the progressive wing of the Democratic Party and questioning McCain's use of his music in response, the McCain campaign ceased using Mellencamp's songs. 'Pink Houses' along with 'Our Country' was played by Senator John McCain at political events for his 2008 presidential campaign. The song was also used at events for Edwards' 2008 presidential campaign. In 2004, the song was played at events for Senator John Edwards' presidential campaign. Ironically, the song came to be used in political advertisements and campaign rallies, especially by conservatives. The repeating line in the chorus of 'Ain’t that America' was meant to be sarcastic and cynical. Mellencamp had intended Pink Houses to be a lesson on race, class and survival in America. At an October 2014 press conference, he stated: 'A long time ago, I wrote a song called 'Pink Houses.' Now when I hear that song, all I can think is: 'Why didn't I do a better job on the last verse?' If I had written it today, the last verse would've had more meaning.' Charts Chart (1983–1984) Mellencamp has stated many times since the release of 'Pink Houses' that he is unhappy with the song's final verse.

'He waved, and I waved back,' Mellencamp said in an interview with Rolling Stone. There was an old black man sitting outside his little pink shotgun house with his cat in his arms, completely unperturbed by the traffic speeding along the highway in his front yard.

Recorded in a farmhouse in Brownstown, Indiana, the song was inspired when Mellencamp was driving along an overpass on the way home to Bloomington, Indiana, from the Indianapolis airport.

Pretty pink houses