Do You Believe In Magic
John Mellencamp · Skin It Back [2002]
Do you believe in magic in a young girl's heart
How the music can free her, whenever it starts
And it's magic, if the music is groovy
It makes you feel happy like an old-time movie
I'll tell you about the magic, gonna free her soul
It's like trying to tell a stranger 'bout rock and roll
If you believe in magic don't bother to choose
If it's jug band music or rhythm and blues
Just go and listen it all starts with a smile
You won't wipe off your face no matter how hard you try
Your feet start tapping and you can't seem to find
How you got there, it all blows your mind
If you believe in magic, come along with me
And we'll dance until morning baby just you and me
And maybe, if the music is right
I'll see you tomorrow, late at night
And we'll go dancing, baby, then you'll see
How the magic's in the music and the music's in me
Yeah, do you believe in magic
Believe in the magic of a young girl's soul
Believe in the magic of a rock and roll
Believe in the magic gonna set you free
Aaahhh, yea, heah
Do you believe in magic, yeah
Do you believe like I I II believe
Now do you believe like I believe in magic
Do you believe like I believe in magic
Do you believe like I believe in magic
How the music can free her, whenever it starts
And it's magic, if the music is groovy
It makes you feel happy like an old-time movie
I'll tell you about the magic, gonna free her soul
It's like trying to tell a stranger 'bout rock and roll
If you believe in magic don't bother to choose
If it's jug band music or rhythm and blues
Just go and listen it all starts with a smile
You won't wipe off your face no matter how hard you try
Your feet start tapping and you can't seem to find
How you got there, it all blows your mind
If you believe in magic, come along with me
And we'll dance until morning baby just you and me
And maybe, if the music is right
I'll see you tomorrow, late at night
And we'll go dancing, baby, then you'll see
How the magic's in the music and the music's in me
Yeah, do you believe in magic
Believe in the magic of a young girl's soul
Believe in the magic of a rock and roll
Believe in the magic gonna set you free
Aaahhh, yea, heah
Do you believe in magic, yeah
Do you believe like I I II believe
Now do you believe like I believe in magic
Do you believe like I believe in magic
Do you believe like I believe in magic
Do You Believe In Magic
John Mellencamp's "Do You Believe In Magic" appears on the 2002 album Skin It Back, marking a return to his signature folk-rock sound after a period of more experimental work. The track reflects the artist's enduring themes of nostalgia, small-town life, and the search for authenticity in a changing world. Recorded during a time when Mellencamp was revisiting his catalog and exploring new musical territories, the song captures a reflective mood characteristic of his later career. It stands as a testament to his ability to blend personal storytelling with accessible melodies, maintaining the emotional resonance that defined his earlier hits while addressing contemporary concerns about belief and reality.