"Wait a minute, guys, I have always been on your side. I have always spoken for you, always tried to put on a good face for the state of Indiana. All of a sudden, some of you people think I'm a bad guy?"

John Mellencamp is revealing confusion and hurt in this quote. He is asking why some individuals have actually all of a sudden decided he is a bad man, when he has always been on their side and spoken for them. He has actually always attempted to put on a great face for the state of Indiana, and he is asking why individuals have all of a sudden changed their viewpoint of him. He is most likely feeling betrayed and puzzled, as he has always been loyal to the people of Indiana and has done his best to represent them. He is asking why people have actually all of a sudden decided he is a bad guy, when he has actually constantly been on their side.