"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Early morning
Eight o'clock precise
I see the lonely August sun arise
Say you know
You will
Move me like you do
Out on the fields
I'm waiting the whole night through
Early morning, early morning, yeah
Ran the whole way
Down to the tracks
Through the doorway, then a last look back
Say you know
You will
Save me like you do
Out on the fields
I've waited the whole night through
Early morning, early morning, yeah
I climbed all the stairways
To find the rooftop clear
Got the shotgun lying with me here
Say you know
You will
Move me like you do
Out on the fields
You know how it feels, yeah
Early morning, early morning, yeah
Early morning
Eight o'clock precise
Eight o'clock precise
I see the lonely August sun arise
Say you know
You will
Move me like you do
Out on the fields
I'm waiting the whole night through
Early morning, early morning, yeah
Ran the whole way
Down to the tracks
Through the doorway, then a last look back
Say you know
You will
Save me like you do
Out on the fields
I've waited the whole night through
Early morning, early morning, yeah
I climbed all the stairways
To find the rooftop clear
Got the shotgun lying with me here
Say you know
You will
Move me like you do
Out on the fields
You know how it feels, yeah
Early morning, early morning, yeah
Early morning
Eight o'clock precise
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
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Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
The song for a spree killer?
Not exactly. Seems like he's after just one person. Waiting patiently throughout the night isn't something a spree killer would do. He's also hesitant asking for someone to "save him" from doing what he's about to do. It's like he's after someone that wronged someone he loved and he's out to exact revenge. Perhaps going to shoot a guy who beat up a woman he loves? It's a decent assumption seeing as the setting sounds industrial and most of a-ha songs are about a woman.
I really can´t be 100% precise about the meaning of this song but there are elements that points to some sort of suicide after a murder.
The confusing part (at least for me) its the sweetness of the singer´s voice wich doesnt reflect what´s going on.
Early morning its a precise moment (8am) ... when the murderer sees a "lonely" sun (himself) rising ... wich is contradictory cause that´s a very beautiful and energetic moment of the day. That´s the moment in wich he´ll comit suicide. (shooting himself or jumping) ... (shotgun lying with him)
Before that my guess... is that he waits the victim and force (her/him) to say things like: move me like you do... or save me like you do... wich indicates that the victim and the murderer had some sort of sentimental relatioship.
I have the idea that the victim is able to escape (ran the whole way down to the tracks, through the doorway, then a last look back) but gets killed. (could it be a School or a University? ... the fields, tracks, doorway, stairs, rooftop)
Finally the murderer climbs the stairways and waits for the sunrise to commit suicide.
This is a terryfying song.. if you think about it.
And of course there are musical elements that point to the same meaning.. for instance the constants sounds of the slide guitar are like screams of desperation, and at the minute 1:46 the song as a falling sound.