"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.
I came into this world high as a bird
From second hand cocaine powder
I know it sounds absurd
I never tooted but its in my veins
While the rest of the country bungies off bridges
Without no snap back
And bitches they say they need that
To shake they fannies in the ass clubs
They go the other route
Turn each other out
Burn each other out
Where a bonafide nigga like me
Can't even get no back rub these days
Ain't that bleak on they part
But let me hold it down, 'cause they shut you down
When you speak from your heart
Now that's hard
While we rantin' and ravin' bout gats
Nigga, they made them gats
They got some shit that'll blow out our backs
From where they stay at
Ooh, I fear the battle's just begun
Ooh, though we're here someday we will be gone
So I'm hopin' (hopin'), wishin' (wishin'), prayin'
To keep my faith in you (keep my faith), in you (yeah, yeah)
I'm fascinated by the way yo
Nipples peak at me through yo blouse
Freaky me, freaky you
Can't help but be aroused
'Scuse me, Lord lustful thinkin'
But that's the way we was brought up
Sneakin' to watch Playboy at night
We all must be caught up in worldly ways
Chemistry between boys and girls
Is a lot like when we went to the woods
And laid with the squirrels
Durin' P.E., we'd be
Explorin' each others privates
Hunchin' with all our clothes on
Until we felt excited then, ah
Oh, now its on from here on out
Put yo hands in the atmosphere
If you know what I'm talkin' bout
Now if too harsh then walk on out
And I'll see you on the next song
They call it horny
Because its devilish
Now see we dead wrong (ooh)
Ooh, I fear the battle's just begun (oh)
Ooh, though we're here someday we will be gone
So I'm hopin', wishin' (wishin'), prayin' (prayin')
To keep my faith in you (keep my faith in you), in you (oh)
People don't know the stress I'm dealin' with day to day
Speakin' about the feelin' I'm possessin' for Renee
Mopin' around and wonderin' where she stay
Saw her last that she lay
Give it another day, I say
But the Lord he taketh away
Now give it back, Lord
'Cause that's like backboards without the rims
Me and my auntie was tight like Southwest
Before the pinks moved in
Like the niggas who owned the liquor stores
Crack cocaine, pimps and whores
Livin' up on this earth
Before a nigga like daddy was born
But they be makin' it seem
That my music and crime are a team
But I'm speakin' the truth not dreams (dreams)
So what in the fuck they mean
My lyrics ain't clean
Ooh, I fear the battle's just begun
Ooh, though we're here someday we will be gone (so I keep hopin')
So I'm hopin', wishin', prayin' (prayin')
To keep my faith in you (my faith in you), in you
Ooh, I fear the battle's just begun
Ooh, though we're here someday we will be gone (oh, yeah, ooh)
So I'm hopin', wishin', prayin'
To keep my faith in you (my faith in you), in you
Ooh, I fear the battle's just begun
Ooh, though we're here someday we will be gone (oh, yeah, ooh)
So I'm hopin', wishin', prayin' (keep hopin, wishin', prayin')
To keep my faith in you (my faith in you), my faith in you
My faith in you
My faith in you (keep my faith)
My faith in you
My faith in you
My faith in you
My faith
From second hand cocaine powder
I know it sounds absurd
I never tooted but its in my veins
While the rest of the country bungies off bridges
Without no snap back
And bitches they say they need that
To shake they fannies in the ass clubs
They go the other route
Turn each other out
Burn each other out
Where a bonafide nigga like me
Can't even get no back rub these days
Ain't that bleak on they part
But let me hold it down, 'cause they shut you down
When you speak from your heart
Now that's hard
While we rantin' and ravin' bout gats
Nigga, they made them gats
They got some shit that'll blow out our backs
From where they stay at
Ooh, I fear the battle's just begun
Ooh, though we're here someday we will be gone
So I'm hopin' (hopin'), wishin' (wishin'), prayin'
To keep my faith in you (keep my faith), in you (yeah, yeah)
I'm fascinated by the way yo
Nipples peak at me through yo blouse
Freaky me, freaky you
Can't help but be aroused
'Scuse me, Lord lustful thinkin'
But that's the way we was brought up
Sneakin' to watch Playboy at night
We all must be caught up in worldly ways
Chemistry between boys and girls
Is a lot like when we went to the woods
And laid with the squirrels
Durin' P.E., we'd be
Explorin' each others privates
Hunchin' with all our clothes on
Until we felt excited then, ah
Oh, now its on from here on out
Put yo hands in the atmosphere
If you know what I'm talkin' bout
Now if too harsh then walk on out
And I'll see you on the next song
They call it horny
Because its devilish
Now see we dead wrong (ooh)
Ooh, I fear the battle's just begun (oh)
Ooh, though we're here someday we will be gone
So I'm hopin', wishin' (wishin'), prayin' (prayin')
To keep my faith in you (keep my faith in you), in you (oh)
People don't know the stress I'm dealin' with day to day
Speakin' about the feelin' I'm possessin' for Renee
Mopin' around and wonderin' where she stay
Saw her last that she lay
Give it another day, I say
But the Lord he taketh away
Now give it back, Lord
'Cause that's like backboards without the rims
Me and my auntie was tight like Southwest
Before the pinks moved in
Like the niggas who owned the liquor stores
Crack cocaine, pimps and whores
Livin' up on this earth
Before a nigga like daddy was born
But they be makin' it seem
That my music and crime are a team
But I'm speakin' the truth not dreams (dreams)
So what in the fuck they mean
My lyrics ain't clean
Ooh, I fear the battle's just begun
Ooh, though we're here someday we will be gone (so I keep hopin')
So I'm hopin', wishin', prayin' (prayin')
To keep my faith in you (my faith in you), in you
Ooh, I fear the battle's just begun
Ooh, though we're here someday we will be gone (oh, yeah, ooh)
So I'm hopin', wishin', prayin'
To keep my faith in you (my faith in you), in you
Ooh, I fear the battle's just begun
Ooh, though we're here someday we will be gone (oh, yeah, ooh)
So I'm hopin', wishin', prayin' (keep hopin, wishin', prayin')
To keep my faith in you (my faith in you), my faith in you
My faith in you
My faith in you (keep my faith)
My faith in you
My faith in you
My faith in you
My faith
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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Yo La Tengo
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Great version of a great song,
how is their other music in any way "a realization of lies"???? You don't have to rap about theology in great detail in order to rap intelligently and with purpose.