"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.
She said "I'm fine, I'm okay" cover up your trembling hands
There's indecision when you know you ain't got nothing left
When the good times never stay
And the cheap thrills always seem to fade away (when will we fall)
When will we fall (when will we fall down)
Jump back, got to get out of here
Been too, too long this time
Jump back, got to get out of here
When will, when will we fall down
She hates her life, she hates her skin, she even hates her friends
Tries to hold on to all the reputations she can't mend
And there's some chance we could fail
But the last time someone was always there for bail (when will we fall)
When will we fall (when will we fall down)
Jump back, got to get out of here
Been too, too long this time
Jump back, got to get out of here
When will, when will we fall down
When will we, when will we fall down
When will we fall
(When will, when will, when will we fall down)
She said "I'm fine, I'm okay" cover up your trembling hands
There's indecision when you know you ain't got nothing left
For the last time conscience calls
For a good friend I was never there at all (when will we fall)
When will we fall (when will we fall down)
Jump back, got to get out of here
Been too, too long this time
Jump back, got to get out of here
When will, when will we fall down
When will we, when will we fall down
When will we fall
There's indecision when you know you ain't got nothing left
When the good times never stay
And the cheap thrills always seem to fade away (when will we fall)
When will we fall (when will we fall down)
Jump back, got to get out of here
Been too, too long this time
Jump back, got to get out of here
When will, when will we fall down
She hates her life, she hates her skin, she even hates her friends
Tries to hold on to all the reputations she can't mend
And there's some chance we could fail
But the last time someone was always there for bail (when will we fall)
When will we fall (when will we fall down)
Jump back, got to get out of here
Been too, too long this time
Jump back, got to get out of here
When will, when will we fall down
When will we, when will we fall down
When will we fall
(When will, when will, when will we fall down)
She said "I'm fine, I'm okay" cover up your trembling hands
There's indecision when you know you ain't got nothing left
For the last time conscience calls
For a good friend I was never there at all (when will we fall)
When will we fall (when will we fall down)
Jump back, got to get out of here
Been too, too long this time
Jump back, got to get out of here
When will, when will we fall down
When will we, when will we fall down
When will we fall
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Dude, this song is so about the 'life of the walking dead' of drug addicts. Maybe you need the perspective of an addict or someone who has been close to that lifestyle or known people in it to really see it, but if you read the lyrics with that in mind, I think it becomes almost unmistakeable. Their comming down off a high, out of dope, and out in public trying not to be obvious of their condition (maybe they just got pulled over by the cops).
What I love about Toad is that they're lyrics can mean more than one thing within the same framework, as in 'when will we fall down' might mean literally collapsing (maybe dying) from dope sickness or an overdose, or go to jail finally for good. 'Knowing you ain't got nothing left' can mean the desperation of having run out of dope or run out of options. 'Been too long this time' means they've pushed the envelope way too far and stayed srung out past the breaking point.
'She hates her life, her freinds her skin...' is all about the self-loathing addicts feel for the wreckage they've made of thier lives, and the bad associations with likewise dedegenerates (addicts, dope whores and biker dealers). Her 'reutation she can't mend' is about the immoral and humiliating comprimises she's made with her body for the sake of drugs that are well known to thier circle of dopers that fuels her escape deeper into addiction.
Annother Toad dual line is the one about 'someone always being there for bail' could be literal, or could mean there was always someone who could hook them up when they were desperate for more.
I always thought the song was a blend of two addicts hurtling towards rock bottom and could see the end rushing up to meet them, and/or the two of them at some dealer's house with nothing to pay with but her body, therefore: 'for a good friend, I was never there at all'.