"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.
Driving faster in my car
Falling farther from just what we are
Smoke a cigarette and lie some more
These conversations kill
Falling faster in my car
Time to take her home
Her dizzy head is conscience laden
Time to take a ride, it leaves today
No conversation
Time to take her home
Her dizzy head is conscience laden
Time to wait too long, to wait too long
To wait too long
Too much walking, shoes worn thin
Too much trippin' and my soul's worn thin
Time to catch a ride, it leaves today
Her name is what it means
Too much walking, shoes worn thin
Time to take her home
Her dizzy head is conscience laden
Time to take a ride, it leaves today
No conversation
Time to take her home
Her dizzy head is conscience laden
Time to wait too long, to wait too long
To wait too long
Conversations kill
Conversations kill
Conversations kill
Time to take her home
Her dizzy head is conscience laden
Time to take a ride, it leaves today
No conversation
Time to take her home
Her dizzy head is conscience laden
Time to wait too long, to wait too long
To wait too long
Conversations kill
Conversations kill
Conversations kill
Falling farther from just what we are
Smoke a cigarette and lie some more
These conversations kill
Falling faster in my car
Time to take her home
Her dizzy head is conscience laden
Time to take a ride, it leaves today
No conversation
Time to take her home
Her dizzy head is conscience laden
Time to wait too long, to wait too long
To wait too long
Too much walking, shoes worn thin
Too much trippin' and my soul's worn thin
Time to catch a ride, it leaves today
Her name is what it means
Too much walking, shoes worn thin
Time to take her home
Her dizzy head is conscience laden
Time to take a ride, it leaves today
No conversation
Time to take her home
Her dizzy head is conscience laden
Time to wait too long, to wait too long
To wait too long
Conversations kill
Conversations kill
Conversations kill
Time to take her home
Her dizzy head is conscience laden
Time to take a ride, it leaves today
No conversation
Time to take her home
Her dizzy head is conscience laden
Time to wait too long, to wait too long
To wait too long
Conversations kill
Conversations kill
Conversations kill
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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/
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
To me its about, for example, meeting a girl at a party who you may or may not know, getting completely slaughtered/boozed up, then trying to get her to come home with you in a cab/your car but all the while trying to avoid confrontational or awkward conversation that might fuck up your chances of getting her into bed. I feel that's the crux of the song because I can strongly relate to the situation!
I heard Scott introduced the song once by saying its about fucking someone in a car, and so it kind of makes sense in a way. It's just an interesting take on a kind of common human situation.
thats actually happened to me
hahaha