"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.
You went out there on your own
You went out there to carry the weight
And nobody here goes free
You went to wear the crown of thorns
To throw the first stone at yourself
Cause nobody here is clean
And you gave yourself away
And you gave yourself away
Every finger is pointing at you
Everything is accusing you
Everybody is needing a scapegoat
So you got out there
And you gave yourself away
And you gave yourself away
And you gave yourself away
You're hit in the face
You're spit in the face
Now where is your God
And where is your grace
You're hit in the face
You're spit in the face
Now where is your God
And where is your grace
You're hit in the face
You're spit in the face
Now where is your God
And where is your grace
You went out there to carry the weight
And nobody here goes free
You went to wear the crown of thorns
To throw the first stone at yourself
Cause nobody here is clean
And you gave yourself away
And you gave yourself away
Every finger is pointing at you
Everything is accusing you
Everybody is needing a scapegoat
So you got out there
And you gave yourself away
And you gave yourself away
And you gave yourself away
You're hit in the face
You're spit in the face
Now where is your God
And where is your grace
You're hit in the face
You're spit in the face
Now where is your God
And where is your grace
You're hit in the face
You're spit in the face
Now where is your God
And where is your grace
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
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.
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."
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.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
Again, Deep Elm scores. A great Indie label signs yet another great Indie, Post-Punk, emo band. I dig up on these lyrics...nothing to do with a weekend at the mall, hitting on boys, or pop, bubblegum sencelessness. Music for non-yuppies. Rock out.
Man, catsneezer, I had a feeling you would have posten here. Thanks for telling me about this CD, it rocks...the song is just, so...wow. Great. Martyr by choice, and then losing faith, so uncertain. I dunno, it just is great.
great,well written song...another masterpiece by TBM..beautiful song..
this song is amazing... awarded my "favorite song" for about a week (that's good). the lyrics... amazing... and the way they are done... great music
What does it mean?
This song is about the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. He went out there to carry the weight (of the sins of the world), to wear the crown of thorns (see Matthew 27:29 and John 19:2)... Because nobody here (in the world) is clean (without sin). "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." -- Romans 3:23-24
"...Everybody is needing a scapegoat..." Jesus became our scapegoat when He died on the cross. He took the blame.
"...You're hit in the face, You're spit in the face..."
(see Matthew 27:30 and John 19:3)
So basically, we aren't clean but Jesus is clean (without sin). So He became our scapegoat, to save us.
iwasdeadthenalive: the lyrics are pretty vague, but i guess your interpretation does make sense. great song.