"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.
Look, I know the supernatural
Is something that isn't supposed to happen
But it does happen
Yeah, Jesus lived his life in a cheap hotel
On the edge of Route 66, yeah
He lived a dark and twisted life
And he came right back just to do it again
Eye for and eye and a tooth for a truth
I ain't never seen a demon warp dealin'
A ring-a-ding rhythm or jukebox racket
My mind can't clutch the feeling, yeah
Devil man, devil man, calling devil man
Running in my head, yeah
Devil man, devil man, calling devil man
Running in my head, yeah
Hell hounds lead at the cowardly kings
And carry souls across the river Styx, yeah
They see no evil and feel no pain
Sucking juice from a fallen angel
I dreamed I was a supernova fucker nitro
Burning and fuel injection
Feed the gods a strychnine soul
A motherfucker of invention
Devil man, devil man, calling devil man
Running in my head, yeah
Devil man, devil man, calling devil man
Running in my head, yeah
Insipientia corde suo, non es deus
Non esta vita qui adorem, non es usque ad unum
Es excommunicatus, ex unione fidelium
It is not heresy, and I will not recant
Yeah, inbreed the witches and worship the dogs
Deformed and fucking lazy
Damn yourself and choke on my name
I'd love to love ya baby
Dead ringer rats swinging in the trees
Immaculate conception, bury me an angel
God I need some inspiration
Yeah
Devil man, devil man, calling devil man
Running in my head, yeah
Devil man, devil man, calling devil man
Running in my head, yeah
Is something that isn't supposed to happen
But it does happen
Yeah, Jesus lived his life in a cheap hotel
On the edge of Route 66, yeah
He lived a dark and twisted life
And he came right back just to do it again
Eye for and eye and a tooth for a truth
I ain't never seen a demon warp dealin'
A ring-a-ding rhythm or jukebox racket
My mind can't clutch the feeling, yeah
Devil man, devil man, calling devil man
Running in my head, yeah
Devil man, devil man, calling devil man
Running in my head, yeah
Hell hounds lead at the cowardly kings
And carry souls across the river Styx, yeah
They see no evil and feel no pain
Sucking juice from a fallen angel
I dreamed I was a supernova fucker nitro
Burning and fuel injection
Feed the gods a strychnine soul
A motherfucker of invention
Devil man, devil man, calling devil man
Running in my head, yeah
Devil man, devil man, calling devil man
Running in my head, yeah
Insipientia corde suo, non es deus
Non esta vita qui adorem, non es usque ad unum
Es excommunicatus, ex unione fidelium
It is not heresy, and I will not recant
Yeah, inbreed the witches and worship the dogs
Deformed and fucking lazy
Damn yourself and choke on my name
I'd love to love ya baby
Dead ringer rats swinging in the trees
Immaculate conception, bury me an angel
God I need some inspiration
Yeah
Devil man, devil man, calling devil man
Running in my head, yeah
Devil man, devil man, calling devil man
Running in my head, yeah
Lyrics submitted by poisinskin
Super-Charger Heaven Lyrics as written by John Joseph Tempesta Jay Noel Yuenger
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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,
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
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/
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.