"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.
Oh my
20 throw down in my fist of rage
And the man to my left has folded down
Well Johnny doubled up with a royal flush
I had three Jacks and a pair of nines
My mind is turning, just two shots more
There's not much left to play
Well then dude walks in, black hat on top
What am I, if I'm lucky
Wasn't a county cop
'Cause I'm just runnin' out of time
Who's up for game two
What to do
My wallet's gettin' thin
And I just lost my watch last night
Well I gotta problem
Just one answer
Gotta throw it all down
And kiss it goodbye
Yeah!
That was a crazy game of poker (That was a crazy game of poker)
I lost it all (I lost it all)
But someday I'll be back again
And I, never to fold. (Never to fold)
Who's up for game three
I can barely see the bourbon drowning next to me
And I just lost it all
Well there's a man sittin' next to me
Red, was smiling
'Cause it's funny
I don't have no money tonight
Yeah
That was a crazy game of poker (That was a crazy game of poker)
I lost it all (I lost it all)
But someday I'll be back again
And I, never to fold. (Never to fold)
Bop bop bop
I say now skittlee dat dat,
Well how bout that?
I'm coming out the front never coming out the back
And I walked into the bar yesterday
'Cause I had something to do, something to say
And Johnny walked in right behind me
And I didn't turn around
'Til I heard the sound of his feet
Falling on the ground
I looked over my shoulder and I saw a clown
And I said what'cha doin' in the bar tonight.
So I said Johnny whatcha doing tonight?
He looked at me with a face full of fright
And I said, how 'bout a revolution?
And he said right.
I say of, you say a
I say revolution, and you say jah
I say of, you say a
I say revolution, and you say jah jah jah
Jehovah!
And I said, what'cha looking at?
He hit me across the face with a bat
I grabbed my .45 and I said let's get out and go
So he opened the door and said
Do what you're here for
I said I'm wandering round the road four to four
And I said I been walking
For about a thousand years.
And my feet are growing tired
My eyes a little wired
Don't know what to do unless I retire
And he just said let's play some crazy poker
So I said Johnny whatcha doing tonight?
He looked at me with a face full of fright
And I said, how 'bout a revolution?
And he said right.
I say of, you say a
I say revolution, and you say die
I say of, you say a
I say revolution, and you say die dah dah
Day day oh!
I said that, was the craziest game of poker that I ever saw
I said that, was the craziest game of poker that I ever saw
But I'm not gonna quit and I'm not gonna stop
I don't give a shit cause I got the drop
Johnny just got two eyes just like mine
And I'm feeling kinda funky, kinda fine
And I drank a bottle of whiskey, 'fore I came
Came to the bar to see what's the same
I saw my man named Johnny sittin' across the table from me
And to my left was a man, he had no chin
Didn't really think about starting a scene
The man to my right wasn't feeling kinda nice
He looked kinda mad and I felt bad
Because I took his money last night it's kinda funny
But now I'm just struggling
I need a honey-bunny.
I don't know what to say anymore
So I'm just gonna go out, anywho
So I said Johnny whatcha doing tonight?
He looked at me with a face full of fright
And I said, how bout a revolution?
And he said right.
I say of, you say a
I say revolution, and you say jah
I say of, you say a
I say revolution, and you say jah
I say of, you say a
I say revolution, and you say jah
I say of, you say a
I say revolution, and you say jah jah jah
Jehovah!
20 throw down in my fist of rage
And the man to my left has folded down
Well Johnny doubled up with a royal flush
I had three Jacks and a pair of nines
My mind is turning, just two shots more
There's not much left to play
Well then dude walks in, black hat on top
What am I, if I'm lucky
Wasn't a county cop
'Cause I'm just runnin' out of time
Who's up for game two
What to do
My wallet's gettin' thin
And I just lost my watch last night
Well I gotta problem
Just one answer
Gotta throw it all down
And kiss it goodbye
Yeah!
That was a crazy game of poker (That was a crazy game of poker)
I lost it all (I lost it all)
But someday I'll be back again
And I, never to fold. (Never to fold)
Who's up for game three
I can barely see the bourbon drowning next to me
And I just lost it all
Well there's a man sittin' next to me
Red, was smiling
'Cause it's funny
I don't have no money tonight
Yeah
That was a crazy game of poker (That was a crazy game of poker)
I lost it all (I lost it all)
But someday I'll be back again
And I, never to fold. (Never to fold)
Bop bop bop
I say now skittlee dat dat,
Well how bout that?
I'm coming out the front never coming out the back
And I walked into the bar yesterday
'Cause I had something to do, something to say
And Johnny walked in right behind me
And I didn't turn around
'Til I heard the sound of his feet
Falling on the ground
I looked over my shoulder and I saw a clown
And I said what'cha doin' in the bar tonight.
So I said Johnny whatcha doing tonight?
He looked at me with a face full of fright
And I said, how 'bout a revolution?
And he said right.
I say of, you say a
I say revolution, and you say jah
I say of, you say a
I say revolution, and you say jah jah jah
Jehovah!
And I said, what'cha looking at?
He hit me across the face with a bat
I grabbed my .45 and I said let's get out and go
So he opened the door and said
Do what you're here for
I said I'm wandering round the road four to four
And I said I been walking
For about a thousand years.
And my feet are growing tired
My eyes a little wired
Don't know what to do unless I retire
And he just said let's play some crazy poker
So I said Johnny whatcha doing tonight?
He looked at me with a face full of fright
And I said, how 'bout a revolution?
And he said right.
I say of, you say a
I say revolution, and you say die
I say of, you say a
I say revolution, and you say die dah dah
Day day oh!
I said that, was the craziest game of poker that I ever saw
I said that, was the craziest game of poker that I ever saw
But I'm not gonna quit and I'm not gonna stop
I don't give a shit cause I got the drop
Johnny just got two eyes just like mine
And I'm feeling kinda funky, kinda fine
And I drank a bottle of whiskey, 'fore I came
Came to the bar to see what's the same
I saw my man named Johnny sittin' across the table from me
And to my left was a man, he had no chin
Didn't really think about starting a scene
The man to my right wasn't feeling kinda nice
He looked kinda mad and I felt bad
Because I took his money last night it's kinda funny
But now I'm just struggling
I need a honey-bunny.
I don't know what to say anymore
So I'm just gonna go out, anywho
So I said Johnny whatcha doing tonight?
He looked at me with a face full of fright
And I said, how bout a revolution?
And he said right.
I say of, you say a
I say revolution, and you say jah
I say of, you say a
I say revolution, and you say jah
I say of, you say a
I say revolution, and you say jah
I say of, you say a
I say revolution, and you say jah jah jah
Jehovah!
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Dreamwalker
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
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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."
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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/
This is the best recorded version of one of the greatest songs written in recent times. Its definatly my favorite. This is a great drinking song. At parties my friends and i play this song and sing along to all 13 minutes of it!! O.A.R. writes some of the best feel good tunes ever and i really want to see these guys in concert before they make it big and im sure they will soon.