"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.
In the sticks down an old dirt road near a small Kentucky town
When his daddy would come home
Out past the old red barn in sycamore tree
Is where little Zach would go
And high above the guilt and pain
The only place that he was safe
Was high above in the strong arms of the sycamore tree
You could hear a small voice in the wind
Sayin', "Please don't let him do that to me"
Prayin' to be born again
In the sycamore tree
Time went on as it always does, and his daddy's time had come
How he felt was hard to say
He often wondered how he'd ever make it through
But as they buried him that day
He realized it's not my fault
And as the leaves began to fall
From high above in the strong arms of the sycamore tree
You could hear forgiveness in the wind
Singin' out, "Find the truth and the truth will set you free"
Broken chains and a heart on the mend
'Neath the sycamore tree, oh
And like an answer to his praying
As he watched his child playing
High above in the strong arms of the sycamore tree
You could hear a small voice in the wind
Sayin', "Please Daddy won't you come and play with me"
In the sycamore tree
The sycamore tree
Forgiveness will set you free
Forgiveness, forgiveness
Forgiveness will set you free
Forgiveness, forgiveness
When his daddy would come home
Out past the old red barn in sycamore tree
Is where little Zach would go
And high above the guilt and pain
The only place that he was safe
Was high above in the strong arms of the sycamore tree
You could hear a small voice in the wind
Sayin', "Please don't let him do that to me"
Prayin' to be born again
In the sycamore tree
Time went on as it always does, and his daddy's time had come
How he felt was hard to say
He often wondered how he'd ever make it through
But as they buried him that day
He realized it's not my fault
And as the leaves began to fall
From high above in the strong arms of the sycamore tree
You could hear forgiveness in the wind
Singin' out, "Find the truth and the truth will set you free"
Broken chains and a heart on the mend
'Neath the sycamore tree, oh
And like an answer to his praying
As he watched his child playing
High above in the strong arms of the sycamore tree
You could hear a small voice in the wind
Sayin', "Please Daddy won't you come and play with me"
In the sycamore tree
The sycamore tree
Forgiveness will set you free
Forgiveness, forgiveness
Forgiveness will set you free
Forgiveness, forgiveness
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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,
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Actually Paul Brandt has explained the meaning of the song in various interviews.
He actually had a sycamore tree in his back yard when he was living in Nashville and that's why the tree in the song became a sycamore tree. (The tree in his back yard was hit by lightning not long after the song was written.)
The song is actually about abuse. Zach's dad hits his mom and Zach is asking the wind (or God) to keep his father from hurting him and he's praying to be "born again" or saved from the situation.
Later when his father dies, Zach realizes it wasn't his fault and that he can be a better father than his fater was. Forgiveness will set him free.
Beautiful song and gives me tons of hope as I suffered at the hands of my mother as a child. I pray that I can do better, just like Zach.