"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.
I hope you enjoy the ambiance
You can leave your wings at the door
There's no need to fly while you're here
And if you dare and try I'll nail your feet to the floor
Because this tea was brewed for two
One for me, and one for you
It's been too long and now I'm through
Waiting for you now
This is my time (to write pretty words)
This is my day (the plague of one is cured)
Bet you a kiss (that you're growing fur)
Wish it away (one day we all)
Wish it away (the only cure)
Wish it away (the way we were)
Wish it away (the only cure)
If love turns cold, I'll call it ice cream and fake a happy tune
You've got your rounds now, but dear your children are planting maple seeds
I'm sticky sweetened, I'm gooey hopeful
You're dripping ten miles gone
I watched our love freeze; it's only ice cream
A pocket's change could get you more
I'm left hungry
Could one death kill my faith?
I should have clipped your wings not just tied
Instead of beckoning, locked inside
Now it seems that I've took too much time
One cup left empty and one with wine
Waiting for you
Waiting for you
I'm through, I'm through
Waiting for you
Waiting for you
Waiting for you
I'm through, I'm through
Waiting now
I can't figure out what it is, but she's slipping from my grip
I can't figure out what it is, but she's squirming like an infant
She can't figure out what it is
She said, "you don't make me feel important"
I can't figure out what it is
I ask, "what's it like to feel important?"
I can't figure out what it is
You can leave your wings at the door
There's no need to fly while you're here
And if you dare and try I'll nail your feet to the floor
Because this tea was brewed for two
One for me, and one for you
It's been too long and now I'm through
Waiting for you now
This is my time (to write pretty words)
This is my day (the plague of one is cured)
Bet you a kiss (that you're growing fur)
Wish it away (one day we all)
Wish it away (the only cure)
Wish it away (the way we were)
Wish it away (the only cure)
If love turns cold, I'll call it ice cream and fake a happy tune
You've got your rounds now, but dear your children are planting maple seeds
I'm sticky sweetened, I'm gooey hopeful
You're dripping ten miles gone
I watched our love freeze; it's only ice cream
A pocket's change could get you more
I'm left hungry
Could one death kill my faith?
I should have clipped your wings not just tied
Instead of beckoning, locked inside
Now it seems that I've took too much time
One cup left empty and one with wine
Waiting for you
Waiting for you
I'm through, I'm through
Waiting for you
Waiting for you
Waiting for you
I'm through, I'm through
Waiting now
I can't figure out what it is, but she's slipping from my grip
I can't figure out what it is, but she's squirming like an infant
She can't figure out what it is
She said, "you don't make me feel important"
I can't figure out what it is
I ask, "what's it like to feel important?"
I can't figure out what it is
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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.
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/
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.
this song (well, this band in general) pulls at something really deep in my heart. i can't explain the incredible feeling of identification i get listening to the postman syndrome; it's like listening to one perfect instrument that can produce the spectrum of sound that it normally takes an assortment of instruments to make.
to me, this song is about faking optimism, trying to convince yourself that something you've spent so much time on isn't dying. it speaks of trying to make a lover who doesn't want to stay stick around. it talks of faking the best out of a harsh situation ("if love turns cold, i'll call it ice cream"), and how it's so easily replaceable, but would be just as unfulfilling.
the last verse, "I ask, 'what's it like to feel important?'" implies that the speaker is coming to the realization that things haven't <i>become</i> bad, but they've pretty much <i>been</i> bad from the start. a lost cause.
(don't mind me, i'm in a ton of literature classes, and lyrics are, in most cases, infinitely more interesting than poetry and old, dusty fiction)
The Postman Syndrome writes some incredible lyrics, bar none... maybe even better than Tool in some ways.
They're amazingly talented, and seem like really nice guys as well.