"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.
Crossed off, but never forgotten
Misplaced, but never losing hold
These are moments that blind us
Repressed, but never erased
Knocked down, but never giving up
Locked up where no can find us
We'll survive here til the end
There are no more fights to fight
My trophies are the scars that will never heal
But I get carried away sometimes
I wake up in the night swinging at the ceiling
It's hard to leave old ways behind
But harder when you think that's all there is
Don't look at me that way
Ignored, when your whole world's collapsed
Dismissed, before you speak a word
These are the moments that blind you
Come clean, but everything's wrong
Sustained, but barely holding on
Run down, with no one to find you
We're survivors, here til the end
There are no more fights to fight
My trophies are the scars that will never heal
But I get carried away sometimes
I wake up in the night swinging at the ceiling
It's hard to leave old ways behind
But harder when you think that's all there is
Don't look at me that way
Misplaced, but never losing hold
These are moments that blind us
Repressed, but never erased
Knocked down, but never giving up
Locked up where no can find us
We'll survive here til the end
There are no more fights to fight
My trophies are the scars that will never heal
But I get carried away sometimes
I wake up in the night swinging at the ceiling
It's hard to leave old ways behind
But harder when you think that's all there is
Don't look at me that way
Ignored, when your whole world's collapsed
Dismissed, before you speak a word
These are the moments that blind you
Come clean, but everything's wrong
Sustained, but barely holding on
Run down, with no one to find you
We're survivors, here til the end
There are no more fights to fight
My trophies are the scars that will never heal
But I get carried away sometimes
I wake up in the night swinging at the ceiling
It's hard to leave old ways behind
But harder when you think that's all there is
Don't look at me that way
Lyrics submitted by rjbucs28
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Ebba Grön
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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,
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
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.
gosh, i can't believe no one has commented on this song yet. judah is a pure lyrical genius...if only he was a bit more comprehensible when he sang..haha. don't get me wrong or anything, i love his voice, but let's just say i need the lyrics in hand when listening to their songs.
but anyway, i believe this song could very well be a sort of story about a prize fighter, an enduring boxer who has seen his share of blows, both physical and mental. before he knows it, his career ends, he is forgotten by everyone and the once winner becomes a loser. however, he refuses to let this sudden turn in luck force him down as he continues to look up and enjoy the life he currently leads. of course, he still has his relapses as he gets "carried away sometimes," waking up at night "swinging at the ceiling" as relives past boxing matches.
but of course, what's a good song without a metaphor? i believe this song is ultimately about refusing to give up, get "run down" and "knocked down" when things get rough. you need to pick yourself up from the ruin and ashes and continue to live your life the best way you know how because that's all you have in end. after all, "we're survivors, here til the end."
sigh, what an inspirational song.
Only 1 comment? Sheesh! This is such a great song, I love it! Really nice lyrics and a great chorus. It just makes me happy when i hear it. :)
It is a very great comment lookslikelove has just about summed it up. However maybe it's a girl thing but i don't need to hear the lyrics when listening to the song. It's a story telling song regardless of whether or not you can make out the lyrics.
I was under the impression that it was "These are moments that bind us" and "These are the moments that bind you". I just listened to the song and I don't believe I'm mistaken.
I don't really like the boxer analogy, but I bet for certain that's what it is. Well done, LooksLikeLove.
I feel the song is somewhat rather saddening, but it may just be me.
I do love this song terribly.