"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.
It's down to this
I've got to make this life make sense
Can anyone tell what I've done?
I miss the life
I miss the colors of the world
Can anyone tell where I am?
'Cause now again I found myself so far down
Away from the sun that shines into the darkest place
I'm so far down
Away from the sun again
Away from the sun again
Well, I'm over this
I'm tired of living and I'm dark
Can anyone see me down here?
The feeling's gone
There's nothing left to lift me up
Back into the world I know
'Cause now again I found myself so far down
Away from the sun that shines into the darkest place
I'm so far down, away from the sun
That shines to light the way for me
To find my way back into the arms
That care about the ones like me
I'm so far down
Away from the sun again
Oh no, yeah, oh no
It's down to this
I've got to make this life make sense
And now I can't tell what I've done
Now again I found myself so far down, away from the sun
That shines to light the way for me
'Cause now again I found myself so far down
Away from the sun that shines into the darkest place
I'm so far down, away from the sun
That shines to light the way for me
To find my way back into the arms
That care about the ones like me
I'm so far down
Away from the sun again
Oh no, yeah
I'm gone
I've got to make this life make sense
Can anyone tell what I've done?
I miss the life
I miss the colors of the world
Can anyone tell where I am?
'Cause now again I found myself so far down
Away from the sun that shines into the darkest place
I'm so far down
Away from the sun again
Away from the sun again
Well, I'm over this
I'm tired of living and I'm dark
Can anyone see me down here?
The feeling's gone
There's nothing left to lift me up
Back into the world I know
'Cause now again I found myself so far down
Away from the sun that shines into the darkest place
I'm so far down, away from the sun
That shines to light the way for me
To find my way back into the arms
That care about the ones like me
I'm so far down
Away from the sun again
Oh no, yeah, oh no
It's down to this
I've got to make this life make sense
And now I can't tell what I've done
Now again I found myself so far down, away from the sun
That shines to light the way for me
'Cause now again I found myself so far down
Away from the sun that shines into the darkest place
I'm so far down, away from the sun
That shines to light the way for me
To find my way back into the arms
That care about the ones like me
I'm so far down
Away from the sun again
Oh no, yeah
I'm gone
Lyrics submitted by Desaparecida
Away from the Sun Lyrics as written by Matt Roberts Bradley Kirk Arnold
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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/
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.
I always had mixed opinions of this song. They include addiction (Alcohol, drugs, anything else), religion, or low self esteem.
'It's down to this I've got to make this life make sense Can anyone tell what I've done I miss the life I miss the colors of the world Can anyone tell where I am'
For addiction, when you look back you miss what you had. In a severe addiction to any substance your body starts to drastically change, you can develop mental illness, have nightmares, lose body functions, twitch, become weak, etc. The singer's character (Or the singer himself), realizes how in what a horrible state he is in and desperately misses his younger body before the addiction. From the lyrics, it could be possible the singer is an adult and has moved out/is living on the street. He is scared because he can't go home/doesn't have one and has no idea where to turn for help.
On the idea of depression, it could mean that he is extremely depressed and misses the days he could be happy. He feels like there is no one to help him through this or to relate, a common feeling during depression.
My opinion of the song being about religion also ties in with depression. The person was probably religious (Or a believer) before (Of any religion, I don't think it really has any real effect.). He is now depressed and is so trapped that any hope he has of 'finding his sun' or 'light at the end of the tunnel' is gone, and so is his faith and religion. He feels like God betrayed him.
'Cause now again I've found myself So far down Away from the sun that shines into The darkest place I'm so far down Away from the sun again Away from the sun again'
Back to addiction. Hopelessness is common in addicts. You feel like after all you've done there's no way you could ever go back to your previous state of being. You are phsyically, mentally physiologically damaged. Not to mention the pure humiliation and social contempt that recovered addicts face day in and day out.
On the depression part, feelings of isolation.
As for religion, in many faiths, (the) God(s) are associated with the sun. Being away from the 'sun' could mean being distant from God. To the point where the devine being has ceased to exist or indifferent to the singer's plight.
I might go on to explain more, the generally the song is open to interpretation because of how clear and effective it's lyrics are.
It's a fantastic song.