"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.
Fuck genius. What's an artist? Dead words devoid of meaning. Let's drop them.
I know where they can go, but your neck is blocking the hole. Let's start from zero.
Now, listen close.
This is a rip: "The scream that ignites the world?" We're slaves to radios. We're not worth shit to talk to.
This is the pen that won't cauterize the wound. Whose plan to follow?
It feels like your own. It's an insult. You've fallen for it.
It feels like your own. It's your anthem, as jaded as its source.
The anemic. The pale, the sullen. An albumís evidence. I believed that shit.
Here, stuck in radios. No one's worth shit to talk to. These were my heroes.
Now they're all jokes.
This is a rip. 'The scream that ignites the world?" We're slaves to radios. We're not worth shit to talk to.
This is the pen that won't cauterize the wound. Whose plan to follow?
It feels like your own. Itís an insult. You've fallen for it.
It feels like your own. It's your anthem, as jaded as its source.
The ceiling is waiting.
And you follow like it mattered if you did.
And it dropped you on your head cuz you took yourself for granted.
Heartless and headstrong. Jump right over the bodies. Life's a race. It's an obstacle course.
Hide, but you'll never have a choice when you go.
They would have noticed you if they had known, but you're fucked.
They'll only love you when you're gone, or barely hanging on to all your organs and dignity while you're rotting in hospitals.
Don't believe it? It's not your fault. You're just worthless. You're one in a million.
Where ís god? The ornament, the holiday song whored out on reading materials in latrines and porta-johns?
Don't believe this.
You're not worthless. It's us against millions and we can't take them all.
But we can take them on.
I know where they can go, but your neck is blocking the hole. Let's start from zero.
Now, listen close.
This is a rip: "The scream that ignites the world?" We're slaves to radios. We're not worth shit to talk to.
This is the pen that won't cauterize the wound. Whose plan to follow?
It feels like your own. It's an insult. You've fallen for it.
It feels like your own. It's your anthem, as jaded as its source.
The anemic. The pale, the sullen. An albumís evidence. I believed that shit.
Here, stuck in radios. No one's worth shit to talk to. These were my heroes.
Now they're all jokes.
This is a rip. 'The scream that ignites the world?" We're slaves to radios. We're not worth shit to talk to.
This is the pen that won't cauterize the wound. Whose plan to follow?
It feels like your own. Itís an insult. You've fallen for it.
It feels like your own. It's your anthem, as jaded as its source.
The ceiling is waiting.
And you follow like it mattered if you did.
And it dropped you on your head cuz you took yourself for granted.
Heartless and headstrong. Jump right over the bodies. Life's a race. It's an obstacle course.
Hide, but you'll never have a choice when you go.
They would have noticed you if they had known, but you're fucked.
They'll only love you when you're gone, or barely hanging on to all your organs and dignity while you're rotting in hospitals.
Don't believe it? It's not your fault. You're just worthless. You're one in a million.
Where ís god? The ornament, the holiday song whored out on reading materials in latrines and porta-johns?
Don't believe this.
You're not worthless. It's us against millions and we can't take them all.
But we can take them on.
Lyrics submitted by Albedo
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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
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,
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/
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.
Fuck Genious, What's An Artist...
I Love That Part...
can't wait to get the cd....i have a feeling its gonna be the best of the year
The entire CD is amazing. It has awesome lyrics, amazing melodies from the guitars as well as the rhythym section. BUY IT AS SOON AS IT COMES OUT! You have no idea what you're in for
This song is really awesome :) I met the lead singer of A Wilhelm and he was really nice guy. I think this song is better live than on cd. Not to say it isn't great on cd either.
This is a rip. 'The scream that ignites the world?" We're slaves to radios. We're not worth shit to talk to.
they own
I believe this song is about all those die-hard fans who think of their favourite bands as gods, only to find out that they're not everything they're cracked up to be, and are instead money-grubbing stuck up pricks who don't give 2 shits about their fans.
i disagree with MZA.
i think the song is about opposing the reality of our own "disposability", the notion put fourth and pushed by our corporate overlord. (hear me out)
"It's not your fault. You're just worthless. You're one in a million." is what is preached, subtly, by nearly every pulpit that we encounter on a daily basis. this is refuted by "Don't believe this. You're not worthless. It's us against millions and we can't take them all. But we can take them on.". earlier they rip on (sorry) the idea of a "scream that ignites the world", to conclude that reaching everyone was unnecessary, and that one needed only to reach the people who truly believe in the cause and understand the purpose.
It's us against millions and we can't take them all. But we can take them on.
I think I take lyrics differently to a lot of people but I love that and to me it just seems like it means pretty much no matter how bad you feel you should... well... take on the world.