"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.
Look how the ruts cling to my footsteps
The fatal invisible tool
By which we define we fight for our approval
And fear our removal from the safety of fools
From the tidal forces of our positions
Not won not one to take for granted
Are our rebel hymns in canted
To sing in the mines for the fortunate sons?
So brothers in spirit sisters in rage,
Will we live out our lives in this concrete cage?
Another heartbeat lost another police murder
Buried in the public eyes on the back page.
Heartbeats lost in a new world order
Hobbled and bound but still walking away
I pledge allegiance to the world
Nothing more, nothing less than my humanity
I pledge allegiance to the world
Searching for vision not invisibility
I pledge allegiance to the world
Searching for vision not invisibility
I pledge allegiance to the world
Until the last lock breaks none of us are free
Until the last lock breaks none of us are free.
We fight to balance our minds
Petty powers pushing profits over our lifetimes
World leaders mortaging our lives with words
I don't need to be reminded of whom you really serve.
Brothers in spirit, sisters in rage,
Will we live out or lives in this concrete cage?
Another hearbeat another police murder
Buried in the public eyes on the back page.
Too many heartbeats lost in the new world order
While we're standing alone with our backs to the maze
I pledge allegiance to the world
Nothing more, nothing less than my humanity
I pledge allegiance to the world
Until the last lock breaks none of us are free
I pledge allegiance to the world
Until the last lock breaks none of us are free
I pledge allegiance to the world
For nothing more, nothing less
In justice in hunger united
Searching for vision united
In justice in hunger united
Law and order but for whose order?
I pledge allegiance to the world
Nothing more, nothing less than my humanity
I pledge allegiance to the world
Until the last lock breaks none of us are free
I pledge allegiance to the world
Under no nation will we ever be
I pledge allegiance to the world
For nothing more, nothing less
Than my humanity, than my humanity, than my humanity (pledge allegiance)
To our humanity, to our humanity, to our humanity (to the world)
The fatal invisible tool
By which we define we fight for our approval
And fear our removal from the safety of fools
From the tidal forces of our positions
Not won not one to take for granted
Are our rebel hymns in canted
To sing in the mines for the fortunate sons?
So brothers in spirit sisters in rage,
Will we live out our lives in this concrete cage?
Another heartbeat lost another police murder
Buried in the public eyes on the back page.
Heartbeats lost in a new world order
Hobbled and bound but still walking away
I pledge allegiance to the world
Nothing more, nothing less than my humanity
I pledge allegiance to the world
Searching for vision not invisibility
I pledge allegiance to the world
Searching for vision not invisibility
I pledge allegiance to the world
Until the last lock breaks none of us are free
Until the last lock breaks none of us are free.
We fight to balance our minds
Petty powers pushing profits over our lifetimes
World leaders mortaging our lives with words
I don't need to be reminded of whom you really serve.
Brothers in spirit, sisters in rage,
Will we live out or lives in this concrete cage?
Another hearbeat another police murder
Buried in the public eyes on the back page.
Too many heartbeats lost in the new world order
While we're standing alone with our backs to the maze
I pledge allegiance to the world
Nothing more, nothing less than my humanity
I pledge allegiance to the world
Until the last lock breaks none of us are free
I pledge allegiance to the world
Until the last lock breaks none of us are free
I pledge allegiance to the world
For nothing more, nothing less
In justice in hunger united
Searching for vision united
In justice in hunger united
Law and order but for whose order?
I pledge allegiance to the world
Nothing more, nothing less than my humanity
I pledge allegiance to the world
Until the last lock breaks none of us are free
I pledge allegiance to the world
Under no nation will we ever be
I pledge allegiance to the world
For nothing more, nothing less
Than my humanity, than my humanity, than my humanity (pledge allegiance)
To our humanity, to our humanity, to our humanity (to the world)
Lyrics submitted by x_melancholy_x
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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/
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
this song is about uniting against the growing near-inpenetrable but ever-visible new world order. it's a helpless yet hopefull scream from the depths of the underground--home of the true patriots--patriots of the world.
besides exit english, this song also happens to be featured on Fat Wreck's ROCK AGAINST BUSH Vol. 1. A great comp. indeed.
I pledge allegiance to the world nothing more, nothing less than my humanity
That's so amazing, after all every war is a civil war of the world.
this song restored my faith in punk rock.
this song is also on the warped tour 2005 compilation cd stage 2
i like it
its really true
Awesome, cant seem to get tired of it even though Ive had it for a very long time
cant help but love this song, especially that intro
i recently saw them in DC and they ended with this song, it was awsome because i wanted to hear it and then out of the silence was " LOOK HOW THE RUTS, CLING TO MY FOOTSTEPS". probably my favorite..
This song speaks against nationalism, and is akin to Anti-Flag's "No Borders, No Nations," another outstanding song. Strike Anywhere tries to show that as humans, it is our duty to place our loyalty to mankind as a whole above loyalty to any single government or nation. Absolutely outstanding.
i think the lyrics are "until the last LOCK (not law) breaks none of us are free"
and it also might be "injustice and hunger united" but that one i'm not too sure about
no um pretty sure its lock too