"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.
They could talk all their lives
And not find what we've got
Up and down all around
Beneath every rock
Our love is one of a kind
Where you took my heart
Is a whole different trip
It's a new cup of tea
I live for each sip
Our love intoxicates my mind
Your kisses tell me more than words can say
Your touches, they just take my breath away
When we're together
Nothin' could ever be better
Don't you know that I've never
Never had it so good
Never had it so
Never had it so good
Round the block, round the world
We can go anywhere
Do a dance, sing a song
We can do what we dare
Our love is gonna take us there
Your kisses tell me more than words can say
Your touches they just take my breath away
When we're together
Nothin' could ever be better
Don't you know that I've never
Never had it so good
Never had it so
Never had it so good
And not find what we've got
Up and down all around
Beneath every rock
Our love is one of a kind
Where you took my heart
Is a whole different trip
It's a new cup of tea
I live for each sip
Our love intoxicates my mind
Your kisses tell me more than words can say
Your touches, they just take my breath away
When we're together
Nothin' could ever be better
Don't you know that I've never
Never had it so good
Never had it so
Never had it so good
Round the block, round the world
We can go anywhere
Do a dance, sing a song
We can do what we dare
Our love is gonna take us there
Your kisses tell me more than words can say
Your touches they just take my breath away
When we're together
Nothin' could ever be better
Don't you know that I've never
Never had it so good
Never had it so
Never had it so good
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
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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.
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Yo La Tengo
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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,
Blue
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“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.
Head > Heels
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“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.