"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.
i'm a pretender at the game of love
need somebody help me shatter my heart
i'm a pretender at the game of love
need somebody help me shatter my foolish heart
21 and it ain't no fun
my life's going by but it's just begun
i'm searchin' and searchin' and i'm lookin' around
ain't gonna cry cuz there's no one to be found
i'm a pretender at the game of love
need somebody help me shatter my heart
i'm a pretender at the game of love
need somebody help me shatter my foolish heart
took ya down to the avenue
weather was cool, so i bought you some food
but i got so nervous when you asked me to come home
went in my house and spent the night all alone
i'm a pretender at the game of love
need somebody help me shatter my heart
i'm a pretender at the game of love
need somebody help me shatter my foolish heart
i know, when you're a pretender
your mind's wild from the start
just gimme one chance baby
help me shadow my heart
gimme one chance baby,
help me shatter my heart
just won't cry cuz my life's goin' by
i'll find someone before the day i die
gimme a chance and show me what to do
couple a minutes i'll be doin' it with you
i'm a pretender at the game of love
need somebody help me shatter my heart
i'm a pretender at the game of love
need somebody help me shatter my foolish heart
i'm a pretender (x6)
stand up pretender
i'm a pretender at the game of love
i'm a pretender at the game of love
i'm a pretender at the game of love
i'm a pretender
need somebody help me shatter my heart
i'm a pretender at the game of love
need somebody help me shatter my foolish heart
21 and it ain't no fun
my life's going by but it's just begun
i'm searchin' and searchin' and i'm lookin' around
ain't gonna cry cuz there's no one to be found
i'm a pretender at the game of love
need somebody help me shatter my heart
i'm a pretender at the game of love
need somebody help me shatter my foolish heart
took ya down to the avenue
weather was cool, so i bought you some food
but i got so nervous when you asked me to come home
went in my house and spent the night all alone
i'm a pretender at the game of love
need somebody help me shatter my heart
i'm a pretender at the game of love
need somebody help me shatter my foolish heart
i know, when you're a pretender
your mind's wild from the start
just gimme one chance baby
help me shadow my heart
gimme one chance baby,
help me shatter my heart
just won't cry cuz my life's goin' by
i'll find someone before the day i die
gimme a chance and show me what to do
couple a minutes i'll be doin' it with you
i'm a pretender at the game of love
need somebody help me shatter my heart
i'm a pretender at the game of love
need somebody help me shatter my foolish heart
i'm a pretender (x6)
stand up pretender
i'm a pretender at the game of love
i'm a pretender at the game of love
i'm a pretender at the game of love
i'm a pretender
Lyrics submitted by trash77
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
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,
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/
This song is my favourite on the album. Reminds me of Eight Days A Week...