"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.
Pickin' up the pieces of my sweet shattered dream
I wonder how the old folks are tonight
Her name was Ann and I'll be damned if I recall her face
She left me not knowin' what to do
Carefree highway, let me slip away on you
Carefree highway, you seen better days
The mornin' after blues from my head down to my shoes
Carefree highway, let me slip away
Slip away on you
Turnin' back the pages to the times I love best
I wonder if she'll ever do the same
Now the thing that I call livin' is just bein' satisfied
With knowin' I got no one left to blame
Carefree highway, I got to see you my old flame
Carefree highway, you seen better days
The mornin' after blues from my head down to my shoes
Carefree highway, let me slip away
Slip away on you
Searchin' through the fragments of my dream-shattered sleep
I wonder if the years have closed her mind
I guess it must be wanderlust or tryin' to get free
From the good old faithful feelin' we once knew
Carefree highway, let me slip away on you
Carefree highway, you seen the better days
The mornin' after blues from my head down to my shoes
Carefree highway, let me slip away
Slip away on you
Let me slip away on you
Carefree highway, I got to see you my old flame
Carefree highway, you seen better days
The mornin' after blues from my head down to my shoes
Carefree highway, let me slip away
Slip away on you
I wonder how the old folks are tonight
Her name was Ann and I'll be damned if I recall her face
She left me not knowin' what to do
Carefree highway, let me slip away on you
Carefree highway, you seen better days
The mornin' after blues from my head down to my shoes
Carefree highway, let me slip away
Slip away on you
Turnin' back the pages to the times I love best
I wonder if she'll ever do the same
Now the thing that I call livin' is just bein' satisfied
With knowin' I got no one left to blame
Carefree highway, I got to see you my old flame
Carefree highway, you seen better days
The mornin' after blues from my head down to my shoes
Carefree highway, let me slip away
Slip away on you
Searchin' through the fragments of my dream-shattered sleep
I wonder if the years have closed her mind
I guess it must be wanderlust or tryin' to get free
From the good old faithful feelin' we once knew
Carefree highway, let me slip away on you
Carefree highway, you seen the better days
The mornin' after blues from my head down to my shoes
Carefree highway, let me slip away
Slip away on you
Let me slip away on you
Carefree highway, I got to see you my old flame
Carefree highway, you seen better days
The mornin' after blues from my head down to my shoes
Carefree highway, let me slip away
Slip away on you
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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Hayalperest
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This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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”
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
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.
This song should be one of the top 500 ever written. It is a great song about innocence lost. He once rode on the 'carefree highway' of life with this girl. Well, it turns out life isn't so carefree. He's wondering what life's highway is bringing her and if she ever thinks about their time together in a simpler more carefree time.
Carefree highway, you seen better days The mornin' after blues from my head down to my shoes Carefree highway, let me slip away Slip away on you
Sentimental lyrics about childhood memories.
Oh man, just one comment? Awesome song, one of my all-time favorites.
Every time I hear this great song I want to get drunk while reminiscing. I say top 100 ever written, joining Sundown & If You Could Read My Mind.
Exactly, Nosmas [cept I don't drink]
so the lyrics are pretty obvious, but i had to comment because i love gordon lightfoot:
he hits the road thinking about a relationship that went bad. it's obviously something that happened a long time ago ("I wonder if the years have closed her mind") but feels like it was just yesterday ("The mornin' after blues") and as a result it still haunts him.
great great song,music just isnt like this anymore!
I was thinking the same exact thing....I saw him in 1978 and he ended the concert (after his curtain call) with this song.....It runs through my mind a lot...I can still hear it in my head like it was yesterday. Fabulous song.
Ugh..story of my life right now haha
what a great song, so melancholy and full of regret....<br /> <br /> to me this song is about a man who is lamenting the loss of his love (ann) years ago because he cheated on her.... the morning after he realizes that he just ruined the relationship; <br /> <br /> "she left me not knowing what to do"; it is she that doesn't know what to do about his infidelity, so she left him (as opposed to him not knowing what to do..)<br /> <br /> "knowing i got no one else to blame" obviously he knows it was his fault<br /> <br /> "the morning after blues" caused by his cheating<br /> <br /> "the good old faithful feeling we once knew" that can't be regained
Just so powerfully poignant; never fails the tears flow when I read those lyrics;
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The needless loss that cant be regained,
and no one else left to blame.
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Could someone add the copyright date? ty.
One of my favorite lines of all time: "Searchin' through the fragments of my dream-shattered sleep"....................... Wow.....I had a similar experience with a woman I once was close to.....I could not see her face. Finally found a photo of her....but like Gord said: "I'll be damned if I recall her face"........isn't that weird?
This is what I hear: I think Lightfoot is saying that he took the Carefree Highway by cheating on Ann - that's why he has "the morning after blues from my head down to my shoes". And the Carefree Highway left him not knowin what to do. He wants her to forget about his mistake: "Turnin' back the pages to the times I love best I wonder if she'll ever do the same"
Lightfoot wrote this song as he was approaching 40 years old. Right off he mentions the old folks. His mother recognized his talent as a young child. Ann was his grandmother who had worried about his chosen career.