"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.
There are certain people you just keep coming back to
She is right in front of you
You begin to wonder, could you find a better one
Compared to her, now she's in question
And all at once the crowd begins to sing
Sometimes the hardest thing and the right thing are the same
Maybe you want her, maybe you need her
Maybe you started to compare to someone not there
Looking for the right one, you line up the world to find
Where no questions cross your mind
Oh, but she won't keep on waiting for you without a doubt
Much longer for you to sort it out
And all at once the crowd begins to sing
Sometimes the hardest thing and the right thing are the same
Maybe you want her, maybe you need her
Maybe you started to compare to someone not there
Maybe you want it, maybe you need it
Maybe it's all you're running from
Perfection will not come
And all at once the crowd begins to sing
Sometimes (sometimes)
We'd never know what's wrong without the pain
Sometimes the hardest thing and the right thing are the same
Maybe you want her, maybe you need her
Maybe you've started to compare to someone not there
Maybe you want it, maybe you need it
Maybe it's all you're running from
Perfection will not come
Oh, it'll never come
Maybe you want her, maybe you need her
Maybe you had her, maybe you lost her to another
Oh, to another
She is right in front of you
You begin to wonder, could you find a better one
Compared to her, now she's in question
And all at once the crowd begins to sing
Sometimes the hardest thing and the right thing are the same
Maybe you want her, maybe you need her
Maybe you started to compare to someone not there
Looking for the right one, you line up the world to find
Where no questions cross your mind
Oh, but she won't keep on waiting for you without a doubt
Much longer for you to sort it out
And all at once the crowd begins to sing
Sometimes the hardest thing and the right thing are the same
Maybe you want her, maybe you need her
Maybe you started to compare to someone not there
Maybe you want it, maybe you need it
Maybe it's all you're running from
Perfection will not come
And all at once the crowd begins to sing
Sometimes (sometimes)
We'd never know what's wrong without the pain
Sometimes the hardest thing and the right thing are the same
Maybe you want her, maybe you need her
Maybe you've started to compare to someone not there
Maybe you want it, maybe you need it
Maybe it's all you're running from
Perfection will not come
Oh, it'll never come
Maybe you want her, maybe you need her
Maybe you had her, maybe you lost her to another
Oh, to another
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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,
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.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
This song could mean a lot of different things ive seen but when I heard it. It directly applied to me and my life right now. Its about a guy and a girl who have always loved each other and are now dating other people so he can figure out what he wants and if there is someone else out there for him. And this guy is finally realizing that he thought he needed to date other people, but everyone he dates dosent even compare to this girl. He realizes finally that she is who he wants and who he needs. Its hard for them to be together though because their families hate each other but he realizes that the hardest thing and the right thing are the same. Meaning he should be with her, no matter what their families think. He also knows that she wont always be waiting for him to come back, and that she is the perfect one he’s been searching for.
There are certain people You just keep coming back to (the girl he loves and left) She is right in front of you. You begin to wonder Could you find a better one (dating other people to see if theres someone else out there) Compared to her now (comparing all the girls to The One girl) She's in question.
And all at once the crowd begins to sing Sometimes the hardest thing and (dosent matter what the families think, if its right) The right thing are the same.
Maybe you want her Maybe you need her Maybe you started to compare To someone not there. (no one else is out there, the one he wants is The One girl)
Looking for the right one You line up the world to find (he dates tons of different girls) Where no questions cross your mind. (no one even came close to Her) But she won't keep on waiting for You without a doubt Much longer for you to sort it out. (She cant wait around forever for you to figure it out)
And all at once the crowd begins to sing Sometimes the hardest thing and The right thing are the same.
Maybe you want her Maybe you need her Maybe you started to compare To someone not there.
Maybe you want it Maybe you need it Maybe it's all you're running from (dating other people to see if someone else is out there) Perfection will not come. (he wont find anyone else, because SHE is perfection to him)
And all at once the crowd begins to sing Sometimes We'd never know what's wrong without the pain (without trying he wouldn’t have figured SHE was the one he wanted to be with forever) Sometimes the hardest thing and The right thing are the same.
Maybe you want her Maybe you need her Maybe you've started to compare To someone not there.
Maybe you want it Maybe you need it Maybe it's all you're running from Perfection will not come.
Maybe you want her Maybe you need her Maybe you had her Maybe you lost her to another (at one point because of him trying to figure out things and he took too long, but since its right all he has to do is go find her and she’ll come back to him) To another.
OMG this is exactly what i have been through and are actually going through right now...except that this time he did loose me to another bimecause I'm on the verge of taking him to court for him to finally leave me alone...same as you said. My family hates too wow. perfect description of my life right now...