"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.
A ring of Pharisees and one of them was me
We loved the letter but not the spirit
An infidelity, a woman on her knees
She begged for mercy, we couldn?t hear it
The teacher looked from us, his finger in the dust
We felt the chill and it shook us to our bones
Then he raised his head and this is what he said,
?The one who has not sin should throw a stone?
[Chorus:]
I walked away in silence
and threw myself upon the ground
These words they burned inside me
Take up your cross before your crown
Go and judge not, lest ye be judged with the girl and come down
[Chorus]
Take up your cross before your crown
Judge not, lest ye be judged with the girl and come down
Take up your cross before your crown
Your cross before your crown
We loved the letter but not the spirit
An infidelity, a woman on her knees
She begged for mercy, we couldn?t hear it
The teacher looked from us, his finger in the dust
We felt the chill and it shook us to our bones
Then he raised his head and this is what he said,
?The one who has not sin should throw a stone?
[Chorus:]
I walked away in silence
and threw myself upon the ground
These words they burned inside me
Take up your cross before your crown
Go and judge not, lest ye be judged with the girl and come down
[Chorus]
Take up your cross before your crown
Judge not, lest ye be judged with the girl and come down
Take up your cross before your crown
Your cross before your crown
Lyrics submitted by bassroxtar182
Weight of Glory Lyrics as written by Edward Carrington Breckenridge Dustin Michael Kensrue
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Fast Car
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"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
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This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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John 8. All about not judging people because we have all done things worth punishment.
No song on Vheissu gave me chills, this B-side gave them to me the entire song. Yes Fixx is correct, this song was based on John 8: 1-11. Read it, maybe you'll learn something kiddies.
amazed they didnt choose to put this on Vhiessu...incredible song
this song is so sweet...it makes you reflect on your own sins and help understand the forgiveness that God has for each and everyone of us. and if someone tries to pull this isnt a christian song they are severly disturbed, mistaken, and/or retarded...
interesting, theres no posts from people trying to deny that thrice isnt a christian band...i wonder why? probably because 1) its from the book weight of glory 2) it derives directly from scripture, any other interpretation of this song would fall through the floor
I wasn't going to say anything, but you just had to open it up in this thread. This song is obviously Christian-related and influence.. but that my no stretch makes the band a Christian band. Thrice have even gone on record saying they don't call themselves a Christian band. Jesus.. you people are so closed-minded sometimes.
I agree with Thricecube.
do any of you guys know where on the internet i could find vheissu b-sides like this one and flags of dawn?
@Schneidz Beggars has 5 B-Sides: All The World Is Mad (Free The Robots Remix), Answered, Circles (remix), Red Telephone and Helter Skelter
@Schneidz Beggars has 5 B-Sides: All The World Is Mad (Free The Robots Remix), Answered, Circles (remix), Red Telephone and Helter Skelter... Identity Crisis has 1 B-Side: Madman (Green Flag release)... The Artist in the Ambulance has 2 B-Sides: Motion Isn't Meaning and Eclipse...
"and if someone tries to pull this isnt a christian song they are severly disturbed, mistaken, and/or retarded..."
Yes, because everyone knows Christians are the only ones who aren't judgemental.
Uh, right.
Granted, there are allusions to the cross and sins, but there are also allusions to a crown and dust. So no, the song is not about Christianity, it's about royalty and housecleaning.