"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 know you're alone
In the dark, all alone
Underneath the covers
Hiding from the demons
That came for your soul.
They might be over in the closet
They might be underneath your bed
They might be just outside your window, baby
Or maybe just inside your head.
But if you let me stay over
I'll try to keep you safe
I've got an army of skeletons
To chase your demons away.
I know that you're scared
You're in the dark, so scared
Simply terrified, no one'll hear you screaming
If they could would they care?
There's only one way to find out
I pray that day never comes
For that would mean the ending of you, baby
The end of you, my love.
But if you let me stay over
I'll try to keep you safe
I've got an army of skeletons
To chase your demons away.
And baby, I can tell you've been crying
Oh baby, I know you've been lying to me
Yes indeed.
Oh baby, I can tell you don't sleep no more
Oh baby, believe me I've been there before.
If you let me stay over
I'll try to keep you safe
I've got an army of skeletons
To chase your demons away.
In the dark, all alone
Underneath the covers
Hiding from the demons
That came for your soul.
They might be over in the closet
They might be underneath your bed
They might be just outside your window, baby
Or maybe just inside your head.
But if you let me stay over
I'll try to keep you safe
I've got an army of skeletons
To chase your demons away.
I know that you're scared
You're in the dark, so scared
Simply terrified, no one'll hear you screaming
If they could would they care?
There's only one way to find out
I pray that day never comes
For that would mean the ending of you, baby
The end of you, my love.
But if you let me stay over
I'll try to keep you safe
I've got an army of skeletons
To chase your demons away.
And baby, I can tell you've been crying
Oh baby, I know you've been lying to me
Yes indeed.
Oh baby, I can tell you don't sleep no more
Oh baby, believe me I've been there before.
If you let me stay over
I'll try to keep you safe
I've got an army of skeletons
To chase your demons away.
Lyrics submitted by AlkalineArmy
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
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.
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,
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.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
I just love this song.
I think this song, is about Matt accepting a girl with all her problems and faults. He has so many problems that he can try to make hers go away. He just wants to be with her and help her through a rough time in her life.