"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.
Dead man lying on the bottom of the grave
Wondering when savior comes is he gonna be saved
Maybe you're a sinner into your alternate life
Maybe you're a joker
Maybe you deserve to die
They were crying when their sons left
God is wearing black
He's gone so far to find no hope he's never coming back
They were crying when their sons left
All young men must go
He's come so far to find the truth he's never going home
Young men standing on the top of their own graves
Wondering when Jesus comes are they gonna be saved
Cruelty to the winner, bishop tells the king his lies
Maybe you're a mourner
Maybe you deserve to die
They were crying when their sons left
God is wearing black
He's gone so far to find no hope he's never coming back
They were crying when their sons left
All young men must go
He's come so far to find the truth he's never going home
Welcome to the soldier side
Where there's no one here but me
People all grow up to die
There is no one here but me
Welcome to the soldier side
Where there's no one here but me
People on the soldier side
There is no one here but me
Wondering when savior comes is he gonna be saved
Maybe you're a sinner into your alternate life
Maybe you're a joker
Maybe you deserve to die
They were crying when their sons left
God is wearing black
He's gone so far to find no hope he's never coming back
They were crying when their sons left
All young men must go
He's come so far to find the truth he's never going home
Young men standing on the top of their own graves
Wondering when Jesus comes are they gonna be saved
Cruelty to the winner, bishop tells the king his lies
Maybe you're a mourner
Maybe you deserve to die
They were crying when their sons left
God is wearing black
He's gone so far to find no hope he's never coming back
They were crying when their sons left
All young men must go
He's come so far to find the truth he's never going home
Welcome to the soldier side
Where there's no one here but me
People all grow up to die
There is no one here but me
Welcome to the soldier side
Where there's no one here but me
People on the soldier side
There is no one here but me
Lyrics submitted by haiduc, edited by NightfallGemini, Das70sKid
Soldier Side Lyrics as written by Serj Tankian Daron V Malakian
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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,
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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/
yeah! but thinking to the war in iraq, you probably have more chance to get back! think about world war I and II and vietnam (although i dont know much about it) they were pretty much sent to die, whereas today it is more as not sendt out to die, although loads do, but we are more advanced than in world war i guess! so more about the earlier wars........however you are right.
The other wars were basied soley on killing as many as possible. Until the other side gave up. Aside from the crusades world war II had more total death than any other. There were estimated 70 million deaths total during WWII. And actually 67% of them were civilians. Sadly this is a truth of wars. No one is safe, this song doesn't necessarily have to be about a soldier.