"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.
The town where she was born
Like town where I was born
Was built by white settlers seeking gold and other treasures
Like me she feels uncomfortable in the clothing of her ancestors
"It's not easy" she would say
Putting her fingers in the ashtray
"It's not easy to erase your blood"
Rock me now
Hmm, sing with me
In the arms of cobwebs
Roll me out
In the arms of cobwebs
Once she found a man to treasure
And together they'd planted flowers of warning, fearing frost
Late on shallow evenings while their enemies slept
They hammered the soil asking for answers in green
His value declined when he offered his name
Why did he offer it
His value declined
Ah ah ah ah ah
When he offered his name
Ah ah ah ah ah
His value declined
Ah ah ah ah ah
When he offered his name
Ah ah ah ah ah
When she was seven years old she saw a man get shot but
No one came along for a long time because it happened in a remote parking lot in Las Vegas
And she was waiting for her mom to come back from working the blackjack table at the Circus Circus casino
And that night her mom said that the two of them and the now dead guy
Were the only 3 people who ever lived in Las Vegas.
Everybody else just arrived, ate their complimentary shrimp cocktails, and left
Rock me now
In the arms of cobwebs
It's a one room city, yeah
It's a one room city, yeah
So can you roll with me
Roll me out
In the arms of cobwebs
It's a one room city, yeah
His value declined
Ah ah ah ah ah
When he offered his name.
Ah ah ah ah ah
It's a one room city, yeah
It's a one room city
The wall to wall to wall to wall to wall
Goes to street to street to street
Like town where I was born
Was built by white settlers seeking gold and other treasures
Like me she feels uncomfortable in the clothing of her ancestors
"It's not easy" she would say
Putting her fingers in the ashtray
"It's not easy to erase your blood"
Rock me now
Hmm, sing with me
In the arms of cobwebs
Roll me out
In the arms of cobwebs
Once she found a man to treasure
And together they'd planted flowers of warning, fearing frost
Late on shallow evenings while their enemies slept
They hammered the soil asking for answers in green
His value declined when he offered his name
Why did he offer it
His value declined
Ah ah ah ah ah
When he offered his name
Ah ah ah ah ah
His value declined
Ah ah ah ah ah
When he offered his name
Ah ah ah ah ah
When she was seven years old she saw a man get shot but
No one came along for a long time because it happened in a remote parking lot in Las Vegas
And she was waiting for her mom to come back from working the blackjack table at the Circus Circus casino
And that night her mom said that the two of them and the now dead guy
Were the only 3 people who ever lived in Las Vegas.
Everybody else just arrived, ate their complimentary shrimp cocktails, and left
Rock me now
In the arms of cobwebs
It's a one room city, yeah
It's a one room city, yeah
So can you roll with me
Roll me out
In the arms of cobwebs
It's a one room city, yeah
His value declined
Ah ah ah ah ah
When he offered his name.
Ah ah ah ah ah
It's a one room city, yeah
It's a one room city
The wall to wall to wall to wall to wall
Goes to street to street to street
Lyrics submitted by pchelarocks
Rock Me Now Lyrics as written by James Shaw Emily Haines
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Fast Car
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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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.
Mountain Song
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Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"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."
No Surprises
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Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
I agree with Therealtaryn, the person Emily is singing about (maybe herself) is comparing her life and past with a girl from Vegas. They both feel uncomfortable with thier past - they've both been brought up in a strict household. "It's not easy she would say, ripping her fingers into the ashtray It's not easy to erase your blood" I see it has on of them has taken up smoking as a way of rebelling against what they have broguht up to be, and they both don't want to be sucked into the rut of marriage and family life, "His value declined when he offered his name Why did he offer?" obviously declining his proposal.
When she was seven years old she saw a man get shot but, No one came for a long time because It happened in a remote parking lot in Las Vegas And she was waiting for her mom to come back From working the blackjack table at the Circus Circus casino And that night her mom said the two of them and the now dead guy Were the only three people that ever really lived in Las Vegas Everybody else just arrived, Ate their complementary shrimp cocktail, and left.
I love that verse so much. It perfectly describes life in Vegas. So many tourists go to Vegas for the fun, gambling and the lightheartedness of it all, oblivious to what actually happens in secluded areas. Her mum tries to reassure the girl that it's life - they've seen Vegas for what it is. Where as everyone else takes it for granted.
No comments?! You scallywags!
"When she was seven years old she saw a man get shot but, No one came for a long time because It happened in a remote parking lot in Las Vegas And she was waiting for her mom to come back From working the black-jack table at the Circus-Circus casino And that night her mom said the two of them and the now dead guy Were the only three people that ever really lived in Las Vegas Everybody else just arrived, Ate their complementary shrimp cocktail, and left. "
most probably one of the most amazing lines ever, great song, incredible lyrics, AMAZING BAND
anybody care to give their interpretation? I don't have one, and I don't want one, I just love the song, simple as that
i don't know what i love more, the beat, the lyrics, or her incredible fucking voice. this song is one of the best songs ever made. not kidding.
Is the dead guy the one who offered his name? His value totally declined.
This story makes perfect sense to me. lol. Everyone went what they came for and left. Same rules in every city. Gotta question tradition and roll with the punches.
This would make a good short film. Its like a bunch of lives intertwined.
this is amazing spoken word song. i wish she wrote more of these, because The Mandate, Parkdale and Rock Me Now are easily some of favorite of Emily Haines' songs.
this song is really inspiration to me as well, about a girl and her life and how it mirrors the narrator (maybe it is Emily in some way?). everything is described to be so hopeless and mundane, yet the tone of her voice seems sly and detached. hard to describe but it adds such an interesting feeling.
my friend had an experience where she got to know a man over a course of many hours on a bridge but never discovered his name, and she said she would have not enjoyed the experience as much if it was necessary. in this song, the girl and the man she treasures work together for "answers" despite the risk of their "enemies." it seems to be a like a metaphor for finding someone of such value you search for everything you want with them, but when they go and ruin their perfection by voluntarily labelling themself, they become someone less mystical.
i don't think i understand this song at all, but it's fun to dance to and sing to. plus jimmy's got a pretty big part. he needs to sing more.
Crazy good song! I actually created a story to this song. I used the Circus-Circus Casino in the story , it was a place of a huge massacre! This song has a great beat and it tells a good story about this persons life, whether it's real or not.Kisses to Emily for creating yet another Truely amazing song that should so be recognized!!!
I love love looove this song sooo so much.
No clue what the hell it means because it's just that hard to describe. mhm. I just love it lots.
Like me she feels uncomfortable in the clothing of her ancestors It's not easy she would say, ripping her fingers into the ash trash It's not easy to erase your blood
best lines ever i love this band SO much. 30th september im seeing them! =)
xxxx
I'm pretty sure the lyrics are "They hammered the soil asking for answers in green" instead of "cream." :)
As far as what it means - I picture the narrator and the girl sitting in a diner, talking. The first verse is more of their discussion, while the second and third make me think of the narrator telling bits of her own life story, but wrapping them up as stories to detach. Then again, sometimes I think it's just two people telling stories that they've heard here or there.
Then, not to sound like every relationship-blathering like so many others on here, but the metaphor in the second verse makes me think of a proposal gone wrong. "She found a man to treasure" - they're in a relationship. "Late on shallow evenings...etc" - they're doing things together, trying to find some larger meaning to their lives. "His value declined when he offered his name" - he becomes less appealing to her when he proposes, which would traditionally be giving her his name.
It's a big narrative. The vocals are great, and the song wouldn't be nearly as good were it not spoken.
I can picture this song in a scene to the movie. It's hard to describe, but it's perfect for something like that.
There's not much behind it: sure it's allegorical, but the meaning isn't that far off from what the lyrics presnet.
She's singing about someone from Las Vegas, obviously, and like her mother suggests, no one really lived there. "One room city" pretty well describes it.
It makes for a unique kind of person to grow up in an invironment like that.
Oh, and I guess I forgot to mention that this is currently my favorite song on the re-release. :]