"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.
Well, we never ever worry I mean we never try
Because this feeling is not real and I’m afraid that I
Have nothing to believe in and nothing to say
Because our lives are just reflections of an early grave
I wanna drown you in my sorrow as I drown myself
In a liquid that’s not thinking and I know it’s hell
To listen to my drinking and the way I sound
But honey I just love you now help me drown.
It’s been a long, long time.
And I am singing.
It’s been too long without you.
(Without you.)
Well, we grab onto the wheel with a lazy grasp
As we’re swerving down this highway on a pane of glass
But it’s ok cause we’re laughing, yeah, the feeling’s fine
As long as I wake early and am at work on time
Because I’ve gotta find my clothes I wanna pack these bags
So we can fly towards the sun and land in the grass
And we’ll spin into the depths of a lovely dream
Because it’s not about the truth it’s just what you see.
It’s been a long, long time.
And I am singing
It’s been too long without you.
(Without you.)
It’s not about the truth it’s only what you see.
It’s not about the truth it’s just you and me.
Because this feeling is not real and I’m afraid that I
Have nothing to believe in and nothing to say
Because our lives are just reflections of an early grave
I wanna drown you in my sorrow as I drown myself
In a liquid that’s not thinking and I know it’s hell
To listen to my drinking and the way I sound
But honey I just love you now help me drown.
It’s been a long, long time.
And I am singing.
It’s been too long without you.
(Without you.)
Well, we grab onto the wheel with a lazy grasp
As we’re swerving down this highway on a pane of glass
But it’s ok cause we’re laughing, yeah, the feeling’s fine
As long as I wake early and am at work on time
Because I’ve gotta find my clothes I wanna pack these bags
So we can fly towards the sun and land in the grass
And we’ll spin into the depths of a lovely dream
Because it’s not about the truth it’s just what you see.
It’s been a long, long time.
And I am singing
It’s been too long without you.
(Without you.)
It’s not about the truth it’s only what you see.
It’s not about the truth it’s just you and me.
Lyrics submitted by rentalgirl
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Little Feat
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Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Holiday
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I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
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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,
I Can't Go To Sleep
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Wu-Tang Clan
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.