"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.
Se que llegará el día
En el que no habrá herida
Causada por el odio
De los que no son igual
Y sé que duele soportar
Que expresa tanto la soledad
Por no vestir como ellos
Y por ti misma pensar
Te enciendes tal que una flor
Cuando suena tu canción
Le gritas en silencio al viento
Que es libre tu corazón
Sin fronteras, sin nación
Sin credos, ni religión
Que no esclavicen al hombre
Jamás en nombre de un Dios
A veces eres tempestad
Y tras la tormenta, eres paz
Pero te cuesta tanto
Saberlas utilizar
Y opinas que la honestidad
Son los zapatos con los que andar
Y por brújula tus sueños
Y en tu mochila la libertad
Tu buscas en la educación
Un arma para ser mejor
Y no que te amaestren
O te domen con un no
Y en los libros de texto
Vas buscando un pretexto
Para escribir un verso
O pintar un corazón
Si tiemblas como un niño
Ante un beso o un guiño
Y piensas que sus labios
Son el retiro del dolor
Si olvidas una afrenta
Y no tomas en cuenta
Al que habla con la bilis
Y corrompe la verdad
Si necesitas respirar
Además de aire, libertad
Y el heavy es tu bandera
Siempre nos tendrás aquí
Y aunque cueste una eternidad
Que te respeten por pensar
Sigue adelante y lucha
No estas sola: ¡¡Somos más!!
En el que no habrá herida
Causada por el odio
De los que no son igual
Y sé que duele soportar
Que expresa tanto la soledad
Por no vestir como ellos
Y por ti misma pensar
Te enciendes tal que una flor
Cuando suena tu canción
Le gritas en silencio al viento
Que es libre tu corazón
Sin fronteras, sin nación
Sin credos, ni religión
Que no esclavicen al hombre
Jamás en nombre de un Dios
A veces eres tempestad
Y tras la tormenta, eres paz
Pero te cuesta tanto
Saberlas utilizar
Y opinas que la honestidad
Son los zapatos con los que andar
Y por brújula tus sueños
Y en tu mochila la libertad
Tu buscas en la educación
Un arma para ser mejor
Y no que te amaestren
O te domen con un no
Y en los libros de texto
Vas buscando un pretexto
Para escribir un verso
O pintar un corazón
Si tiemblas como un niño
Ante un beso o un guiño
Y piensas que sus labios
Son el retiro del dolor
Si olvidas una afrenta
Y no tomas en cuenta
Al que habla con la bilis
Y corrompe la verdad
Si necesitas respirar
Además de aire, libertad
Y el heavy es tu bandera
Siempre nos tendrás aquí
Y aunque cueste una eternidad
Que te respeten por pensar
Sigue adelante y lucha
No estas sola: ¡¡Somos más!!
Lyrics submitted by Elimination
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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,
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
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.
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/
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
I know the day will come where there would be no wound