"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, it's always been my nature
To take chances
My right hand drawing back
While my left hand advances
Where the current is strong
And the monkey dances
To the tune
Of a concertina
Blood dryin' in my yellow hair
As I go from shore to shore
I know what it is
That has drawn me to your door
But whatever could it be
Makes you think
You've seen me before
Angelina
Oh, Angelina
Oh, Angelina
His eyes were two slits
Makin' a snake proud
With a face that any painter would paint
As he walked through the crowd
Worshiping a God
With the body of a woman
Well endowed
And the head of a hyena
Do I need your permission
To turn the other cheek?
If you can read my mind
Why must I speak?
No, I have heard nothing
About the man
That you seek
Angelina
Oh, Angelina
Oh, Angelina
In the valley of the giants
Where the stars and stripes explode
The peaches they were sweet
And the milk and honey flowed
I was only following instructions
When the judge
Sent me down the road
With your subpoena
When you cease to exist
Then who will you blame?
I've tried my best to love you
But I cannot play this game
Your best friend
And my worst enemy
Is one and the same
Angelina
Oh, Angelina
Oh, Angelina
There's a black Mercedes
Rollin' through the combat zone
Your servants are half dead
You're down to the bone
Tell me, tall man
Where would you like
To be overthrown
In Jerusalem or Argentina?
She was stolen from her mother
When she was three days old
Now her vengeance has been satisfied
And her possessions have been sold
He's surrounded by God's angels
And she's wearin' a blindfold
But so are you
Angelina
Oh, Angelina
Oh, Angelina
I see pieces of men marching
Trying to take Heaven by force
I can see the unknown rider
I can see the pale white horse
In God's truth name
Tell me what you want
And you'll have it of course
Just step into the arena
Beat a path of retreat
Up them spiral staircases
Pass the tree of smoke
Pass the angel with four faces
Begging God for mercy
And weepin'
In unholy places
Angelina
Oh, Angelina
Oh, Angelina
Oh, Angelina
Oh, oh, Angelina
Oh, oh, Angelina
To take chances
My right hand drawing back
While my left hand advances
Where the current is strong
And the monkey dances
To the tune
Of a concertina
Blood dryin' in my yellow hair
As I go from shore to shore
I know what it is
That has drawn me to your door
But whatever could it be
Makes you think
You've seen me before
Angelina
Oh, Angelina
Oh, Angelina
His eyes were two slits
Makin' a snake proud
With a face that any painter would paint
As he walked through the crowd
Worshiping a God
With the body of a woman
Well endowed
And the head of a hyena
Do I need your permission
To turn the other cheek?
If you can read my mind
Why must I speak?
No, I have heard nothing
About the man
That you seek
Angelina
Oh, Angelina
Oh, Angelina
In the valley of the giants
Where the stars and stripes explode
The peaches they were sweet
And the milk and honey flowed
I was only following instructions
When the judge
Sent me down the road
With your subpoena
When you cease to exist
Then who will you blame?
I've tried my best to love you
But I cannot play this game
Your best friend
And my worst enemy
Is one and the same
Angelina
Oh, Angelina
Oh, Angelina
There's a black Mercedes
Rollin' through the combat zone
Your servants are half dead
You're down to the bone
Tell me, tall man
Where would you like
To be overthrown
In Jerusalem or Argentina?
She was stolen from her mother
When she was three days old
Now her vengeance has been satisfied
And her possessions have been sold
He's surrounded by God's angels
And she's wearin' a blindfold
But so are you
Angelina
Oh, Angelina
Oh, Angelina
I see pieces of men marching
Trying to take Heaven by force
I can see the unknown rider
I can see the pale white horse
In God's truth name
Tell me what you want
And you'll have it of course
Just step into the arena
Beat a path of retreat
Up them spiral staircases
Pass the tree of smoke
Pass the angel with four faces
Begging God for mercy
And weepin'
In unholy places
Angelina
Oh, Angelina
Oh, Angelina
Oh, Angelina
Oh, oh, Angelina
Oh, oh, Angelina
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Fast Car
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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,
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Ed Sheeran
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“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
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 think you have to focus on the time this was written. This song was recorded towards the end of his born again Christian phase, so it's reasonable to assume that he's dealing with some real theological ideas here. As great as an lyricist as Dylan is, I think it's unwise that any one of his songs is autobiographical. Sure, a lot of them are, but a lot of them aren't.
I'm not going to pretend to know what this song is about. But a number of verses refer directly to verses in Revelation. For example: the men trying to take heaven by force, the unknown rider, the pale white horse, and the angel with four faces. The tall man being overthrown could be Satan, since Jerusalem is said to be the place of the final battle between God and the devil. Argentina probably refers to the Falkland Islands war between England and Argentina.
The verses "Do I need your permission to turn the other cheek?" refers to a quote from Jesus, and the next line (If you can read my mind, why must I speak?) seems to address him.
My hunch is that the most important verse is "I've tried my best to love you, but I cannot play this game." I think this song might be about Dylan' beginning to walk away from Christianity. But like I said, it might have nothing to do with him. It could be one of his ultrasymbolic Christian songs like Groom's Still Waiting at The Altar.
I think this song is about doubting on God. The song is written by Dylan but can fit in to any person's life, when they are having concerns about something they want to believe in, but can't because of their doubt. For me, it can also be possible that Angelina is God. He/we are searching for answers and in this lyric the questions and reflections are directed to Angelina (= God). Just like a woman, he loves her but can not trust his love.