"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.
Do I miss you, not that much
I stopped doing that a couple of months ago
And I was feeling so much better
I'm not sure now why you called
I didn't think we'd speak this soon, if at all again
Since you left me in a letter
Now I hear your voice
And it goes on and on, on and on
You may have questions now
But I believe that you were wrong
All that I wanted was you
You never questioned then
That leaving me would be the end
All that I wanted was you
I used to think we had some room to run
But that was long before you ran away with someone else
Like my feelings didn't matter
Now I'm stuck, as if you couldn't tell
Between what I want and a past I know too well
And I'm inclined to choose the latter
You can't even tell me why
Without walking in a lie
What do you want me to do?
Give it all another try?
Cross your fingers â??til you die
I've already played the fool for you
I stopped doing that a couple of months ago
And I was feeling so much better
I'm not sure now why you called
I didn't think we'd speak this soon, if at all again
Since you left me in a letter
Now I hear your voice
And it goes on and on, on and on
You may have questions now
But I believe that you were wrong
All that I wanted was you
You never questioned then
That leaving me would be the end
All that I wanted was you
I used to think we had some room to run
But that was long before you ran away with someone else
Like my feelings didn't matter
Now I'm stuck, as if you couldn't tell
Between what I want and a past I know too well
And I'm inclined to choose the latter
You can't even tell me why
Without walking in a lie
What do you want me to do?
Give it all another try?
Cross your fingers â??til you die
I've already played the fool for you
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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”
Dreamwalker
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Head > Heels
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Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.