"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.
Love how you curse when I wake you up
Sweetly demand that I fill your cup
With the smile of your cool gunpowder glare
Honey, you lay me bare
You're the girl of my dreams
And a pistol it seems, but you shoot me straight and true
Time to lay down my bets
Oh, I put all my money on you
When I'm in the dark, girl, you bring me light
It seems like you're almost always right
So keep boxing my ears when I sew them shut
Baby, you sure are tough
You're the girl of my dreams
And a pistol it seems, but you shoot me straight and true
Time to lay down my fears
Honey, I feel so safe around you
If the tiller man taught me anything
It's that a hard headed woman is what I need
To help me to always do my best
Baby, my life is blessed
You're the girl of my dreams
Darling, please wear this ring
You're an angel through and through
Time to lay down my life
Honey, I'd do it gladly for you
Time to lay down my life
Honey, I'd do it gladly for you
Sweetly demand that I fill your cup
With the smile of your cool gunpowder glare
Honey, you lay me bare
You're the girl of my dreams
And a pistol it seems, but you shoot me straight and true
Time to lay down my bets
Oh, I put all my money on you
When I'm in the dark, girl, you bring me light
It seems like you're almost always right
So keep boxing my ears when I sew them shut
Baby, you sure are tough
You're the girl of my dreams
And a pistol it seems, but you shoot me straight and true
Time to lay down my fears
Honey, I feel so safe around you
If the tiller man taught me anything
It's that a hard headed woman is what I need
To help me to always do my best
Baby, my life is blessed
You're the girl of my dreams
Darling, please wear this ring
You're an angel through and through
Time to lay down my life
Honey, I'd do it gladly for you
Time to lay down my life
Honey, I'd do it gladly for you
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
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.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
"I love how you curse when I wake you up And sweetly demand that I fill your cup. With the smile of your cool gun powder glare Honey, you lay me bare."
I believe that's what he says.