"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.
We walked along the barren beach
I saw the trash but not the glass broken at my feet
Cut myself once again, gotta stop count to ten, try and relax
Take a breath, breath in deep, taste the smog, feel heat
I gotta get out
All the trash, broken glass, dirty air, no one cares
Help me out 'cause I think I'm choking
People choose what to do
Sippin' booze, sniffin' glue
Catch your breath
While you still have a chance
Self preservation's what it's all about
Suffocation kills without a doubt
So that people just can't stop
Wasting, trashing, using what we got
We're next in line and you can bet
When you grow old, put you in homes
A slow and lonely death
You won't forget the mess you left
Another unpaid debt and now you're choking
And now you're choking
And now is the time I tell myself
I'm just alive and I'll get by, without any help
So I say why should I sing the songs of rose
And the mess that we leave
Well in a month or a year maybe I'll have some kids
And they'll need to breath
All the trash, broken glass, dirty air, no one cares
Help me out 'cause I think I'm choking
People choose what to do
Sing the blues, you're on glue
Catch your breath
While you still have a chance
Self preservation's what it's all about
Suffocation kills without a doubt
I saw the trash but not the glass broken at my feet
Cut myself once again, gotta stop count to ten, try and relax
Take a breath, breath in deep, taste the smog, feel heat
I gotta get out
All the trash, broken glass, dirty air, no one cares
Help me out 'cause I think I'm choking
People choose what to do
Sippin' booze, sniffin' glue
Catch your breath
While you still have a chance
Self preservation's what it's all about
Suffocation kills without a doubt
So that people just can't stop
Wasting, trashing, using what we got
We're next in line and you can bet
When you grow old, put you in homes
A slow and lonely death
You won't forget the mess you left
Another unpaid debt and now you're choking
And now you're choking
And now is the time I tell myself
I'm just alive and I'll get by, without any help
So I say why should I sing the songs of rose
And the mess that we leave
Well in a month or a year maybe I'll have some kids
And they'll need to breath
All the trash, broken glass, dirty air, no one cares
Help me out 'cause I think I'm choking
People choose what to do
Sing the blues, you're on glue
Catch your breath
While you still have a chance
Self preservation's what it's all about
Suffocation kills without a doubt
Lyrics submitted by Cosbynaut
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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,
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.
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.