"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.
(Violent J)
Here comes the train, Here comes the train!
Here comes the train, Here comes the train!
(Violent J)
All aboard, motherfucka, where you headed out there?
We the tunnel rats riding without no care
We big as hell and we fast now cow catch a run front
Cause we push through the world and we hitting shit blunt
We the night train travelling through the under layer
And we lotus, we grow in the dark without a prayer
And we out there, come holla, we'll be here tomorrow
We aimed up and made noises in the dark like Kamala
I'm like (Eric!) send the cops over here double time
I got a head inside a pillowcase I'm banging on a stop sign (Psh)
Motherfucka, say hello to these tunnel runners
We coming for you, gunning and stunning, and rep for many others
Swario Atilishiki taught us to stab
In my city get your titties and ass a first grab
Hang on cause the train be hitting many corners fast
Jump off, we move on and we forget your ass
(Chorus)
Take me through the underground
Take me through the underground
I don't want no sun.
I don't want
I don't want sunlight no more
Bury me deep underground.
Bury me deep deep underground
Let me tunnel run.
Wanna be a tunnel runner, do ya wanna?
(Violent J)
We a train like a motherfucka long with no end
They lead the witches everywhere, but leaving ain't my friend
We see the train coming, richies running, locking they doors
But they be tripping when the bullets clipping, ripping through the walls
I gets' wicked like wonka, if you kill me I'll haunt ya
And trap ya, wake Blaze up from the dead to bitch slap ya
I lay in my bed, shoot Roman Candles at the ceiling
I like the fire that rains, and I can't explain the feeling
I know that I'm alone, but this train is packed
With people just like me that don't know where the fuck we at
But this the only format that we fitting, that's it
Night train coming through with that wicked shit.
I don't care about the dame that's tied up to the tracks.
Or stalled out cars, we sawing all of that in half.
And don't miss it cause it ain't another train like this.
So just ride, and don't waste the Whiz. (Shh)
(Chorus)
All aboard.
If you think you can hang
For wicked shit, this is your train
All aboard
Ain't shit out there the same
For wicked shit, this is your train
(Anybody Killa)
Ya heard my homie Violent J, bitch.
Step right up, come on in
Let me see your life begin.
Take a ride on this night train, psycho status.
Must be this tall to ride, cause it's one of the fastest
Hold tight, don't fall, where'd you get that ticket?
The bitch bus left, and I think you missed it
You know the drill, back to the caboose
To shovel coal until you decide which path to choose
We ain't never gonna stop, it's just too much fun
We got everything we need, nothing has to be brung
Boxcars full of dreams, schemes and thoughts
Money making millionaires that were street smart taught
Look out the window, stare into the eyes
Of all the people watching us float right by
Get out the way, coming through, put your penny on the track
What you see is what you get, some happy traveling rats
(Chorus)
All aboard.
If you think you can hang
For wicked shit, this is your train
(Hehehe, hey!)
All aboard.
Ain't shit out there the same.
(Na Na Na Na Na Na Na)
For wicked shit, this is your train.
(Bwoop Bwoop Bwoop)
All aboard.
If you think you can hang.
(From here to outer space)
For wicked shit, this is your train.
(Neptune, bitch!)
All aboard.
Ain't shit out there the same.
(Chick, what!?)
For wicked shit, this is your train.
(Psychopathic, intergalactic!)
Here comes the train, Here comes the train!
Here comes the train, Here comes the train!
(Violent J)
All aboard, motherfucka, where you headed out there?
We the tunnel rats riding without no care
We big as hell and we fast now cow catch a run front
Cause we push through the world and we hitting shit blunt
We the night train travelling through the under layer
And we lotus, we grow in the dark without a prayer
And we out there, come holla, we'll be here tomorrow
We aimed up and made noises in the dark like Kamala
I'm like (Eric!) send the cops over here double time
I got a head inside a pillowcase I'm banging on a stop sign (Psh)
Motherfucka, say hello to these tunnel runners
We coming for you, gunning and stunning, and rep for many others
Swario Atilishiki taught us to stab
In my city get your titties and ass a first grab
Hang on cause the train be hitting many corners fast
Jump off, we move on and we forget your ass
(Chorus)
Take me through the underground
Take me through the underground
I don't want no sun.
I don't want
I don't want sunlight no more
Bury me deep underground.
Bury me deep deep underground
Let me tunnel run.
Wanna be a tunnel runner, do ya wanna?
(Violent J)
We a train like a motherfucka long with no end
They lead the witches everywhere, but leaving ain't my friend
We see the train coming, richies running, locking they doors
But they be tripping when the bullets clipping, ripping through the walls
I gets' wicked like wonka, if you kill me I'll haunt ya
And trap ya, wake Blaze up from the dead to bitch slap ya
I lay in my bed, shoot Roman Candles at the ceiling
I like the fire that rains, and I can't explain the feeling
I know that I'm alone, but this train is packed
With people just like me that don't know where the fuck we at
But this the only format that we fitting, that's it
Night train coming through with that wicked shit.
I don't care about the dame that's tied up to the tracks.
Or stalled out cars, we sawing all of that in half.
And don't miss it cause it ain't another train like this.
So just ride, and don't waste the Whiz. (Shh)
(Chorus)
All aboard.
If you think you can hang
For wicked shit, this is your train
All aboard
Ain't shit out there the same
For wicked shit, this is your train
(Anybody Killa)
Ya heard my homie Violent J, bitch.
Step right up, come on in
Let me see your life begin.
Take a ride on this night train, psycho status.
Must be this tall to ride, cause it's one of the fastest
Hold tight, don't fall, where'd you get that ticket?
The bitch bus left, and I think you missed it
You know the drill, back to the caboose
To shovel coal until you decide which path to choose
We ain't never gonna stop, it's just too much fun
We got everything we need, nothing has to be brung
Boxcars full of dreams, schemes and thoughts
Money making millionaires that were street smart taught
Look out the window, stare into the eyes
Of all the people watching us float right by
Get out the way, coming through, put your penny on the track
What you see is what you get, some happy traveling rats
(Chorus)
All aboard.
If you think you can hang
For wicked shit, this is your train
(Hehehe, hey!)
All aboard.
Ain't shit out there the same.
(Na Na Na Na Na Na Na)
For wicked shit, this is your train.
(Bwoop Bwoop Bwoop)
All aboard.
If you think you can hang.
(From here to outer space)
For wicked shit, this is your train.
(Neptune, bitch!)
All aboard.
Ain't shit out there the same.
(Chick, what!?)
For wicked shit, this is your train.
(Psychopathic, intergalactic!)
Lyrics submitted by th1rt3en
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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,
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/
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“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.