"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.
It's dark
Let's do it now
Bring in the sirens
Cut of their tongues
Do it now
Ignore their cries
Ignore their cries
Now close the door
And leave it
Nothing went wrong
The Archangel is falling
Mourners split
Take heart of grace
A ghostly candle light
Lit my room at night
Son of man
We're breeding wastelands
Wastelands
The blood of Sirens
On my hands
I can't wash away
Still it pours
And stains our land
In bitterness
So cruel
Will ages go by
Dead sound of misery
Come share our sorrows
Be one with the Hydra
It's drown or burn
I'm exploring bedlam
The time is right to move
Furthermore
Bring out the dead
Turn your back
On the ones you have loved
Enjoy the heat of your whore
Babylon
Hear what the spirit says
There is no sense at all
Now come with me
Unfold the seals
No sense at all
No sense at all
There is not sense at all
So many times I have failed
Pure desperation
Still hear the cries
Of voices
Long gone by
They've gone abroad
And left this world behind
Leave me behind
Behind the walls I'm crying
The blood of Sirens
On my hands
I can't wash away
Still it pours
And stains our land
In bitterness
So cruel
Will ages go by
Dead sound of misery
Come share our sorrows
Be one with the Hydra
So many times I have failed
Pure desperation
Still hear the cries
Of voices
Long gone by
They've gone abroad
And left this world behind
Leave me behind
Behind the walls I'm crying
The blood of Sirens
On my hands
I can't wash away
Still it pours
And stains our land
In bitterness
So cruel
Will ages go by
Dead sound of misery
Come share our sorrows
Be one with the Hydra
Let's do it now
Bring in the sirens
Cut of their tongues
Do it now
Ignore their cries
Ignore their cries
Now close the door
And leave it
Nothing went wrong
The Archangel is falling
Mourners split
Take heart of grace
A ghostly candle light
Lit my room at night
Son of man
We're breeding wastelands
Wastelands
The blood of Sirens
On my hands
I can't wash away
Still it pours
And stains our land
In bitterness
So cruel
Will ages go by
Dead sound of misery
Come share our sorrows
Be one with the Hydra
It's drown or burn
I'm exploring bedlam
The time is right to move
Furthermore
Bring out the dead
Turn your back
On the ones you have loved
Enjoy the heat of your whore
Babylon
Hear what the spirit says
There is no sense at all
Now come with me
Unfold the seals
No sense at all
No sense at all
There is not sense at all
So many times I have failed
Pure desperation
Still hear the cries
Of voices
Long gone by
They've gone abroad
And left this world behind
Leave me behind
Behind the walls I'm crying
The blood of Sirens
On my hands
I can't wash away
Still it pours
And stains our land
In bitterness
So cruel
Will ages go by
Dead sound of misery
Come share our sorrows
Be one with the Hydra
So many times I have failed
Pure desperation
Still hear the cries
Of voices
Long gone by
They've gone abroad
And left this world behind
Leave me behind
Behind the walls I'm crying
The blood of Sirens
On my hands
I can't wash away
Still it pours
And stains our land
In bitterness
So cruel
Will ages go by
Dead sound of misery
Come share our sorrows
Be one with the Hydra
Lyrics submitted by b_n_mc
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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.
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.
I really like these lyrics though, for some reason. The song has sort of grown on me, but still doesn't compare to Fly.