"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.
Corporate or colonial
The movement is unstoppable
Like the body of a centerfold it spreads
To the counter-culture copyright
Get your revolution at a lower price
Or make believe and throw the fight, play dead
It's exploding bags, aerosol cans
Southbound buses, Peter Pan
They left it up to us again
I thought you knew the drill
It's kill or be killed
Future markets, Holy wars
Been tried ten thousand times before
If you think God is keeping score, hooray (victory, a defeat)
For the freedom-fighting simulcast (victory)
The imminent and the aftermath
Draw another bloody bath to drain (oh, Allah, oh Jesus, please)
Like the polar ice caps centrifuge
First snowman built at the end of June
He slicks his hair for the interview
His fifteen-minute fame
Can we agree times have changed?
The movement is unstoppable
Like the body of a centerfold it spreads
To the counter-culture copyright
Get your revolution at a lower price
Or make believe and throw the fight, play dead
It's exploding bags, aerosol cans
Southbound buses, Peter Pan
They left it up to us again
I thought you knew the drill
It's kill or be killed
Future markets, Holy wars
Been tried ten thousand times before
If you think God is keeping score, hooray (victory, a defeat)
For the freedom-fighting simulcast (victory)
The imminent and the aftermath
Draw another bloody bath to drain (oh, Allah, oh Jesus, please)
Like the polar ice caps centrifuge
First snowman built at the end of June
He slicks his hair for the interview
His fifteen-minute fame
Can we agree times have changed?
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
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”
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
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,
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.
I really like the word "centrifuge."
And this is a pretty decent song. But mostly I just like "centrifuge."
[Cassadaga, oh yeah, that's where you're going to find the center of energy. And they've got those in Arizona too. You know, theres, I know that there's wonderful grounds that have vortexes. That you might be interested in going to. And the go to Nevada. And then go to California. And then come south and go back through Arizona. And go through Texas. You know what I'm saying? Getting rid of the old feelings of the old ways. And, you know, it's kind of like with people and the tarot cards. Just because you get the Death card doesn't mean death or dying. It means transoformation. It means changing things around... Cause I was pulling in on a, on a dog or companion Somehow I get the impression that your'e almost a little afraid to start the trip. It doesn't have to be a straigh line happy face. But make kind of a happy face, I mean kind of a smile. Go up, up the east coast, but it's gonna be a circle. You know what I'm saying? It's gonna be a sloppy circle. Dont' be afraid. Years and years and years ago, you know, you might, You might have come across some river and rock and the mountains or whatever. And then when you get there maybe you'll have the answers you seek.
We have moved into a new era and life as we know it is changing. Your relationships, career, and location will all be subject with an energy. Allow me to share with you tips that will assist you during these new times.
Don't give up hope on yourself, no. Just be paitent about the fact that .... how things are unfolding. Because ..... you're less ... why are you afraid to start? I think you should go. I think you should go. You know, plan ahead, pack the things that you think you're gonna need, And then just go. Cassadaga might be just a premonition of a place you're going to visit.]
Most of the voice over.
Words to the background phone.
BEFORE SONG: [Cassadaga... Oh yeah, that's where you're going to find the center of energy. And they've got those in Arizona too. You know, there's, I know that there's wonderful grounds that have vortexes, That you might be interested in going to. And then go to Nevada. And then go to California. And then come south And go back through Arizona. And go through Texas. You know what I'm saying? Getting rid of the old feelings of the old ways of thinking. And, you know, it's kind of like with people and the tarot cards. Just because you get the Death card doesn't mean death or dying. It means transformation. It means changing things around and starting something new. Cause I was pulling in on a, on a dark companion. Somehow I get the impression that you're almost a little afraid to start the trip. It doesn't have to be a straight line happy face. But make kind of a happy face, I mean kind of a smile. Go up, up the east coast, but it's gonna be a circle. You know what I'm saying? It's gonna be a sloppy circle. Don't be afraid. You know, years and years and years ago, you know, you might, You might have come across a river and a rock and the mountains or whatever. And then when you get there maybe you'll have the answers you seek.
We have moved into a new era and life as we know it is changing. Your relationships, career, and location will all be subject with an energy. Allow me to share with you tips that will assist you during these new times.
Don't give up hope on yourself, no. And just be patient about the fact that (be patient about) how things are unfolding. Because, psycically, you're lessons this next year might be decent. So, why are you afraid to start? I think you should go. I think you should go. You know, plan ahead, pack the things that you think you're gonna need, And then just go. Cassadaga might be just a premonition of a place you're going to visit.]
AFTER SONG: [Cassadaga... Oh yeah, that's where you're going to find the center of energy. And they've got those in Arizona too. You know, there's, I know that there's wonderful grounds that have vortexes, That you might be interested in going to. And then go to Nevada. And then go to California. And then come south And go back through Arizona. And go through Texas. You know what I'm saying? Getting rid of the old feelings of the old ways of thinking. And, you know, it's kind of like with people and the tarot cards. Just because you get the Death card doesn't mean death or dying. It means transformation. It means changing things around and starting something new. Cause I was pulling in on a, on a dark companion. Somehow I get the impression that you're almost a little afraid to start the trip. It doesn't have to be a straight line happy face. But make kind of a happy face, I mean kind of a smile. Go up, up the east coast, but it's gonna be a circle. You know what I'm saying? It's gonna be a sloppy circle. Don't be afraid. You know, years and years and years ago, you know, you might, You might have come across a river and a rock and the mountains or whatever. And then when you get there maybe you'll have the answers you seek.
We have moved into a new era and life as we know it is changing. Your relationships, career, and location will all be subject with an energy. Allow me to share with you tips that will assist you during these new times.
Don't give up hope on yourself, no. And just be patient about the fact that (be patient about) how things are unfolding. Because, psycically, you're lessons this next year might be decent. So, why are you afraid to start? I think you should go. I think you should go. You know, plan ahead, pack the things that you think you're gonna need, And then just go. Cassadaga might be just a premonition of a place you're going to visit.]
Just wanted to add those, I edited them after listening to the song many, many times. Kind of freaky song too.
Opps! Posted same thing for before and after.
Here is after again: [Okay, here is what I want you to do; I want you to talk to the universe and ask the universe, figures and times to help you decide where you want to go. I don't know how many, that I can't read. But I see you have a lot of lifetime because you have a lot. I know you don't believe in what I do. Learn to shut your mouth and keep the trees over snow(?) (You have a lot of lifetime) I, I can tell you why you are seeing yourself up like that. I see a very unique Indian medicine. 'Cause I see that you two have a beautiful connection.
(Drowned out in the music.)
Find out where you can find the energy that you're looking for. California, Nebraska, South Dakota, New York, Arizona, or Florida. That comes up very strong. In this lifetime. I don't get good feelings there at all. And I can feel them around me. I can feel, I can definitely hear them. I can see them, through the window. Constantly there; morning, noon, and night. And you have no idea how they have tried to debate that. Because there are a lot of people that do not believe.]
Please post if you have any corrections!
While I probably wouldn't be able to connect every line, I think the meaning is pretty clear. He's critiquing our culture, and the relentlessness of our 'free market'.
Colonialism is looked down upon for it's imperialism. How it inherently means taking over other places, other culture, destroying them or cheapening them, then assimilating the natives. Of course this is the beginning of America. He connects that with our modern day economy, based on corporatism! Corporations are showing the same characteristics of colonialism. We see these companies setting up chains all over the world and using cheap labor in various desperate countries - taking advantage of them. Our economy has to keep growing (and destroying) in order to subsist - therefore it's unstoppable, snowball effect. Corporations are too strong.
"To the counter-culture copyright Get your revolution at a lower price Or make believe and throw the fight, play dead"
This shows how anything new, original and REAL that develops from the younger generation is quickly commercialized, cheapened, and marketed to make profit. counter-culture copyright is an oxymoron. Counter-cultures are meant to be going against the status quo, and the companies put a copyright on the clothing styles and such, then profit profit profit some more. They sell ideas like revolution and such. Just imagine the 60's and the Beatles and such. They took all the ideas and styles and music at the time and raped it until it was nothing left but a joke.
The next few lines might be talking about pollution and such. And "they left it up to us again" might mean that once again, the older generation is continuing to fuck the earth and it's inhabitants, and leaving the problem to us.
"Kill or be killed" is the nature of our economic system.
The next verse talks about how it's all the same stuff that's been happening for thousands of years. He doesn't see anything changing in the near future. We'll basically go until collapse. Obviously, he also pokes at religion for it's bad influence on a lot of these things.
Anyways, I just heard this for the first time. Maybe that's not his message, but that's what I got.
i really like the intro to this
Ahh I love this song, I've been humming it at school all day. But it is "Corporate Whore, Colonial", not " or"
Conor always starts his albums with amazing intro tracks.. Cassadaga is no different, i think its or tho... not whore
Sorry triple, but it's definitely "Corporate or Colonial." I have the lyrics booklet to Cassadaga, pre-ordered the LP and it came early :). I tried to copy the lyrics exactly as they appear there, down to punctuation (or lack thereof), capitalization, stanza breaks, etc.
oh well if you have the lyric book I guess it must be right. I was just basing it off this article
urb.com/permalink/370/Bright-Eyes-New-Album-Preview!.html