"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.
I'm a suspect, I'm a traitor
I'm only here in body visiting
You're the faces in the distant screens
The beauty is in what isn't said
I'm rising to my feet
Because tonight the world turned on me
Because right now I don't dare to breathe
Oh, babe, I know
It's alive
And somewhere for us to find tonight
Chase this light with me
My just world
My last call
My life is yours in your gifted hands
Confetti rain falls in a quiet stream
These things I found are special now
The night is in my reach
Because tonight the world turned on me
Because right now I don't dare to breathe
Oh, babe, I know
It's alive
And somewhere for us to find tonight
Chase this light with me
Movie still, photograph
Through our mother's eyes I can see
I've seen the best of love, the best of hate
The best reward is earned and I paid
For every single word
I've ever said
Confetti rain falls in a quiet stream
The beauty is in what you make it
So get up on your feet
Because tonight the world turned on me
Because right now I don't dare to breathe
I'm only here in body visiting
You're the faces in the distant screens
The beauty is in what isn't said
I'm rising to my feet
Because tonight the world turned on me
Because right now I don't dare to breathe
Oh, babe, I know
It's alive
And somewhere for us to find tonight
Chase this light with me
My just world
My last call
My life is yours in your gifted hands
Confetti rain falls in a quiet stream
These things I found are special now
The night is in my reach
Because tonight the world turned on me
Because right now I don't dare to breathe
Oh, babe, I know
It's alive
And somewhere for us to find tonight
Chase this light with me
Movie still, photograph
Through our mother's eyes I can see
I've seen the best of love, the best of hate
The best reward is earned and I paid
For every single word
I've ever said
Confetti rain falls in a quiet stream
The beauty is in what you make it
So get up on your feet
Because tonight the world turned on me
Because right now I don't dare to breathe
Lyrics submitted by Smolinski, edited by Syrus666, IfYouSaySo
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
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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.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
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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,
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.
Corrected lyrics.
I'm a suspect, I'm a traitor, I'm only here in body visiting. Yellow faces in the distance screams, "The beauty is in what isn't said," I'm rising to my feet,
Because tonight, the world turned in me. Because right now, I don't dare to breathe. Oh, babe, I know, it's alight and somewhere for us to find, Tonight, oh chase this light with me.
My just so, my last call, My life is yours in your gifted hands. Confetti rainfall in a quiet street. These things I've found are special now, The knot is in my reach,
Because tonight, the world turned in me. Because right now, I don't dare to breathe. Oh, babe, I know, it's alight and somewhere for us to find, Tonight, oh chase this light with me.
A movie, still photograph, Through a martyr's eyes can I see, I've seen the best of love, the best of hate, the best reward is earned, And I've paid for every single word I ever said.
Confetti rainfall in a quiet streets. The beauty is in what you make it, So get up on your feet.
Because tonight, the world turned in me, Because right now, I don't dare to breathe. Oh, babe, I know, it's alight and somewhere for us to find, Tonight, oh chase this light with me. Because tonight, the world turned in me. Because right now, I don't dare to breathe. Oh, babe, I know, it's alight and somewhere for us to find, Tonight, chase this light with me.
to me it sounds like "it's alive and somewhere for us to find tonight"
I think this song is about getting married "Tonight the world turned in me, I dont dar breathe. The moment you are looking in that persons eyes and your so happy..also when he says "my life is yours in gifted hands..also confetti rain..that is waht people throw when after a couple gets married..its beautiful to think of it that way, very desrciptive i love this sonG!!
Not 100% on theese, the version i have is a little dodgey. Please post corrections :).
great song with tons of potential. the lyrics in this one are really moving. i hope this song makes it on their new album. as for now, you can watch it on the website. rock on jim.
oh my godd haha im like amazed this is the first time ive seen someoone who submitted the lyrics comment it :)
haha off subject and a little weird i know, but meh. :)
woot can't wait for the new album!
new album out on Oct 16th. this song is... well i love the melody and most of the lyrics, but some lines could use changing, i think. of course i've always though that of many JEW songs. i'll wait for the final CD version before i post my "meaning"
this song is beautiful.
can't wait for the new cd to come out!!!