"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've been walking through the ruins
Of my life and times
Seems like everything is sinking right in front of my eyes
I've been asking all the questions
But nothings coming back
Now I'm trying to keep myself from slipping through the cracks
Where is my faith
How did I get this far
Who do I blame when it all falls apart
Maybe the moon is just a hole in the sky
One man die, my world is shattering
Maybe the answer's to never ask why
As I watch my life unraveling
As I watch my life unraveling
Unraveling
Maybe the moon is just a hole in the sky
One man die, my world is shattering
Maybe the answer's to never ask why
As I watch my life unraveling
As I watch my life unraveling
Unraveling
Watching it unwind
Unraveling
One man die
Oh, my life's unraveling
Watching it unwind
Unraveling
Of my life and times
Seems like everything is sinking right in front of my eyes
I've been asking all the questions
But nothings coming back
Now I'm trying to keep myself from slipping through the cracks
Where is my faith
How did I get this far
Who do I blame when it all falls apart
Maybe the moon is just a hole in the sky
One man die, my world is shattering
Maybe the answer's to never ask why
As I watch my life unraveling
As I watch my life unraveling
Unraveling
Maybe the moon is just a hole in the sky
One man die, my world is shattering
Maybe the answer's to never ask why
As I watch my life unraveling
As I watch my life unraveling
Unraveling
Watching it unwind
Unraveling
One man die
Oh, my life's unraveling
Watching it unwind
Unraveling
Lyrics submitted by loveydoveytipsy
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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.
i wish i could get this song sung by her, but tyler kyte is still cool...
correct lyrics (the full song, even though she doesn't sing it):
ive been walking through the ruins of my life and times seems like everything is sinking right in front of my eyes
ive been asking all the questions but nothings coming back now im trying to keep myself from slippin' through the cracks
where is my faith how did i get this far? who do i blame? when it all falls apart
maybe the moon's just a hole in the sky one day at a time my world is shattering maybe the answer is to never ask why as i watch my life unraveling
i dont know who to turn to and i wonder who's a friend out of everyone i trusted to be there to the end
Im running out of reasons for putting up a fight trying to drag another lost soul back into the light
how can i heal, so many broken hearts. and who's there for me, when it all falls apart.
maybe the moon's just a hole in the sky one day at a time my world is shattering maybe the answer is to never ask why as i watch my life unraveling unraveling (unraveling)
we were so strong when we started, something went wrong and all the things that mattered somehow got away, away.
maybe the moon's just a hole in the sky one day at a time my world is shattering maybe the answer is to never ask why as i watch my life unraveling as i watch my life unraveling unraveling
gonna watch it unwind One day at a time [x4]