"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.
your branches are growing strong, absorbing the praise from above
but the roots that hold your weight are slowly breaking up
now you dont mind the heat, or lack of rain in the clouds
but soon enough youll dry up and return to the ground
the desert wind has betrayed you; it seems youre all alone
the nights are cold and now you wish that you had known
the cactus life is tough; but not so much when friends pull through
so next time dont forget them and they wont forget about you
respect fades, the heat creates some distance between us
shelter greed with spines; we see your true self underneath
i can see the wall of rain
across the open desert plain
and you wont fight unless you know you can win
dig yourself into the ground
and search for drops; the rushing sound
of air above declares the changing of winds
dont expend your energy on something that you dont believe
but the roots that hold your weight are slowly breaking up
now you dont mind the heat, or lack of rain in the clouds
but soon enough youll dry up and return to the ground
the desert wind has betrayed you; it seems youre all alone
the nights are cold and now you wish that you had known
the cactus life is tough; but not so much when friends pull through
so next time dont forget them and they wont forget about you
respect fades, the heat creates some distance between us
shelter greed with spines; we see your true self underneath
i can see the wall of rain
across the open desert plain
and you wont fight unless you know you can win
dig yourself into the ground
and search for drops; the rushing sound
of air above declares the changing of winds
dont expend your energy on something that you dont believe
Lyrics submitted by BulletproofScales
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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,
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.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
this is all metaphorical, so you can relate to this cactus. your life is strong, full of good and happines, the traditional stuff. but your roots your foundations are 'breaking up' .you can deal with it for now, but eventually its going to wear you out. your company has 'betrayed you' but you could get through this life with your friends, but now theyre gone. its easy to interpret, its just all metaphors
The last line must be my favorite.