"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.
If Jesus had a wife
that would sure piss some people off
I'm not quite sure why
but then I was taught to scoff
Mary Magdelene was either a whore
or a nice little homemaker
who happened to marry the Son of God
and had him taken from her
If Jesus had a wife
he probably had some kids too
and wouldn't that throw a wrench in things
now what do we do?
can his daughter become a priest?
would they make an exception
and the whole papal celibacy thing
label a misconception
If Jesus had a wife
he might have had a jr.
a jr. Jesus would have big shoes to fill
but I don't mean to infer
that he would have been the black sheep
or veer in ways askew
only that it may have been temping
to drop a mame or two
If Jesus had a wife
that would be just fine with me
as long as she wasn't a nag
and didn't scream like a banshee
when he got called late at night
to perform a miracle with prayer
and then got grilled when he got home
about the other women there
That was a man nailed to that cross
he bled and cried in pain
but his disciples running things down here
they'd nail him up again
if he came back for a visit
and divulged a thing or two
that's not written in a hotel drawer
by the chosen few
that would sure piss some people off
I'm not quite sure why
but then I was taught to scoff
Mary Magdelene was either a whore
or a nice little homemaker
who happened to marry the Son of God
and had him taken from her
If Jesus had a wife
he probably had some kids too
and wouldn't that throw a wrench in things
now what do we do?
can his daughter become a priest?
would they make an exception
and the whole papal celibacy thing
label a misconception
If Jesus had a wife
he might have had a jr.
a jr. Jesus would have big shoes to fill
but I don't mean to infer
that he would have been the black sheep
or veer in ways askew
only that it may have been temping
to drop a mame or two
If Jesus had a wife
that would be just fine with me
as long as she wasn't a nag
and didn't scream like a banshee
when he got called late at night
to perform a miracle with prayer
and then got grilled when he got home
about the other women there
That was a man nailed to that cross
he bled and cried in pain
but his disciples running things down here
they'd nail him up again
if he came back for a visit
and divulged a thing or two
that's not written in a hotel drawer
by the chosen few
Lyrics submitted by azkm
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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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.
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.
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/
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.