"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.
Got no future plans
I've got dirty hands
I've had some bad relationships
And one night stands
But I know it's gonna make me a better man because of it
If there's a God,
Then he knows that I've commited sins
I've played the game
And I don't always win
But, nobody does
Nobody does
Fags, beer and herbal highs
Just an aid to enjoy my life
Gonna live now before I die
'cause we're a long time dead
Using all your time spent
Thinking 'bout what's been said
Looking over past love
Regretting little things you've done
Don't you know that life's worth
Living for the second, minute, hour
Loving everyday 'cause
That's all the time you've got
Don't you know that life's too short
And don't you know that life's worth
Living for the second, minute, hour
In my head there are land mines try'na explode
Atomic bombs that are ready to blow
It's hard to believe that nobody knows
This war I see
No peace talks, no police walk around
Try'na stop shots from knocking me down
The bullets make no sound
So no-one knows this war in me
In me, in me
Fags, beer and herbal highs
Just an aid to enjoy my life
Gonna live now before I die
'cause we're a long time dead
Using all your time spent
Thinking 'bout what's been said
Looking over past love
Regretting little things you've done
Don't you know that life's worth
Living for the second, minute, hour
Loving everyday 'cause
That's all the time you've got
Don't you know that life's too short
And don't you know that life's worth
Living for the second, minute, hour
Do I have to be part of this
Do I have to join in with this
Why should I conform to your reflection
Do I have to take all of this
Well I think it's worth the risk
I'll go the way that I know best
I'll go with my direction
The wisest thing ever said to me:
Life's too short to live a lie
I know, I know I don't know everything
But I know, I know I've got to try
I know I've got to try
Using all your time spent
Thinking 'bout what's been said
Looking over past love
Regretting little things you've done
Don't you know that life's worth
Living for the second, minute, hour
Loving everyday 'cause
That's all the time you've got
Don't you know that life's too short
And don't you know that life's worth
Living for the second, minute, hour
I've got dirty hands
I've had some bad relationships
And one night stands
But I know it's gonna make me a better man because of it
If there's a God,
Then he knows that I've commited sins
I've played the game
And I don't always win
But, nobody does
Nobody does
Fags, beer and herbal highs
Just an aid to enjoy my life
Gonna live now before I die
'cause we're a long time dead
Using all your time spent
Thinking 'bout what's been said
Looking over past love
Regretting little things you've done
Don't you know that life's worth
Living for the second, minute, hour
Loving everyday 'cause
That's all the time you've got
Don't you know that life's too short
And don't you know that life's worth
Living for the second, minute, hour
In my head there are land mines try'na explode
Atomic bombs that are ready to blow
It's hard to believe that nobody knows
This war I see
No peace talks, no police walk around
Try'na stop shots from knocking me down
The bullets make no sound
So no-one knows this war in me
In me, in me
Fags, beer and herbal highs
Just an aid to enjoy my life
Gonna live now before I die
'cause we're a long time dead
Using all your time spent
Thinking 'bout what's been said
Looking over past love
Regretting little things you've done
Don't you know that life's worth
Living for the second, minute, hour
Loving everyday 'cause
That's all the time you've got
Don't you know that life's too short
And don't you know that life's worth
Living for the second, minute, hour
Do I have to be part of this
Do I have to join in with this
Why should I conform to your reflection
Do I have to take all of this
Well I think it's worth the risk
I'll go the way that I know best
I'll go with my direction
The wisest thing ever said to me:
Life's too short to live a lie
I know, I know I don't know everything
But I know, I know I've got to try
I know I've got to try
Using all your time spent
Thinking 'bout what's been said
Looking over past love
Regretting little things you've done
Don't you know that life's worth
Living for the second, minute, hour
Loving everyday 'cause
That's all the time you've got
Don't you know that life's too short
And don't you know that life's worth
Living for the second, minute, hour
Lyrics submitted by romanceisdead
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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,
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/
I recently fell in love with flamboyant bella. hah. They are actually rather.. dreamy. all there songs have a sort of make-believe quality about them. This song is about living for the moment and just taking chances. and doing things that may be frowned upon to have the most fun possible. and quite rightly so.
I hated this song when I first heard it, but I'm learning to love it more and more these days.
My favorite verse, musically: Fags, beer and herbal highs Just an aid to enjoy my life Gonna live now before I die 'cause we're a long time dead