"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.
Lately the sun is castin' shadow over me
So come on and take me by the hand,
Lead me through the trouble waters of the sea
So maybe you got a halo over your head all the time
As for me, all I need is this rhythm for movin'
Cause you know, I keep kickin' it live, yea
Can I get a witness?
To defend my case
No I won't get caught up
In the corporate rat race
Well all I got's this commitment
And behind it I'll stand tall
If flat shadows get me down
I'ma roll if I fall
So step back for a moment
To analyze all that you've achieved
And tell me was it what you wanted?
(Was it what you wanted?)
Did it make you happy?
(Did it make you happy?)
Or had you been decieved?
And if you have still yet to understand this theme
Well plain and simple
Don't live somebody else's dream
Don't you know the sea will surely come again
And the stars will fill the sky
Well it's a simple inspiration
But it always blows my mind, yea
Well can i get a witness?
To present my plea
And no I won't fall victim
To this animosity
All they can teach you
Is the writin' on the wall
I'm gonna cut my strings free
And I'ma roll if I fall
You know I'll roll if I fall..
Cause it's a simple inspiration
It always gets me high
It's a familiar disposition
I can see it in your eyes
It's the beauty of a new sunrise
You can never see one the same
And when we add the score at the end of this life,
Wanna say I won the game
It's the simple inspiration
It always gets me by
It's a familiar disposition
I swear I see it in your eyes
It's the beauty of a new sunrise
You can never see one the same
And when we add the score at the end of this life,
Wanna say I won the game
It's the simple inspiration
It always gets me high
It's a familiar disposition
I swear I see it in your eyes
It's the beauty of a new sunrise
You can never see one the same
And when we add the score at the end of this life,
I Wanna say I won the game (x4)
Yea bring it back, yea
So come on and take me by the hand,
Lead me through the trouble waters of the sea
So maybe you got a halo over your head all the time
As for me, all I need is this rhythm for movin'
Cause you know, I keep kickin' it live, yea
Can I get a witness?
To defend my case
No I won't get caught up
In the corporate rat race
Well all I got's this commitment
And behind it I'll stand tall
If flat shadows get me down
I'ma roll if I fall
So step back for a moment
To analyze all that you've achieved
And tell me was it what you wanted?
(Was it what you wanted?)
Did it make you happy?
(Did it make you happy?)
Or had you been decieved?
And if you have still yet to understand this theme
Well plain and simple
Don't live somebody else's dream
Don't you know the sea will surely come again
And the stars will fill the sky
Well it's a simple inspiration
But it always blows my mind, yea
Well can i get a witness?
To present my plea
And no I won't fall victim
To this animosity
All they can teach you
Is the writin' on the wall
I'm gonna cut my strings free
And I'ma roll if I fall
You know I'll roll if I fall..
Cause it's a simple inspiration
It always gets me high
It's a familiar disposition
I can see it in your eyes
It's the beauty of a new sunrise
You can never see one the same
And when we add the score at the end of this life,
Wanna say I won the game
It's the simple inspiration
It always gets me by
It's a familiar disposition
I swear I see it in your eyes
It's the beauty of a new sunrise
You can never see one the same
And when we add the score at the end of this life,
Wanna say I won the game
It's the simple inspiration
It always gets me high
It's a familiar disposition
I swear I see it in your eyes
It's the beauty of a new sunrise
You can never see one the same
And when we add the score at the end of this life,
I Wanna say I won the game (x4)
Yea bring it back, yea
Lyrics submitted by Aman1414
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
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.
Wow I can't believe no one has commented on this song. It's really good.
I think it's just about following your own dreams instead of the plans that someone else, or just society in general, has seemed to set for you. And if things aren't going great, just roll with it. Every day is a new day to start changing your life for the better. Live for yourself and make the most of your life and you'll be happy in the end.
I love the line, "When we add the score at the end of this life, wanna say I won the game."