"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.
(Run)
I just want to go far enough with less of you
You’re so played out, you’re so played out
There is no secret to your fallacies
The fight had just begun
Hanging from the top you won’t stay here long
Of the death of the era, of the death of this era
We all feel out of place here we’re so fitting of this nightmare
But we dress right, dressed for the occasion
I heard you misplaced yourself, through a friend I really can’t say
Come to think of it, I don’t know his name
But when you left me alone
You left me with the one, (you left me, you left me) the one that I needed most
(you left me you left me on the floor)
What a perfected bloody mess (2x)
They let him down oh so gently,
They put him out like a candle at daybreak
But when I saw him, I fell at his feet as if dead
And he put his right hand upon me and said fear not for I am the first and the last
So shake me awake, there’s nothing left to say
Indecision has come; in it’s brilliance it has come
Oh you’ve pierced me this time and the holes not easily seen
Let there be no surprise, prepare yourselves (4x)
I just want to go far enough with less of you
I just want to go far enough with less of you
You’re so played out, you’re so played out
There is no secret to your fallacies
The fight had just begun
Hanging from the top you won’t stay here long
Of the death of the era, of the death of this era
We all feel out of place here we’re so fitting of this nightmare
But we dress right, dressed for the occasion
I heard you misplaced yourself, through a friend I really can’t say
Come to think of it, I don’t know his name
But when you left me alone
You left me with the one, (you left me, you left me) the one that I needed most
(you left me you left me on the floor)
What a perfected bloody mess (2x)
They let him down oh so gently,
They put him out like a candle at daybreak
But when I saw him, I fell at his feet as if dead
And he put his right hand upon me and said fear not for I am the first and the last
So shake me awake, there’s nothing left to say
Indecision has come; in it’s brilliance it has come
Oh you’ve pierced me this time and the holes not easily seen
Let there be no surprise, prepare yourselves (4x)
I just want to go far enough with less of you
Lyrics submitted by xSternx
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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.
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,
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.