"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.
No one's making any noise now, sshhh
We've been waiting for so long
They took away our films and tapes and notebooks
But it's okay, we've self-censored this song
But these lines are all individuals
And there's no such thing as a song
And even the silent are now guilty in the (empire of the senseless)
What's your line of questioning, sir?
(Empire of the senseless)
I can't interrupt intercept a one word sentence
Invent a war in secrecy
Sliding scenery like a vintage toy
Isn't plastic surgery wonderful?
Satellite secret national security
(Empire of the senseless)
Turning journalists into heroes takes some doing
(Empire of the senseless)
Boring Ollie north down in the subway dealing drugs and guns
(Empire of the senseless)
Turning little liars into heroes, it's what they've always done
(Empire of the senseless)
This song promotes homosexuality
It's in a pretended family relationship with the others on this record
And on the charts and on the jukebox
And in the radio
And in the radio
No one's making any noise now, sshhh
Stay quiet
All unacceptable gropings have been removed from the screen
Only eyes full of unspeakable thoughts remain
And even the silent are now guilty in the (empire of the senseless)
Baked beans, sugar, and margarine
(Empire of the senseless)
Bread, jam, groceries, and lard
For the unsentimental
The men who like the lady hard
The men who like the hard lady
And you know that people are really rather afraid
(Empire of the senseless)
Afraid of being swamped
(Empire of the senseless)
Afraid of being swamped by selfishness and greed
(Empire of the senseless)
(Empire of the senseless)
(Empire of the senseless)
(Empire of the senseless)
(Empire of the senseless)
We've been waiting for so long
They took away our films and tapes and notebooks
But it's okay, we've self-censored this song
But these lines are all individuals
And there's no such thing as a song
And even the silent are now guilty in the (empire of the senseless)
What's your line of questioning, sir?
(Empire of the senseless)
I can't interrupt intercept a one word sentence
Invent a war in secrecy
Sliding scenery like a vintage toy
Isn't plastic surgery wonderful?
Satellite secret national security
(Empire of the senseless)
Turning journalists into heroes takes some doing
(Empire of the senseless)
Boring Ollie north down in the subway dealing drugs and guns
(Empire of the senseless)
Turning little liars into heroes, it's what they've always done
(Empire of the senseless)
This song promotes homosexuality
It's in a pretended family relationship with the others on this record
And on the charts and on the jukebox
And in the radio
And in the radio
No one's making any noise now, sshhh
Stay quiet
All unacceptable gropings have been removed from the screen
Only eyes full of unspeakable thoughts remain
And even the silent are now guilty in the (empire of the senseless)
Baked beans, sugar, and margarine
(Empire of the senseless)
Bread, jam, groceries, and lard
For the unsentimental
The men who like the lady hard
The men who like the hard lady
And you know that people are really rather afraid
(Empire of the senseless)
Afraid of being swamped
(Empire of the senseless)
Afraid of being swamped by selfishness and greed
(Empire of the senseless)
(Empire of the senseless)
(Empire of the senseless)
(Empire of the senseless)
(Empire of the senseless)
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More Featured Meanings
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.
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.
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/
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
Agree with almondgirrl on the general meaning and that it's a beautiful, gritty, and memorable song. "What's your line of questioning, sir" was a quote from Col. Oliver North during a US congressional hearing regarding illegal covert military operations, if I remember right, during the Reagan presidency. The "hard lady" I think is Margaret Thatcher, who was commonly called the "Iron Lady". The song in my view deals a lot with censorship issues with regard to wars, how mainstream news reporters don't really say the truth (or are prevented from finding it). Nowadays we have thousands of alternative news outlets on internet, but this was not true in the 1980s and 90s, so the effect on people then was a greater sense of powerlessness. I might differ with almondgirrl on one point though: the word "homosexuality" I think has a double-meaning here, and I think at least partially refers to the "mutual admiration society" that is at the heart of the problem of censorship or media control. That stanza I think draws a parallel between how both the media and the recording industry is controlled by a "you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours" profit or career motive. The lyrics are partly ironic because they acknowledge that the band itself also operates in this system. It's a brave song by a very thoughtful and mature lyricist. These are not lyrics to be embarrassed about 25 years later.
This is my favorite Mekons song...how can you not love a song that promotes homosexuality? It really captures the despondent, helpless feeling that many of us had during the Reagan and Thatcher years. Many today probably have no idea who Ollie North is, how he subverted and perverted Democracy. I think we all felt a little guilty ("even the silent are now guilty") though we proceeded with "unacceptable gropings." ;-)
Just noting that The Mekons area also listed as just "Mekons" and there are comments over on that thread. Too bad someone can't consolidate...
"This song promotes homosexuality" was a direct response to Section 28 of the Local Government Act of 1988, which forbade schools in England, Scotland, and Wales from teaching "the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship".
Great song, great band.