"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.
Young William Gates at age 38 says life isn't fun anymore
As he smokes by the window in silence
the ghost writer stares at the door
the engineer sighs as the minutes go by
and the emptiness fills up the tape
the transcription service is waiting outside
for a sign that he's made his escape
the young secretary will snap to attention
as the billionare shifts in his seat
while the older assistents trade glances
and the press agent gets to his feet
the great man will reach with one trembling hand
for the drink that never leaves his side
as the glass slips through his fingers
he'll look to the camera as if to confide and say:
I'm just a man
and there's been a mistake
no one deserves all the things I've been given
and no one can earn all the things I have taken
The rock and roll star stares down at his guitar
and for once in his life words won't come
one million fans slip into silence
by the beat of one lonely kick drum
the next song's all done before it's even begun
and the applause is barely even there
as the manager seats in a back stage control room
convincing himself he should care
the rythm guitarist's climbing into his car
before anyone even notices his gone
and the ladies backstage are all feelin' their age
as they pull their toy fishnets back on
now there's one lonely figure standing under the spotlight
as the crowd slowley trickles away
he raises his hand in a familiar gesture
steps to the mic and lowers his head to say:
I'm just a man
and there's been a mistake
no one deserves all the things I've been given
and no one can earn all the things I have taken
The president stares as the camera records
the blank look in his eyes
two men in a bunker touch keys in their pockets
he opens his mouth
the world holds its breath
he says
I'm just a man
and there's been a mistake
no one deserves all the things I've been given
and no one can earn all the things I have taken
As he smokes by the window in silence
the ghost writer stares at the door
the engineer sighs as the minutes go by
and the emptiness fills up the tape
the transcription service is waiting outside
for a sign that he's made his escape
the young secretary will snap to attention
as the billionare shifts in his seat
while the older assistents trade glances
and the press agent gets to his feet
the great man will reach with one trembling hand
for the drink that never leaves his side
as the glass slips through his fingers
he'll look to the camera as if to confide and say:
I'm just a man
and there's been a mistake
no one deserves all the things I've been given
and no one can earn all the things I have taken
The rock and roll star stares down at his guitar
and for once in his life words won't come
one million fans slip into silence
by the beat of one lonely kick drum
the next song's all done before it's even begun
and the applause is barely even there
as the manager seats in a back stage control room
convincing himself he should care
the rythm guitarist's climbing into his car
before anyone even notices his gone
and the ladies backstage are all feelin' their age
as they pull their toy fishnets back on
now there's one lonely figure standing under the spotlight
as the crowd slowley trickles away
he raises his hand in a familiar gesture
steps to the mic and lowers his head to say:
I'm just a man
and there's been a mistake
no one deserves all the things I've been given
and no one can earn all the things I have taken
The president stares as the camera records
the blank look in his eyes
two men in a bunker touch keys in their pockets
he opens his mouth
the world holds its breath
he says
I'm just a man
and there's been a mistake
no one deserves all the things I've been given
and no one can earn all the things I have taken
Lyrics submitted by Ghost Train
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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
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,
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.
Such a powerful song, always makes me want to listen to it over and over. About the human condition and just thinking about all you have that others don't and the fact you are wasting it rather than helping people who are less fortunate or didn't have those opportunities. My favorite song by them for sure.