"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.
2 O'Clock you're still sleeping
When you wake up you'll be in such pain.
And I wait with the plate, piled high with my love
That you wont eat from
Love, you think you can contain me
But the future is already known
We give up our rest, and the best of us though
We'd be better off alone
There's no need to be so terrible
When you know I would do anything for you
This is so laughable, whatever happened to
Knowing that this was forever.
File off the sharpness of feelings so
I'll be protected from all of your evil
When you come round my love, I'll be gone, finally done
Never to come to your rescue.
When you wake up you'll be in such pain.
And I wait with the plate, piled high with my love
That you wont eat from
Love, you think you can contain me
But the future is already known
We give up our rest, and the best of us though
We'd be better off alone
There's no need to be so terrible
When you know I would do anything for you
This is so laughable, whatever happened to
Knowing that this was forever.
File off the sharpness of feelings so
I'll be protected from all of your evil
When you come round my love, I'll be gone, finally done
Never to come to your rescue.
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
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Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
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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.
Amazing
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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.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
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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.
this might be my favorite song of hers. such simple lyrics, and yet they resonate so profoundly with sincere and intense emotions... a song of foolish mistakes, and reactions to the hurt that they caused. the intentions of both parties were pure, wanting to show their love for each other and failing because of immaturity of one or both. yet they tried with all their might to hold onto control and each other in order to make up for it, only to realize that it is impossible because there is too much pain from their mistakes, and they couldn't force what needed to come naturally. this song is the singer's last attempt at reaching out to his/her lover before leaving, because it feels hopeless, that the lover has been pushed too far away, that trust has been destroyed... it seems they have been damaged beyond repair. the rejection and destruction of hopes is too much for the singer to take, and the song is in a very defensive tone. it has somewhat of a "sour-grapes" attitude. none of the singer's mistakes are acknowledged.
"i wait with a plate piled high with my love that you won't eat from"
"love you think you can contain me, but the future is already known"
"we give up our rest and the best of us though we'd be better off alone"
"this is so laughable, whatever happened to knowing that this was forever"
"file off the sharpness of feelings so i'll be protected from all of your evil"
"i'll be gone, finally done, never to come to your rescue"
god... i miss him so fucking much.