"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.
I want to know,
I got to know
What are you made of?
What are you made of?
You never look me in the eye;
I never see the inside of your eye.
Do, do you look at anyone, at anyone?
What are you made of?
What are you made of?
What kind of animal are we?
I always knew you'd make a fool of me,
And I could never look you in the eye -
You prove me right, so do not ask me why.
What kind of animal are we?
I should have never let you into me.
But I never, never learned to swim
Until you came around and pushed me in.
Either in love or never in love,
Always run away, always run away.
You and I, we'll never realize
Fleeting moments that pass by
Are all we ever have.
Either in doubt or never in doubt,
Always run away, always run away.
What kind of animal are we?
I always knew you'd make a fool of me.
And I could never look you in the eye,
You prove me right so do not ask me why.
What kind of animal are we?
I should have never let you into me.
But I never, never learned to swim
Until you came around and pushed me in.
Either in love, or never in love
Always run away, always run away.
I want to know,
I gotta know
What are you made of?
What are you made of.
I got to know
What are you made of?
What are you made of?
You never look me in the eye;
I never see the inside of your eye.
Do, do you look at anyone, at anyone?
What are you made of?
What are you made of?
What kind of animal are we?
I always knew you'd make a fool of me,
And I could never look you in the eye -
You prove me right, so do not ask me why.
What kind of animal are we?
I should have never let you into me.
But I never, never learned to swim
Until you came around and pushed me in.
Either in love or never in love,
Always run away, always run away.
You and I, we'll never realize
Fleeting moments that pass by
Are all we ever have.
Either in doubt or never in doubt,
Always run away, always run away.
What kind of animal are we?
I always knew you'd make a fool of me.
And I could never look you in the eye,
You prove me right so do not ask me why.
What kind of animal are we?
I should have never let you into me.
But I never, never learned to swim
Until you came around and pushed me in.
Either in love, or never in love
Always run away, always run away.
I want to know,
I gotta know
What are you made of?
What are you made of.
Lyrics submitted by SUNSHiN3
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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,
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.