"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.
You've narrowed it down to pictures of memory
You've narrowed it down to dots on a screen
You've narrowed it down to the few or the many
You've narrowed it down 'till there's no space between
You've narrowed it down to the heat or the fever
You've narrowed it down to opinion or blood
You've narrowed it down to belief or believer
You've narrowed it down to a drought or a flood
You're missing the mark, you're sitting alone
Saying it's a long way to Berlin for some painted stone
It's a long way to China where a boy once stood
And it's a long way to Calvary for some nails and wood
You've narrowed it down to hate or be hated
You've narrowed it down, you have covered your eyes
You've narrowed it down to the line you created
You've narrowed it down so you don't have to try
You're missing the mark, you're sitting alone
Saying it's a long way to Berlin for some painted stone
It's a long way to China where a boy once stood
And it's a long way to Calvary for some nails and wood
And you've narrowed it down to the blinkers of reason
You've narrowed it down to the fingers of chance
You've narrowed it down to a soul for a season
You've narrowed it down to the fight or the dance
You've narrowed it down to the fight or the dance
You've narrowed it down to dots on a screen
You've narrowed it down to the few or the many
You've narrowed it down 'till there's no space between
You've narrowed it down to the heat or the fever
You've narrowed it down to opinion or blood
You've narrowed it down to belief or believer
You've narrowed it down to a drought or a flood
You're missing the mark, you're sitting alone
Saying it's a long way to Berlin for some painted stone
It's a long way to China where a boy once stood
And it's a long way to Calvary for some nails and wood
You've narrowed it down to hate or be hated
You've narrowed it down, you have covered your eyes
You've narrowed it down to the line you created
You've narrowed it down so you don't have to try
You're missing the mark, you're sitting alone
Saying it's a long way to Berlin for some painted stone
It's a long way to China where a boy once stood
And it's a long way to Calvary for some nails and wood
And you've narrowed it down to the blinkers of reason
You've narrowed it down to the fingers of chance
You've narrowed it down to a soul for a season
You've narrowed it down to the fight or the dance
You've narrowed it down to the fight or the dance
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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.
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.