"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.
Before you let me fall
Kill me so I don't feel it at all
Push my body up against the wall
And pick your poison
'Cause everything feels wrong
And I don't know where I belong
Take me for granted
Make me feel used
Leave me in pieces
Misery is company
'Cause I know that it's real
I've learned to love the pain
'Cause that's the only way that I know how to feel
Maybe it's a phase
Maybe I'll break out of it someday
Maybe this is just my twisted fate
I always feel like everything is wrong
And I don't know where I belong
Take me for granted
Make me feel used
Leave me in pieces
Misery is company
'Cause I know that it's real
I've learned to love the pain
'Cause that's the only way that I know how
To feel your arms around my neck
I'm suffocating with regret
From all the wasted hours spent
Believing I was never meant
To touch the face of something real
These so-called scars will never heal
But I put down a deal
'Cause that's only way that I know how to feel
Take me for granted
Make me feel used
Leave in pieces
Broken and bruised
Take me for granted
Make me
I promise that you'll
Never keep on fallin' to pieces
Misery is company
'Cause I know that it's real
I've learned to love the pain
'Cause that the only way that I know how to feel
I know how to feel
You're the only way that I know how to feel
Kill me so I don't feel it at all
Push my body up against the wall
And pick your poison
'Cause everything feels wrong
And I don't know where I belong
Take me for granted
Make me feel used
Leave me in pieces
Misery is company
'Cause I know that it's real
I've learned to love the pain
'Cause that's the only way that I know how to feel
Maybe it's a phase
Maybe I'll break out of it someday
Maybe this is just my twisted fate
I always feel like everything is wrong
And I don't know where I belong
Take me for granted
Make me feel used
Leave me in pieces
Misery is company
'Cause I know that it's real
I've learned to love the pain
'Cause that's the only way that I know how
To feel your arms around my neck
I'm suffocating with regret
From all the wasted hours spent
Believing I was never meant
To touch the face of something real
These so-called scars will never heal
But I put down a deal
'Cause that's only way that I know how to feel
Take me for granted
Make me feel used
Leave in pieces
Broken and bruised
Take me for granted
Make me
I promise that you'll
Never keep on fallin' to pieces
Misery is company
'Cause I know that it's real
I've learned to love the pain
'Cause that the only way that I know how to feel
I know how to feel
You're the only way that I know how to feel
Lyrics submitted by rOcK_rUlEz
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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.
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,
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.
The guy in the song obviously is crushed and hurt, he is unable to feel anything but pain, so to make life bearable he became tolerant to it and constantly adapts it as his persona. He meets a girl who he wants to change his life, the last 2 lines of the song "I know how to feel You're the only way that I know how to feel" is a turn around, he only feels anything but pain when ever she is there.