"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 said it once,
Said it twice,
That it hurts but I do it again
I don't change, I don't learn, cause I can't let it in
Said it's gone, let it be, 'cause you don't need a friend
Baby I do,
I pull and you push and we cry
Til we laughing again, I
Promise you, you promise me backin' and why
Does it all fall apart in just a matter of time
So I'm thinking maybe
You've made up your mind
Cause you're distant (distant )
And I can't stand to fight no more
So please don't make me hurt you like I do
I don't really trust myself to leave,
Even though I hear you sayin' baby no, no
(no, no, no no no, no no)
I can't take no more of this and
I'm knock, knock, knockin' on your door
Askin' if you still let me in
Won't you stay
(ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay)
Won't you stay?
Memories of the fun that we had in photographs on the wall
Now I can't make you smile or hear you laugh anymore
And I can't help but ask, what's the point of it all
Tell me baby,
Call it love, call it lame, call it joy, call it pain
But I fell, call it girl what you may is but it's painful as hell
To be here while you're there don't need nobody else
So I'm thinking maybe
You've made up your mind
Cause you're distant (distant )
And I can't stand to fight no more
So please don't make me hurt you like I do
I don't really trust myself to leave,
Even though you're tellin' me
(no, no, no no no, no no)
I can't take no more of this and
I'm knock, knock, knockin' on your door
Askin' if you still let me in
Won't you stay
(ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay)
Won't you stay?
If your so meant for me?
And if I'm so meant for you?
Why does this have to be so hard on both of us two?
If your so meant for me?
And if I'm so meant for you?
Why does this have to be so hard on both of us two?
Still you're sayin' (no, no, no no no, no no)
I can't take no more of this and
I'm knock, knock, knockin' on your door
Asking if you still let me in
Won't you stay
(ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay)
Won't you stay?
Won't you stay?
(ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay)
Won't you stay?
Said it twice,
That it hurts but I do it again
I don't change, I don't learn, cause I can't let it in
Said it's gone, let it be, 'cause you don't need a friend
Baby I do,
I pull and you push and we cry
Til we laughing again, I
Promise you, you promise me backin' and why
Does it all fall apart in just a matter of time
So I'm thinking maybe
You've made up your mind
Cause you're distant (distant )
And I can't stand to fight no more
So please don't make me hurt you like I do
I don't really trust myself to leave,
Even though I hear you sayin' baby no, no
(no, no, no no no, no no)
I can't take no more of this and
I'm knock, knock, knockin' on your door
Askin' if you still let me in
Won't you stay
(ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay)
Won't you stay?
Memories of the fun that we had in photographs on the wall
Now I can't make you smile or hear you laugh anymore
And I can't help but ask, what's the point of it all
Tell me baby,
Call it love, call it lame, call it joy, call it pain
But I fell, call it girl what you may is but it's painful as hell
To be here while you're there don't need nobody else
So I'm thinking maybe
You've made up your mind
Cause you're distant (distant )
And I can't stand to fight no more
So please don't make me hurt you like I do
I don't really trust myself to leave,
Even though you're tellin' me
(no, no, no no no, no no)
I can't take no more of this and
I'm knock, knock, knockin' on your door
Askin' if you still let me in
Won't you stay
(ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay)
Won't you stay?
If your so meant for me?
And if I'm so meant for you?
Why does this have to be so hard on both of us two?
If your so meant for me?
And if I'm so meant for you?
Why does this have to be so hard on both of us two?
Still you're sayin' (no, no, no no no, no no)
I can't take no more of this and
I'm knock, knock, knockin' on your door
Asking if you still let me in
Won't you stay
(ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay)
Won't you stay?
Won't you stay?
(ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay)
Won't you stay?
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More Featured Meanings
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.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
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."
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,
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.
This song is sooooooooooooo gud....i luv it but jay seans ugly wiv his new hair cut....he lukd better in his old vids lol