"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.
Maybe you'll see me on the evening news
Maybe you'll see me with a bag over my head
If that's the case then I've met my doom
If that's the case then my comrades are dead
And I don't hate my enemy
I hate the cloud he's brought over my land
There's no virtue in killing a man
Neither is there virtue in being afraid to stand
But I saw the black coats forming lines
They hit our beaches running
We're on our knees but not to pray
You're the only reason I stay in this coward's melee
I'd rather die than live without mercy and love
Sing while the city decays, we'd rather go up in flames
Lest we betray the names of dignity and love
You can't change the course of fates sealed long ago
But hope is not lost, code name Corbeau
We trade their secrets at cost for our lives
The panzer is strong, the raven is wise
I turn my ears to the BBC
I can hear them, they can't hear me
I long to forget all the horrors I've seen
I'll live like a ghost, I'll die with the free
Traitors and turncoats turned aside
Traitors' loose lips sink
They're on their knees but just to beg
You're the only reason I stay in this coward's melee
I'd rather die than live without mercy and love
Sing while the city decays, we'd rather go up in flames
Lest we betray the names of dignity and love
Inside the fuselage, valiant young soldiers singing songs
Fear not my downcast brothers we are the strong arm of the law
By land and air and sea on wings of destiny we ride
Sing while the city decays, sing while we go up in flames
You're the only reason I stay in this coward's melee
I'd rather die than live without mercy and love
Sing while the city decays, we'd rather go up in flames
Lest we betray the names of dignity and love
I'm on your side until my body drains of blood
Lest we betray the names of dignity and love
I'm on your side until my body drains of blood
Maybe you'll see me with a bag over my head
If that's the case then I've met my doom
If that's the case then my comrades are dead
And I don't hate my enemy
I hate the cloud he's brought over my land
There's no virtue in killing a man
Neither is there virtue in being afraid to stand
But I saw the black coats forming lines
They hit our beaches running
We're on our knees but not to pray
You're the only reason I stay in this coward's melee
I'd rather die than live without mercy and love
Sing while the city decays, we'd rather go up in flames
Lest we betray the names of dignity and love
You can't change the course of fates sealed long ago
But hope is not lost, code name Corbeau
We trade their secrets at cost for our lives
The panzer is strong, the raven is wise
I turn my ears to the BBC
I can hear them, they can't hear me
I long to forget all the horrors I've seen
I'll live like a ghost, I'll die with the free
Traitors and turncoats turned aside
Traitors' loose lips sink
They're on their knees but just to beg
You're the only reason I stay in this coward's melee
I'd rather die than live without mercy and love
Sing while the city decays, we'd rather go up in flames
Lest we betray the names of dignity and love
Inside the fuselage, valiant young soldiers singing songs
Fear not my downcast brothers we are the strong arm of the law
By land and air and sea on wings of destiny we ride
Sing while the city decays, sing while we go up in flames
You're the only reason I stay in this coward's melee
I'd rather die than live without mercy and love
Sing while the city decays, we'd rather go up in flames
Lest we betray the names of dignity and love
I'm on your side until my body drains of blood
Lest we betray the names of dignity and love
I'm on your side until my body drains of blood
Lyrics submitted by LivingFlame
Code Name: Raven Lyrics as written by Collin Rigsby Aaron James Babcock
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
Definately, sounds very WWII-ish, reminded me of D-Day.
Here's the youtube video of HoH talking about the inspiration for the song.
youtube.com/watch
...I can't think of what real life application this can take. any ideas?
I watched a video, on YouTube saying it is about a French spy in World War 2. He got these ideas from documentaries, and autobiographies. I like how must of the album is like about the war and that era.
Yeah, it sounds like a biographical song - what you see is largely what you get!
Couple of things that it generally seems to be saying though - there are some things that are worth fighting for, not necessarily militarily, but there are things that are worth facing oppression and opposition for. 'I'd rather die than live without mercy and love' is just a beautiful lyric (and incredibly well sung, that is NOT an easy note for a guy to get to!).
Awesome song musically too...kinda goes without saying though!