"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.
Only the faintest only the faintest glance buries you buries me
So fire your engine see if I give a damn we'll be dust instantly
Caught in a jet stream caught in a gorgeous howl all the world lost in noise
Use me forever use me as rocket fuel I'll be air I'll be fire
You say you love me like the silence of the turning earth
You say you love me like the endless roar of modern of life
You say you love me like the laughter and the kissed back tears
You say you love me like the past the now the coming years
What will you remember what will you think of me after I say goodbye
Returning in bodies, plants and the sand you'll squeeze between shoeless feet
I know I love you like the silvered gold of dying days
I know I love you like an ancient history brought to life
I know I love you like the sunlit water on your skin
I know I love you like the million times I never said
I know you love me like the silence of the turning earth
I know you love me like the endless roar of modern of life
I know you love me like the laughter and the kissed back tears
I know you love me like the past the now the coming years
So fire your engine see if I give a damn we'll be dust instantly
Caught in a jet stream caught in a gorgeous howl all the world lost in noise
Use me forever use me as rocket fuel I'll be air I'll be fire
You say you love me like the silence of the turning earth
You say you love me like the endless roar of modern of life
You say you love me like the laughter and the kissed back tears
You say you love me like the past the now the coming years
What will you remember what will you think of me after I say goodbye
Returning in bodies, plants and the sand you'll squeeze between shoeless feet
I know I love you like the silvered gold of dying days
I know I love you like an ancient history brought to life
I know I love you like the sunlit water on your skin
I know I love you like the million times I never said
I know you love me like the silence of the turning earth
I know you love me like the endless roar of modern of life
I know you love me like the laughter and the kissed back tears
I know you love me like the past the now the coming years
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
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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,
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
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Blink-182
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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.
First off let me say I love this song. I find it very poetic, but can't really pinpoint its true meaning. I like how the chorus: 'You say you love me like the silence of the turning Earth You say you love me like the endless roar of modern life You say you love me like the laughter and the kissed back tears You say you love me like the past the now the coming years'
Seems to almost zoom in. From the earth, to our lives, to their relationship, to something purely mental, and invented, like time.