"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.
I hear my name
I hear the trash you're talking
In your sleep
The secrets that you're keeping
A chick, that's smart
Did you really think that you could keep her in the dark?
Does she purr?
Does she make it hard?
Hard to speak
Does she dress the part?
I'm sure she'll take some getting used to
Darlin', she won't ever be me
I felt the bite
Take a spit
Suck the poison out of me
I'll make you beg
Make you come
To your senses
If you keep up the shit
Take the hit
Dig the grave
This is how it goes down
This is how it goes down
Gonna run
Gonna scream
Gonna crawl round on your knees
When you realize that no one's gonna measure up to me
Doesn't matter cause I'm over it now
This is how it goes down
This is how it goes down
I'm gonna rage
Stay out really late
I'm gonna hang with all my friends you hate
I may try that threesome
Better late than never and
Better without you
This is your future as I see it
You will be homeless, poor, and broken
She will have left you when she finds out who you are
You're nothing but an extra, and baby I'm the star
I felt the bite
Take a spit
Suck the poison out of me
I'll make you beg
Make you come
To your senses
If you keep up the shit
Take the hit
Dig the grave
This is how it goes down
This is how it goes down
Gonna run
Gonna scream
Gonna crawl round on your knees
When you realize that no one's gonna measure up to me
Doesn't matter cause I'm over it now
This is how it goes down
This is how it goes down
I suppose this is how the story goes, but
Ever since that door closed, I've been going down, down, down, down
The drain and the pain got me nauseous
I should have been more cautious or clever
Whatever, you'll never find a dude with a better head game, and
You can take that both ways
You laughin' like I'm playin' wit your fingers up like oh ?
Wish you would have a threesome without me I pull a O. G.
And text you something criminal and pictures from my old days
I felt the bite
Take a spit
Suck the poison out of me
I'll make you beg
Make you come
To your senses
If you keep up the shit
Take the hit
Dig the grave
This is how it goes down
This is how it goes down
Gonna run
Gonna scream
Gonna crawl round on your knees
When you realize that no one's gonna measure up to me
Doesn't matter cause I'm over it now
This is how it goes down
This is how it goes down
Somebody done lied to you
Cause you're not such a big shot dude
Might wanna rethink it through
Coulda asked me, I woulda told you the truth
Somebody done lied to you
Cause you're not such a big shot dude
Might wanna rethink it through
Shoulda asked me, I woulda told you the truth
I hear the trash you're talking
In your sleep
The secrets that you're keeping
A chick, that's smart
Did you really think that you could keep her in the dark?
Does she purr?
Does she make it hard?
Hard to speak
Does she dress the part?
I'm sure she'll take some getting used to
Darlin', she won't ever be me
I felt the bite
Take a spit
Suck the poison out of me
I'll make you beg
Make you come
To your senses
If you keep up the shit
Take the hit
Dig the grave
This is how it goes down
This is how it goes down
Gonna run
Gonna scream
Gonna crawl round on your knees
When you realize that no one's gonna measure up to me
Doesn't matter cause I'm over it now
This is how it goes down
This is how it goes down
I'm gonna rage
Stay out really late
I'm gonna hang with all my friends you hate
I may try that threesome
Better late than never and
Better without you
This is your future as I see it
You will be homeless, poor, and broken
She will have left you when she finds out who you are
You're nothing but an extra, and baby I'm the star
I felt the bite
Take a spit
Suck the poison out of me
I'll make you beg
Make you come
To your senses
If you keep up the shit
Take the hit
Dig the grave
This is how it goes down
This is how it goes down
Gonna run
Gonna scream
Gonna crawl round on your knees
When you realize that no one's gonna measure up to me
Doesn't matter cause I'm over it now
This is how it goes down
This is how it goes down
I suppose this is how the story goes, but
Ever since that door closed, I've been going down, down, down, down
The drain and the pain got me nauseous
I should have been more cautious or clever
Whatever, you'll never find a dude with a better head game, and
You can take that both ways
You laughin' like I'm playin' wit your fingers up like oh ?
Wish you would have a threesome without me I pull a O. G.
And text you something criminal and pictures from my old days
I felt the bite
Take a spit
Suck the poison out of me
I'll make you beg
Make you come
To your senses
If you keep up the shit
Take the hit
Dig the grave
This is how it goes down
This is how it goes down
Gonna run
Gonna scream
Gonna crawl round on your knees
When you realize that no one's gonna measure up to me
Doesn't matter cause I'm over it now
This is how it goes down
This is how it goes down
Somebody done lied to you
Cause you're not such a big shot dude
Might wanna rethink it through
Coulda asked me, I woulda told you the truth
Somebody done lied to you
Cause you're not such a big shot dude
Might wanna rethink it through
Shoulda asked me, I woulda told you the truth
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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,
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
This is your future as I see it You will be homeless, poor, and broken
i think it's fucked, not poor. i hear the fuck, but not the ED. idk, haha.