"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'm angry all the time,
No one's fault but mine
Tell me how you fashion kind
When you're out of style?
And I've tried hard to answer
All the questions that you've posed
Tell me now how should I care
When I feel so alone
And so unloved
The pressure is rising
I mean it, it's binding
I've been compromising for you
When you come home really late at night
Ripe to pick a fight
I know just the kind you'd like
So come on and bite
And I try hard to answer
All the punches that you throw
Tell me now how should I fair
When I feel so unloved and so alone
The pressure is rising
I mean it, it's binding
I've been compromising for you
The pressure is rising
I've been compromising for you
I'm waiting at the bus stop in the morning
And it's pouring
Oh, I am waiting at the bust stop for you
Staring at walls with closed doors
The key that won't work
Sure helps the time pass by
Saying I'm wrong when I'm wrong
Knowing it's the right thing
Sure helps the thoughts in my mind
The pressure is rising
I mean it, it's binding
I've been compromising for you
You, you
I am waiting at the bus stop
In the morning
And it's boring
I am waiting at the bus stop for you
No one's fault but mine
Tell me how you fashion kind
When you're out of style?
And I've tried hard to answer
All the questions that you've posed
Tell me now how should I care
When I feel so alone
And so unloved
The pressure is rising
I mean it, it's binding
I've been compromising for you
When you come home really late at night
Ripe to pick a fight
I know just the kind you'd like
So come on and bite
And I try hard to answer
All the punches that you throw
Tell me now how should I fair
When I feel so unloved and so alone
The pressure is rising
I mean it, it's binding
I've been compromising for you
The pressure is rising
I've been compromising for you
I'm waiting at the bus stop in the morning
And it's pouring
Oh, I am waiting at the bust stop for you
Staring at walls with closed doors
The key that won't work
Sure helps the time pass by
Saying I'm wrong when I'm wrong
Knowing it's the right thing
Sure helps the thoughts in my mind
The pressure is rising
I mean it, it's binding
I've been compromising for you
You, you
I am waiting at the bus stop
In the morning
And it's boring
I am waiting at the bus stop for you
Lyrics submitted by somekindofprowess
Pressure Lyrics as written by
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Little Feat
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The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
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,
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
great song
So I've been trying to figure out this line for a while now and today it came to me: Tell me how you fashion kind When you're out of style
I think what it's saying is like...when you are out of optimism/kindness/whatever how do you pretend you still have some left? How can one still be kind when they are on the verge of going insane or getting agnry, etc.
I recently went to a COT show and Genevieve (singer) said that this song is about compromising with people or things to do what you love.
i thought the song was about the tension when love is burning out. You try really hard to not let it die but how can you if deep down you know the other person doesn't want you to. It gets boring trying to not annoy someone and i think thats what shes talking about when shes so alone and unloved. Because being in a relationship for so long can really destroy your sociability with everyone else. And when the person your with is just there, but the love is dying out, they want to be left alone. its tough and her passion in the song and video really shows it.