"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.
Desdemona, help yourself
I hear you mourning at the dawn
Desdemona, ask which side
Of all this lying are you on
Did you build yourself a runway?
Did you tell yourself tomorrow?
Did you cry?
And are you dressed in hesitation
when you tell yourself that everything's alright?
Cause I see a distance in your smile
And what your Mondays have become
could be the rest of your life
Desdemona, you're not dead yet
No it's not wrong
If you want everything in life under the sun
Under the sun
Desdemona, you're in love
Do not forget about yourself
Desdemona, bring the people
That you love inside your hell
Cause you are younger in the eyes of those who see you
Please forget about the time
Throw yourself out on these brave and empty branches
In the winter waiting high.
Everybody's out there killing time
But I will be damned to lets you stand here killing mine.
Don't you know we're gonna change a whole world the day
We stop waiting on the world to change
Desdemona, we are not so very different
Do you see?
At the moment braver still
Than what our minds let us believe
Even the walls the will surround you
Somehow steady by your very own hands
I don't know just how to change you
All I know is how to tell you that you can
Cause I'll never tell you how to live
But you keep on telling me
That's just the way it is
Desdemona more then anything I know
Never tell yourself that's just the way it goes
I know it goes
But what do I know
I hear you mourning at the dawn
Desdemona, ask which side
Of all this lying are you on
Did you build yourself a runway?
Did you tell yourself tomorrow?
Did you cry?
And are you dressed in hesitation
when you tell yourself that everything's alright?
Cause I see a distance in your smile
And what your Mondays have become
could be the rest of your life
Desdemona, you're not dead yet
No it's not wrong
If you want everything in life under the sun
Under the sun
Desdemona, you're in love
Do not forget about yourself
Desdemona, bring the people
That you love inside your hell
Cause you are younger in the eyes of those who see you
Please forget about the time
Throw yourself out on these brave and empty branches
In the winter waiting high.
Everybody's out there killing time
But I will be damned to lets you stand here killing mine.
Don't you know we're gonna change a whole world the day
We stop waiting on the world to change
Desdemona, we are not so very different
Do you see?
At the moment braver still
Than what our minds let us believe
Even the walls the will surround you
Somehow steady by your very own hands
I don't know just how to change you
All I know is how to tell you that you can
Cause I'll never tell you how to live
But you keep on telling me
That's just the way it is
Desdemona more then anything I know
Never tell yourself that's just the way it goes
I know it goes
But what do I know
Lyrics submitted by realpopprincess
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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@[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.
Dreamwalker
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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.
I Can't Go To Sleep
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i'm shocked there's no comments about this song. it is one of my favorite songs ever written, its beauutiful, such an underrated band. the singer wrote this song for his sister whiich i think its just precious because most brothers arent fond of their sisters, especially that the sister is older than him. she was at a really tough spot in life and he felt really bad for her so he wrote this song. incredible