"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.
My eyes have once again been proven wrong
Your clouds, your blanket and my pity song
Hovering on your front lawn
Carry on until it's gone
What can I do?
The river's overrun
We're swimming in a flood, you know?
I thought I felt your touch
But the water's rising up
Then I lie naked in a rampage
In the flesh, face to face with the onset
I forget everything that's ever made me
Rise again
Now slowly leave my memory
What can I do?
The river's overrun
We're swimming in a flood, you know?
I thought I felt your touch
But the water's rising up
Now all my lovers raise their cups
What can I do?
The river's overrun
We're swimming in a flood, you know?
I thought I felt your touch
But the water's rising up
Now all my lovers raise their cups
Your clouds, your blanket and my pity song
Hovering on your front lawn
Carry on until it's gone
What can I do?
The river's overrun
We're swimming in a flood, you know?
I thought I felt your touch
But the water's rising up
Then I lie naked in a rampage
In the flesh, face to face with the onset
I forget everything that's ever made me
Rise again
Now slowly leave my memory
What can I do?
The river's overrun
We're swimming in a flood, you know?
I thought I felt your touch
But the water's rising up
Now all my lovers raise their cups
What can I do?
The river's overrun
We're swimming in a flood, you know?
I thought I felt your touch
But the water's rising up
Now all my lovers raise their cups
Lyrics submitted by lulzmaster
Swimming in the Flood Lyrics as written by Michael Angelakos
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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The Night We Met
Lord Huron
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This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
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/
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Tell me this song doesn't remind you of when you were a child. That's what I feel, at least.
I have to say, there are some great interpretations on here already. (I have gleaned some ideas from all of you based on my cursory glances.) Here's my initial interpretation:
I believe he accused his girlfriend of cheating, and it's not the first time. In fact, I think the whole premise of water is an allusion to boiling tempers. "...Been proven wrong your clouds your blanket," 'clouds' can be taken as a state of suspicion e.g. he was wrong about his suspicions of her and her blanket, which I believe is relating to sex.
Furthermore the "pity song" is actually him on her front lawn screaming out "what can I do?" and she doesn't respond. This is compounded by the fact that he screams out "we're swimming in a flood, you know?" He's actually asking her out loud to elicit a response.
Then finally he comes back to reality ("in the flesh"), "face to face" with the start of the argument and he forgets why it even started. Finally, the entire argument fades from his memory like arguments usually do. I don't know whether they make up, or not, I don't think so though.
Final note: "now all my lovers raise their cups" clearly this is signalling for anyone who has ever felt the same way to agree.
The only loose ends I'm curious about is why the water is referred to as a river sometimes. Maybe it's just to present more striking imagery. Who knows, but I love the song!!!
"What can I do? The river's overrun We're swimming in a flood, you know? I thought I felt your touch But the water's rising up Now all my lovers raise their cups"
so amazing...
While I love the other interpretations, this song has always had a different meaning to me.
The strings leading into the bass in the opening, something about it has this bittersweet but comforting feel to me. To me this song is hopeful but confused about love, or a new love. It is about a relationship between two people, one of them narrating the song. This person doesn't say they are drowning, but they are SWIMMING in the flood! It makes me so happy, to think that something so overwhelming and confusing, like love, can still be endured if your with the right person. When they say 'what can i do?' and 'you know?' they are asking the other can you believe this? Or are you with me? Like a flood, love is overwhelming, but there swimming in it! Anyone else ever think of it like that?
In an interview with ABC, Michael said one of the songs on the new album was about the end of the world. This is clearly it.
;) So the end is near? What do we do when mother shakes us off in our overgrown perportion to she herself? Well we must spread our wings and fly. For, yes, you are correct. And you have stumbled upon a truth so deeply imbedded within the hearts of man, that they have been blind to see it. Yet you my dearest, you can see. If only you shall take the next step, and learn to fly as we have. Keep searching for "blessed is he (or she) who seeks the truth...".
I really love this song.
I thought I felt your touch But the water's rising up...
Best line.
Wow...this might be my favorite off the new album. Those strings at the beginning, and then the drum machine popping in, is so....well, I'll stop gushing. Except I'm afraid I don't have any meaningful analysis to add. Oh well. :P
I was only half listening the first time I heard this song (doing homework) and I thought he said, "In the flesh, face to face with Beyonce." Much better lyric. I think Passion Pit should make this a regular ad lib during their live shows.
sweens i thought it said the same thing haha!
hahaha, I've been hearing that too! I kinda always knew that it was 'onset' but it was entertaining to think of it as Beyonce. Beyonce on a Passion Pit track... that would be interesting....
This band is so original, their sound is so striking and emotional and just cool. I feel like you could get a lot of meaning out of this song if you were going through something and heard this song. But there's nothing in my life to relate these words to right now. I'm just listening to it, enjoying the sound, liking how it makes me feel.
I feel this song can have a much more deeper meaning. I almost feel as it can relate to a relationship that you know is no good for you but you can't help but go back to it. I feel around for it and think the second time around might be different but again you're wrong. Just a thought