"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.
All we on for another, are we on for another summer?
And all the years we've had together, framed you famous in my mind
Are we armed for each other? Will I ever hear your feet work the floor?
All you ever want, I will fight to give it all back
We are young, no rules to follow
Hold hands, no promises, no demands
We're armed, good girl, good girl, don't breathe
We are strong, no one, when all is said and done
I'm on mute, hard face, a smokung gun just last us another summer
And are we on for another, are we on for another summer?
Let's take a seat on mountains high, meet where breaks won't hold time
Are we armed for each other? Will I ever again be your pride and joy?
All we, we've ever learned, I hope to give it all back
We are young, no rules to follow
Hold hands, no promises, no demands
We're armed, good girl, good girl, don't breathe
We are strong, no one, when all is said and done
We are young blood, clever, no rules to follow
Hold hands and we are trapped in the empty hourglass
We're armed for this war on worlds, good girl, good girl, don't
We are strong, strong, but tomorrow
And all the years we've had together, framed you famous in my mind
Are we armed for each other? Will I ever hear your feet work the floor?
All you ever want, I will fight to give it all back
We are young, no rules to follow
Hold hands, no promises, no demands
We're armed, good girl, good girl, don't breathe
We are strong, no one, when all is said and done
I'm on mute, hard face, a smokung gun just last us another summer
And are we on for another, are we on for another summer?
Let's take a seat on mountains high, meet where breaks won't hold time
Are we armed for each other? Will I ever again be your pride and joy?
All we, we've ever learned, I hope to give it all back
We are young, no rules to follow
Hold hands, no promises, no demands
We're armed, good girl, good girl, don't breathe
We are strong, no one, when all is said and done
We are young blood, clever, no rules to follow
Hold hands and we are trapped in the empty hourglass
We're armed for this war on worlds, good girl, good girl, don't
We are strong, strong, but tomorrow
Lyrics submitted by BleedorBreathe
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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,
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/
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.