"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.
Forever alone
Until I found you
Now you're always there
Voice on the air
Scent on my clothes
Oh, but when the sun
Exposes all my demons
Will you stay, or run away?
I'll help you find your way
Every moment you're awake
You know I'll stay
Even in your dreams
I'll pull the stars down from the heavens
To fill your empty skies
I'm yours tonight
I'm yours tonight
Whenever you go
They say I'm bad news
When everyone agrees
Whispers start sounding like screams
Oh, but I know what you want
To say before the words escape your teeth
Will you trust in me?
I'll help you find your way
Every moment you're awake
You know I'll stay
Even in your dreams
I'll pull the stars down from the heavens
To fill your empty skies
I'm yours tonight
I'm yours tonight
My good intentions
Can leave the hardest hearts
The harshest scars you've ever seen
My bad impressions
They will follow me
Makin' enemies that I can't see
Forever alone
Till I found you
I know that you'll stay
You won't run away
I'll help you find your way
Every moment you're awake
You know I'll stay
Even in your dreams
I'll pull the stars down from the heavens
To fill your empty skies
I'm yours tonight
I'll help you find your way
Every moment you're awake
You know I'll stay
Even in your dreams
I'll pull the stars down from the heavens
To fill your empty skies
I'm yours tonight
(I'm yours tonight)
I'm yours tonight
Until I found you
Now you're always there
Voice on the air
Scent on my clothes
Oh, but when the sun
Exposes all my demons
Will you stay, or run away?
I'll help you find your way
Every moment you're awake
You know I'll stay
Even in your dreams
I'll pull the stars down from the heavens
To fill your empty skies
I'm yours tonight
I'm yours tonight
Whenever you go
They say I'm bad news
When everyone agrees
Whispers start sounding like screams
Oh, but I know what you want
To say before the words escape your teeth
Will you trust in me?
I'll help you find your way
Every moment you're awake
You know I'll stay
Even in your dreams
I'll pull the stars down from the heavens
To fill your empty skies
I'm yours tonight
I'm yours tonight
My good intentions
Can leave the hardest hearts
The harshest scars you've ever seen
My bad impressions
They will follow me
Makin' enemies that I can't see
Forever alone
Till I found you
I know that you'll stay
You won't run away
I'll help you find your way
Every moment you're awake
You know I'll stay
Even in your dreams
I'll pull the stars down from the heavens
To fill your empty skies
I'm yours tonight
I'll help you find your way
Every moment you're awake
You know I'll stay
Even in your dreams
I'll pull the stars down from the heavens
To fill your empty skies
I'm yours tonight
(I'm yours tonight)
I'm yours tonight
Lyrics submitted by thoseguiltyeyes
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Ebba Grön
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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Dusty Springfield
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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/
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Ed Sheeran
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Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Head > Heels
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“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
"Oh, but when the sun Exposes all my demons Will you stay around for us?"
I believe this song is about how William obviously has had many girls, and that he sees how that might scare this girl off that the song is written to. When she discovers his past, will she stay with him, trust in him? Sometimes when people start talking, it's hard to defend your decisions.
"My good intentions Can leave the hardest hearts The harshest scars you've ever seen My bad impressions They will follow me Makin' enemies that I can't see"
It's not that he wants to be a player, he has good intentions, but even though girls are left with broken hearts. This follows him, cos people often dislike you if you've had many partners. That's how it is with him. But so he continues to explain that he was alone until he found her. It wasn't love with the other girls, this time it is different. He promises to "help you find your way every moment you're awake", and that's one hell of a big promise.
He's serious this time, and hopes that she'll see how him having had a lot of partners has nothing to do with his situation with her now.
Love the meaning. I think it's very true.