"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 got six
That's all there is
Six time one is six, one times six
He got six
I put mine with his and we got twelve
Six time two is twelve, two times six
I got six, you got six
She got six
We got eighteen altogether
If we can get them all together
Six time three is eighteen, three times six
I got six in my right hand
Six in my left hand
Six on my head
And you got six in your pocket
Put them all on the floor - that's 24
Six time four is 24, four times six
I got six red hens
They laid five eggs each
All the eggs hatched out
And the yard was full of 30 little chicks
Six time five is 30, five times six
One fine day
They all started in to lay
I got 36 eggs, and I took them in the house
And I put them in boxes
Six eggs each, six boxes
Aw, six times six is 36, six times six
Going to the candy store -
I'll take six of these and six of those
And six of them and six of the others
And also six of the red, six of the white
And six of the blue
I'll put them in one bag - that's 42
Six times seven is 42, seven times six
Oh, I'm throwing downtown
Picking up six
I made eight tricks
And didn't miss a lick
Six times eight is 48, eight times six
Nine hungry men had six dollars each (aw!)
That's 54 bucks
But they were out of luck
Because 54 bucks won't buy dinner downtown
Not for nine
Then there were six hungry men
They had nine dollars each (yeah!)
And they went downtown, and the waiter said, "Sit down!"
Oh, it makes a big difference how you spread it around
Six time nine is 54, nine times six
See that prince over there? (Yeah!)
The one with the fuzzy hair
He's got six rings on every finger
He don't wash no dishes
Not with 60 diamonds
Six time ten is 60, ten times six
He brought along eleven camels
Now, ain't that nice? (Ain't that nice?)
Each one loaded down with six casks of oil and spice
Brought quite a price
Six time eleven is 66, eleven times six
He had twelve wives
He better be rich
Each one had six kids, six children each
Six time twelve is 72, twelve times six
But me, I got six (I got six)
That's all there is (That's all there is)
Six times one is six, one times six
I got six (I got six)
That's all there is (That's all there is)
That's all there is
Six time one is six, one times six
He got six
I put mine with his and we got twelve
Six time two is twelve, two times six
I got six, you got six
She got six
We got eighteen altogether
If we can get them all together
Six time three is eighteen, three times six
I got six in my right hand
Six in my left hand
Six on my head
And you got six in your pocket
Put them all on the floor - that's 24
Six time four is 24, four times six
I got six red hens
They laid five eggs each
All the eggs hatched out
And the yard was full of 30 little chicks
Six time five is 30, five times six
One fine day
They all started in to lay
I got 36 eggs, and I took them in the house
And I put them in boxes
Six eggs each, six boxes
Aw, six times six is 36, six times six
Going to the candy store -
I'll take six of these and six of those
And six of them and six of the others
And also six of the red, six of the white
And six of the blue
I'll put them in one bag - that's 42
Six times seven is 42, seven times six
Oh, I'm throwing downtown
Picking up six
I made eight tricks
And didn't miss a lick
Six times eight is 48, eight times six
Nine hungry men had six dollars each (aw!)
That's 54 bucks
But they were out of luck
Because 54 bucks won't buy dinner downtown
Not for nine
Then there were six hungry men
They had nine dollars each (yeah!)
And they went downtown, and the waiter said, "Sit down!"
Oh, it makes a big difference how you spread it around
Six time nine is 54, nine times six
See that prince over there? (Yeah!)
The one with the fuzzy hair
He's got six rings on every finger
He don't wash no dishes
Not with 60 diamonds
Six time ten is 60, ten times six
He brought along eleven camels
Now, ain't that nice? (Ain't that nice?)
Each one loaded down with six casks of oil and spice
Brought quite a price
Six time eleven is 66, eleven times six
He had twelve wives
He better be rich
Each one had six kids, six children each
Six time twelve is 72, twelve times six
But me, I got six (I got six)
That's all there is (That's all there is)
Six times one is six, one times six
I got six (I got six)
That's all there is (That's all there is)
Lyrics submitted by Mellow_Harsher
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Bee Gees
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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.
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Magical
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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.
I saw about 4 or 5 Schoolhouse Rock videos every Saturday morning when I was a kid. Now my kids have the DVD. I still chuckle when I hear, "...and the waiter said "Sit Down! Oh I makes a big difference how you spread it around" and also, "He had twelve wives. HE BETTER BE RICH !"