"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.
In the night, I see a face that's in the dark
Through his eyes I see a light a shiny gold.
And this man he walks alone, singing songs of victory
When he sleeps, there's a struggle and the light begins to fade
Heaven tells the past; all he had, love and fear
He was stronger then, all he had was loving hands
Then one day the thunder struck, evil tears run down his face
And a change good to bad, good to bad
Where to run
Are you there, are you there
In the winter sun, he's dancing in the wind
Where to run
Are you there, are you there
In the wilderness look and you will find him
A mother weeps a child sleeps their broken hearts
Are bleedin' wine, just passing time, their horror shows
There at his grave at violet creek
The place where he began to seek
The evil tide that would dissolve him of all good that stood within
Heaven tells the past; all he had, love and fear
He was stronger then, all he had was loving hands
Then one day the thunder struck, evil tears run down his face
And a change good to bad, good to bad
Where to run
Are you there, are you there
In the winter sun, he's dancing in the wind
Where to run
Are you there, are you there
In the wilderness look and you will find him
Thunder thunder in the town
Thunder waiting for a sound
Tonight tonight we sing the piper's song
Thunder thunder in the town
Thunder waiting for a sound
Tonight tonight we sing the piper's song
Where to run
Are you there, are you there
In the wilderness look and you will find him
Where to run
Are you there, are you there
In the winter sun, he's dancing in the wind
Where to run
Are you there, are you there
In the wilderness look and you will find him
Tonight tonight we sing the piper's song
Through his eyes I see a light a shiny gold.
And this man he walks alone, singing songs of victory
When he sleeps, there's a struggle and the light begins to fade
Heaven tells the past; all he had, love and fear
He was stronger then, all he had was loving hands
Then one day the thunder struck, evil tears run down his face
And a change good to bad, good to bad
Where to run
Are you there, are you there
In the winter sun, he's dancing in the wind
Where to run
Are you there, are you there
In the wilderness look and you will find him
A mother weeps a child sleeps their broken hearts
Are bleedin' wine, just passing time, their horror shows
There at his grave at violet creek
The place where he began to seek
The evil tide that would dissolve him of all good that stood within
Heaven tells the past; all he had, love and fear
He was stronger then, all he had was loving hands
Then one day the thunder struck, evil tears run down his face
And a change good to bad, good to bad
Where to run
Are you there, are you there
In the winter sun, he's dancing in the wind
Where to run
Are you there, are you there
In the wilderness look and you will find him
Thunder thunder in the town
Thunder waiting for a sound
Tonight tonight we sing the piper's song
Thunder thunder in the town
Thunder waiting for a sound
Tonight tonight we sing the piper's song
Where to run
Are you there, are you there
In the wilderness look and you will find him
Where to run
Are you there, are you there
In the winter sun, he's dancing in the wind
Where to run
Are you there, are you there
In the wilderness look and you will find him
Tonight tonight we sing the piper's song
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
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,
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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.
Actually, going off the lyrics that are on their official website (gypsyandthecat.com), these should be the correct lyrics!
--
In the night, I see a face that's in the dark Through his eyes I see a light a shiny gold. And this man he walks alone, singing songs of victory When he sleeps, there's a struggle and the light begins to fade
Heaven tells the past; all he had, love and fear He was stronger then, all he had was loving hands Then one day the thunder struck, evil tears run down his face And a change good to bad, good to bad
Where to run Are you there, are you there In the winter sun, he’s dancing in the wind Where to run Are you there, are you there In the wilderness look and you will find him
A mother weeps a child sleeps their broken hearts - Are bleedin' wine, just passing time, their horror shows There at his grave at violet creek The place where he began to seek The evil tide that would dissolve him of all good that stood within
Heaven tells the past; all he had, love and fear He was stronger then, all he had was loving hands Then one day the thunder struck, evil tears run down his face And a change good to bad, good to bad
Where to run Are you there, are you there In the winter sun, he’s dancing in the wind Where to run Are you there, are you there In the wilderness look and you will find him
Thunder thunder in the town Thunder waiting for a sound Tonight tonight we sing the piper's song
(repeat)
Where to run Are you there, are you there In the wilderness look and you will find him Where to run Are you there, are you there In the winter sun, he’s dancing in the wind Where to run Are you there, are you there In the wilderness look and you will find him
Tonight tonight we sing the piper's song
(repeat to fade)
Thanks love, forgot to take some stuff down from my former lyrics :P