"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've been kicked right down
I've been spat in the face
I've been pulled, weighed down
To the lowest place
I've been lied to, shamed
I have been disgraced
Been ex-communicated from every holy place
I've been beat up and robbed
I've been left for dead
For the way I look
For the things I said
When trouble thinks it's found us
The world falls down around us
I promise baby you won't ever
You won't ever feel a thing
'Cause I will take it on the chin
Eh, for you
So lay your cuts and bruises over my skin
I promise you won't feel a thing, no
'Cause everything the world could throw
I'll stand in front, I'll take the blow for you.
For you.
I've been cleared on the street
I've been left in the cold
Had my dreams held up
Had them shot full of holes
I've been laughed at, burnt, beat and butt of the joke
I've been lit up in flames
I have gone down in smoke
I've been stabbed in the back
While they promised the earth
Tried to keep my head high
For all I am worth
Outside our double glazing
I know a war is raging
I promise baby you won't ever
You won't ever feel a thing
'Cause I will take it on the chin
Eh, for you
So lay your cuts and bruises over my skin
I promise you won't feel a thing, no
'Cause everything the world could throw
I'll stand in front, I'll take the blow for you.
For you.
Yeah
And if I fall here
At least you know my dear that I would die for you
Promise you won't ever feel a thing
And if I fall here
At least you know my dear that I would die for you
Promise you won't ever feel a thing
'Cause I will take it on the chin
Eh, for you
So lay your cuts and bruises over my skin
I promise you won't feel a thing, no
'Cause everything the world could throw
I'll stand in front, I'll take the blow for you.
For you.
Yeah everything the world could throw
I'll take the sticks, I'll take the stones for you
For you
I've been spat in the face
I've been pulled, weighed down
To the lowest place
I've been lied to, shamed
I have been disgraced
Been ex-communicated from every holy place
I've been beat up and robbed
I've been left for dead
For the way I look
For the things I said
When trouble thinks it's found us
The world falls down around us
I promise baby you won't ever
You won't ever feel a thing
'Cause I will take it on the chin
Eh, for you
So lay your cuts and bruises over my skin
I promise you won't feel a thing, no
'Cause everything the world could throw
I'll stand in front, I'll take the blow for you.
For you.
I've been cleared on the street
I've been left in the cold
Had my dreams held up
Had them shot full of holes
I've been laughed at, burnt, beat and butt of the joke
I've been lit up in flames
I have gone down in smoke
I've been stabbed in the back
While they promised the earth
Tried to keep my head high
For all I am worth
Outside our double glazing
I know a war is raging
I promise baby you won't ever
You won't ever feel a thing
'Cause I will take it on the chin
Eh, for you
So lay your cuts and bruises over my skin
I promise you won't feel a thing, no
'Cause everything the world could throw
I'll stand in front, I'll take the blow for you.
For you.
Yeah
And if I fall here
At least you know my dear that I would die for you
Promise you won't ever feel a thing
And if I fall here
At least you know my dear that I would die for you
Promise you won't ever feel a thing
'Cause I will take it on the chin
Eh, for you
So lay your cuts and bruises over my skin
I promise you won't feel a thing, no
'Cause everything the world could throw
I'll stand in front, I'll take the blow for you.
For you.
Yeah everything the world could throw
I'll take the sticks, I'll take the stones for you
For you
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
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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,
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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.
I do agree with what's been said so far. But the funny thing is, we're still missing the alternative meaning of the title.
"You Won't Feel A Thing" refers primarily to how he will make sure she doesn't feel the same pain as he has, yes. But I would add it also alludes to the fact that it ultimately doesn't matter to her, either. "You Won't Feel A Thing" can refer to the fact that how he throws himself into danger in order to protect her doesn't impress her at all.
He's being all noble and it doesn't matter. You can't make someone love you. She won't feel a thing.