"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.
You were cold as the blood through your bones
And the light which led us from our chosen homes
Well I was lost
And now I sleep
Sleep the hours and that I can't weep
When all I knew was steeped in blackened holes
I was lost
Keep the Earth below my feet
For all my sweat, my blood runs weak
Let me learn from where I have been
Keep my eyes to serve and my hands to learn
Keep my eyes to serve and my hands to learn
And I was still
I was under your spell
When I was told by Jesus all was well
So all must be well
Just give me time
You know your desires and mine
So wrap my flesh in ivy and in twine
For I must be well
Keep the Earth below my feet
For all my sweat, my blood runs weak
Let me learn from where I have been
Well keep my eyes to serve, my hands to learn
keep my eyes to serve, my hands to learn
Keep the Earth below my feet
For all my sweat, my blood runs weak
Let me learn from where I have been
Keep my eyes to serve, my hands to learn
Keep my eyes to serve, my hands to learn
And the light which led us from our chosen homes
Well I was lost
And now I sleep
Sleep the hours and that I can't weep
When all I knew was steeped in blackened holes
I was lost
Keep the Earth below my feet
For all my sweat, my blood runs weak
Let me learn from where I have been
Keep my eyes to serve and my hands to learn
Keep my eyes to serve and my hands to learn
And I was still
I was under your spell
When I was told by Jesus all was well
So all must be well
Just give me time
You know your desires and mine
So wrap my flesh in ivy and in twine
For I must be well
Keep the Earth below my feet
For all my sweat, my blood runs weak
Let me learn from where I have been
Well keep my eyes to serve, my hands to learn
keep my eyes to serve, my hands to learn
Keep the Earth below my feet
For all my sweat, my blood runs weak
Let me learn from where I have been
Keep my eyes to serve, my hands to learn
Keep my eyes to serve, my hands to learn
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
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Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
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This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
This song is about a death causing a crisis of faith and rejection of an old belief system, which is followed by a new view on religion and life, which is described in the chorus.
The first stanza addresses the dead person, who is "cold as the blood through your bones." But he also describes the "light which led us from our chosen homes" as cold. He resents the light (referring to the light people are alleged to follow into the afterlife) for taking people away from the lives that they build for themselves on Earth. This death has caused resentment for God and the afterlife. He is lost, without his loved one and without his faith.
The second stanza builds on this. He sleeps and cries. All he knew (his previous belief system) is steeped in blackened holes. He sees holes in his religion. They are black. This is a dark time. He doesn't want to see these holes or have these doubts, but they're there. He is lost.
(I'll get to the chorus at the end)
The next two stanzas are accompanied by a louder and more defiant beat than the first two, which are slow and sad.
He is still. He's surviving, kind of dealing with this death. But he's under someone's "spell." I think he's referring to a preacher or someone else who indoctrinated him in his old belief system. The choice of the word spell clearly indicates that he has a negative view of this person's influence, under which he was convinced that Jesus was telling him all his well. He sings the last line "so all must be well" with a tone of sarcasm and anger. He was being calmed (I was still) by this old belief system, but it was like a drug, a sedative.
Just give me time. Leave me alone. Now he's telling this preacher that he has different desires than him. He is rejecting the old belief system. The person he is addressing wants to wrap his flesh in "ivy and in twine." Ivy brings to mind images of ivy covered churches and an aged smothering feeling. Twine is also negative, controlling. We wrap meat in twine. This is all a reference to the typical Christian rejection of all things related to sex. He is rejecting this attitude. Again "for I must be well" (by being wrapped in ivy and twine) is spoken sarcastically and defiantly.
Now the chorus. It's a prayer that sums up his new requests of God. Keep the Earth below my feet. Keep me alive. But also, perhaps, keep me down to Earth. For all my sweat, my blood runs weak. Despite all his efforts, he gets closer to death every day he lives. He's giving up his fear of death, or perhaps asking God to take it away. Let me learn from where I have been. Help me continue to become a better person. Keep my eyes to serve, my hands to learn. I don't completely get this yet, but I love it. It's a reversal of what you would expect. Perhaps it's about him wanting to live, to learn by acting and making mistakes. It could be viewed as a reversal of the traditional Christian view of learning by watching and listening to your parents and preachers, and then serving God and others through your actions which conform to these teachings. He's going to learn by doing, and serve by watching and listening, because what better way to serve people than to make them feel watched and listened to. I think it's also about humility. We usually think we're smarter than those we help because we've learned by watching, and we can help others by doing what we've learned. But he is suggesting that we can better serve those people by listening to and learning from them, and we can better learn by doing.
There's so much more to this song, from the subtle nuances of word choices, to the chanting, the changes in musical tempo. It's packed with meaning.
Their songs are often religiously motivated, but never preachy. They're about personal experiences, usually struggles, with religion. I love it.
enjoyed this..thanks for posting. For me, i wouldn't specifically say he was referring to or communicating with his "preacher". I would keep it at an authoritive figure, like a father, preacher, uncle, etc...anyone in your life who may be considering a leader or provide guidance. My take on this is very similar to yours, and your post helped me understand what I believe it to be even more, thanks again. Great song....
Awesome interpretation, this is pretty much what I thought when I listened to it several times. I also think that "Keep the earth below my feet" could very well be saying that he wants to focus his mind on heavenly things and to keep the earth below his feet instead of at the forefront of his actions. The whole idea of putting aside earthly things is a central Christian moral and might be referenced here. However, I think that line is supposed to have different interpretations for different people, it's a beautiful song.
Amazing interpretation! Thank you for helping me understanding this awesome song!
@bdh6789 Awesome job describing the song, that's pretty much what I was thinking. I just didn't know the right words to use. It's been my favorite song for almost 4years. And up to this day it is still my top favorite.
@bdh6789 I created this account just to freaking tell you that your interpretation made me freaking cry at work. That was awesome!!
@bdh6789 I created this account just to freaking tell you that your interpretation made me freaking cry at work. That was awesome!!
@bdh6789
@bdh6789 I think you are spot on. We lost our youngest daughter at age 17 in 2013. This song came on from my library after listening to “Beautiful Things” which was a song we were played over and over the week she was in ICU on life support. This was followed by Kari Jobes’ “Beloved”, also a song that speaks to me. “Below my feet” played next. Being unfamiliar with the song, but believing I was hearing from the Holy Spirit, I researched the lyrics. Your comment mirrored exactly what I’ve been going through since her death. Like sleeping to keep from feeling. Also, I have a disorder that has made my speech hard to understand...so I listen more. My disorder led me to retire on disability from being a nursing instructor in 2016. After isolating myself for way too long, I decided to volunteer on the same hospital unit I had taken my students to. I use my hands to learn, mostly bathing patients in a “pampering” and loving way that the employees can’t due to time constraints. Instead of encouraging with my voice, I do it with my hands. Slowly, God is turning my mourning into the oil of gladness....slowly, He is making a beautiful thing out of the dust.
heh :D "Thats what it really sounds like on the youtube video with the best quality "
Everybody are scared from truth - yes he is christian ;) and keep my eyes to server - there is point ! ... God bless ya ;)
I believe this masterpiece to be about staying humble and trying to fight the temptation of the flesh. When everything is going well in life, it's easy to stray from God and his word. We begin to think that we accomplished everything on our own and forget to give glory to God. It's in our time of need, when all is steeped in blackened hopes, that we often turn to God for help and direction. God is the one constant in life and God will always be there through all the ups and downs. In a world where your whole life can be flipped upside down in a instant, it's amazing to have something you can always turn to.
Mumford was able to find strength in God and is trying to hold onto the truth that he has found. Christianity is about admitting our flesh is week and admitting that we need God's help in life. By keeping the earth below his feet, Mumford is trying to stay humble so that he won't feel the way he did when he was lost. He is trying to grounded to the lesson that he learned from his past. This is a song I think we can all relate to, or will eventually be able to relate to as life progresses.
James 4:10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
I'm not religious in the slightest, and often songs with deeply religious meanings make me extremely uncomfortable to the point that I just can't listen to them. But this song, despite it so blatantly being a prayer to a god I long ago left behind, is just too beautiful to be ignored. An absolute musical masterpiece.
I think you took these words directly from my brain hahaha, I feel exactly the same way. Amazing song.
Just a minor detail. The lyrics are: Sleep the hours and that I CAN'T weep
instead of: Sleep the hours and that I "don't" weep.
So after listening to this song a few times I have a feeling this song is about someone dealing with a death... a death of someone who is very important to them...
"You were cold as the blood through your bones And the light which led us from our chosen homes Well I was lost"
The first part of this is obviously a meaning for death... and the second line could mean the person "going to the light." The "chosen homes" being the persons flesh body. last line being that they were lost without the person.
"And now I sleep Sleep the hours and that I don't weep When all I knew was steeped in blackened holes I was lost"
a Breakdown the person went to... locking themselves away because of this death, just sleeping, their waking hours only thinking about the person that died... the "blackened holes" could mean a grave...
The second verse seems to be the person kind of starting to get over that person, though they need time, they know all was well, and also have religion to help them...
I haven't actually worked the chorus into this theory, but it seems to be what I got...
Excellent read on what this song is driving at. I agree, this is a song about death, and the chorus fits in well with what you're offering here. I see the chorus as an invocation of some kind, a poetic verse cast in the style and posture of a prayer. "Keep the earth below my feet" is a reference to the grave; the kindred dead has been buried beneath the ground, in the earth, and this invocation is calling down the blessing of life. In other words, "Let me live" could be a more mundane way of saying the same thing.<br /> <br /> "For all my sweat, my blood runs weak" could refer to the inevitability of death, that no matter what he does, he can feel himself approaching death.<br /> <br /> "Let me learn from where I have been / Keep my eyes to serve, my hands to learn" might be a reference to afterlife or whatever outcome may befall after passing through the grave, he wishes for this life and wisdom to go with him, for what he has seen and done to not vanish with death, but continue, maybe even continue through others.
this song is a prayer. Multiple translations but if you look at it that way it's beautiful.
I believe this song is praying to God to keep him alive and not allow him to die. "Keep the earth below my feet" basically means that- don't allow him to die and thus get buried. The rest of chorus is all the same deal. "Keep my eyes to serve, my hands to learn" is again asking him not to kill him off. The only way you can see using your eyes and work using your hands is by being physically alive.
I like how this is placed with For Those Below because in the latter song, he is accepting death.
Absolute and complete love for this song and band. The build up is beautiful. Live; they are amazing (words cannot properly describe) and the lyrics truly are moving.
Everyones interpretation is different (as it should be), I love that people can be inspired and discern their own meanings. Music is such a beautiful thing, everyone should feel evangelical about it.
chicagonow.com/daily-miracle/2012/09/are-mumford-sons-christian/
bigissue.com/features/1488/mumford-sons-we-re-fans-faith-not-religion
“No, it’s not a statement of faith,” clarifies Mumford. “We don’t feel evangelical about anything. Really. Other than music.” A strained conversation ensues, Mumford deciding the language used “is more social than religious, verging on philosophical”.
I am not positive. But I think the lyric is "keep my eyes discerned" not "keep my eyes to serve"
I'm not sure, it just makes more sense.
Nope. It's "keep my eyes to serve, my hands to learn"