"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.
Here we go again
Another night of being bummed
I'll keep to myself, avoid the sun
And cancel plans with everyone I know
'Cause it's just how it always ends
Our bond will break 'cause you can't relate
To anyone, to anything at all
You brought your worst, and I'm right here (right here)
No, I've seen it all
And it's never been so clear
You're not the person that I knew back then (back then)
It's all too late to set things straight, 'cause everything has been
You're not the person that I knew back then
Let's try and act like this didn't happen
Follow your friends like you ever had them
You still know me
Still not cut out for this sort of thing
Never wanted to be caught in between
I need constant reminders of everything
(So what?) It's who I am
I played it off so well
I just hold it in no matter how I've been
So nobody, nobody can tell
You brought your worst, and I'm right here (right here)
No, I've seen it all
And it's never been so clear
You're not the person that I knew back then (back then)
It's all too late to set things straight, 'cause everything has been
You're not the person that I knew back then
Let's try and act like this didn't happen
Follow your friends like you ever had them
I won't sleep 'til the break of dawn (break of dawn)
Can't let our problems find me here
So everybody, come on
You brought your worst, and I'm right here
No, I've seen it all
And it's never been so clear
You're not the person that I knew back then (back then)
It's all too late to set things straight, 'cause everything has been
You're not the person that I knew back then
Let's try and act like this didn't happen
Follow your friends like you ever had them
(You're not the person that I knew back then)
(It's all too late to set things straight, 'cause everything has been)
(You're not the person that I knew back then)
(Let's try and act like this didn't happen)
(Follow your friends like you ever had them)
Another night of being bummed
I'll keep to myself, avoid the sun
And cancel plans with everyone I know
'Cause it's just how it always ends
Our bond will break 'cause you can't relate
To anyone, to anything at all
You brought your worst, and I'm right here (right here)
No, I've seen it all
And it's never been so clear
You're not the person that I knew back then (back then)
It's all too late to set things straight, 'cause everything has been
You're not the person that I knew back then
Let's try and act like this didn't happen
Follow your friends like you ever had them
You still know me
Still not cut out for this sort of thing
Never wanted to be caught in between
I need constant reminders of everything
(So what?) It's who I am
I played it off so well
I just hold it in no matter how I've been
So nobody, nobody can tell
You brought your worst, and I'm right here (right here)
No, I've seen it all
And it's never been so clear
You're not the person that I knew back then (back then)
It's all too late to set things straight, 'cause everything has been
You're not the person that I knew back then
Let's try and act like this didn't happen
Follow your friends like you ever had them
I won't sleep 'til the break of dawn (break of dawn)
Can't let our problems find me here
So everybody, come on
You brought your worst, and I'm right here
No, I've seen it all
And it's never been so clear
You're not the person that I knew back then (back then)
It's all too late to set things straight, 'cause everything has been
You're not the person that I knew back then
Let's try and act like this didn't happen
Follow your friends like you ever had them
(You're not the person that I knew back then)
(It's all too late to set things straight, 'cause everything has been)
(You're not the person that I knew back then)
(Let's try and act like this didn't happen)
(Follow your friends like you ever had them)
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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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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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Great version of a great song,
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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.
I think that instead of being about a relationship, this song could be about a friendship that died away.
Like, you two have been friends for practically forever, but then that person starts to change and you can't stand their company anymore. Then the friendship starts to crumble, and you two eventually break it off completely.
Does that make sense?