"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.
Well, I want to know,
Man, is Elvis Alive?
Yeah, I've got to know,
Man, is Elvis Alive?
Hey, I've gotta cut through
All this tabloid jive.
Well, I listened to the tapes
of the woman on Larry King
I'd give anything just to hear him sing again.
Elvis, pick up that phone
and give me a ring.
At...
(Chorus)
619-239-KING
619-239-KING
C'mon now, Elvis. Won't you call me?
(Spoken)
Now, Elvis. This is a real number.
It don't cost a whole lot to call.
Now some of you folks out there might know where Elvis is,
you can call too and tell me.
I ain't talking 'bout the Bat-Phone.
It's the E-Phone.
Danny Partidge, Wayne Newton, and Liberace.
I don't wanna get no calls from none of you fools you see.
Only Tom Jones and the big E can call me.
Yeah, you know the number.
(Chorus)
Play that thing, man.
(1st Instrumental Break)
Some people say you live on an island
With Marylin Monroe.
And every night Jim Bo Morrison
Puts on a great big show.
And when you get sick,
You call up Dr. Nick
Elvis, if you're coming back
You've gotta do it right.
No Vegas, no movies,
Just leather, black and tight.
If I can dream, Mystery Train
Come on Elvis, give me a ring at...
(Chorus)
Yeah!
(2nd Instrumental Break)
I'm gonna get Lisa Marie to marry me.
I'm gonna get Lisa Marie to marry me.
Then I'll call Elvis my great big daddy.
Hey, you wanna know when the wedding is? Call me Elvis at...
(Chorus)
(Spoken)
Operators are standing by.
Give me a call, man.
Yeah, if the phone's busy, try again.
No, I don't wanna talk to Sonny.
I sure don't want to talk to Lamar.
Albert Goldman, kiss by butt.
E-P, Phone Home.
I said,...
E-P, Phone Home.
Give me a call, Elvis.
Now, I won't tell The Colonel
Or the Weekly World News either, man. Come on, call me boy.
(Phone rings)
Say what?
You want me to do what?
Get Priscilla in the white underwear and the big black mascara
and the hair sticking way up high.
Then then you'll come running fast?
Say you're going to get in the big Cadillac and see me?
Oh Elvis I'm gonna get Priscilla for you boy! Whoo, yeah!
(Chorus)
Homina-homina-homina-homina-homina-homina-homina-Hey.
Homina-homina-homina-homina-homina-homina-homina-Hey.
How, how how.
(Scatting Elvis style)
Man, is Elvis Alive?
Yeah, I've got to know,
Man, is Elvis Alive?
Hey, I've gotta cut through
All this tabloid jive.
Well, I listened to the tapes
of the woman on Larry King
I'd give anything just to hear him sing again.
Elvis, pick up that phone
and give me a ring.
At...
(Chorus)
619-239-KING
619-239-KING
C'mon now, Elvis. Won't you call me?
(Spoken)
Now, Elvis. This is a real number.
It don't cost a whole lot to call.
Now some of you folks out there might know where Elvis is,
you can call too and tell me.
I ain't talking 'bout the Bat-Phone.
It's the E-Phone.
Danny Partidge, Wayne Newton, and Liberace.
I don't wanna get no calls from none of you fools you see.
Only Tom Jones and the big E can call me.
Yeah, you know the number.
(Chorus)
Play that thing, man.
(1st Instrumental Break)
Some people say you live on an island
With Marylin Monroe.
And every night Jim Bo Morrison
Puts on a great big show.
And when you get sick,
You call up Dr. Nick
Elvis, if you're coming back
You've gotta do it right.
No Vegas, no movies,
Just leather, black and tight.
If I can dream, Mystery Train
Come on Elvis, give me a ring at...
(Chorus)
Yeah!
(2nd Instrumental Break)
I'm gonna get Lisa Marie to marry me.
I'm gonna get Lisa Marie to marry me.
Then I'll call Elvis my great big daddy.
Hey, you wanna know when the wedding is? Call me Elvis at...
(Chorus)
(Spoken)
Operators are standing by.
Give me a call, man.
Yeah, if the phone's busy, try again.
No, I don't wanna talk to Sonny.
I sure don't want to talk to Lamar.
Albert Goldman, kiss by butt.
E-P, Phone Home.
I said,...
E-P, Phone Home.
Give me a call, Elvis.
Now, I won't tell The Colonel
Or the Weekly World News either, man. Come on, call me boy.
(Phone rings)
Say what?
You want me to do what?
Get Priscilla in the white underwear and the big black mascara
and the hair sticking way up high.
Then then you'll come running fast?
Say you're going to get in the big Cadillac and see me?
Oh Elvis I'm gonna get Priscilla for you boy! Whoo, yeah!
(Chorus)
Homina-homina-homina-homina-homina-homina-homina-Hey.
Homina-homina-homina-homina-homina-homina-homina-Hey.
How, how how.
(Scatting Elvis style)
Lyrics submitted by JohnnyLurg
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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Hayalperest
Hayalperest
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.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
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.