"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 must leave you tonight my love, remain so faithfully
I must go off to war my dear, the kings await me
I will go so far away.
I will always love you, but you knew.
I regret to tell you, your man has died tonight.
He was a brave man, he fought a brave fight.
He was killed by the other side.
He was killed by the other men's knives.
She said save me
Save me
Why must you love this man, he is your brother?
This is easy to understand, my son, there is no other.
I cannot pretend to love this man like my father.
I cannot pretend, mother, there is no other.
She said save me
Save me
When there is no truth, let's end this lie tonight.
This is easy to understand, without your best fight.
But I see a new sun rising in the east
But I see a new sun rising in the east
She said save me
Save you!
I must go off to war my dear, the kings await me
I will go so far away.
I will always love you, but you knew.
I regret to tell you, your man has died tonight.
He was a brave man, he fought a brave fight.
He was killed by the other side.
He was killed by the other men's knives.
She said save me
Save me
Why must you love this man, he is your brother?
This is easy to understand, my son, there is no other.
I cannot pretend to love this man like my father.
I cannot pretend, mother, there is no other.
She said save me
Save me
When there is no truth, let's end this lie tonight.
This is easy to understand, without your best fight.
But I see a new sun rising in the east
But I see a new sun rising in the east
She said save me
Save you!
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Ebba Grön
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
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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”
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
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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.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
I think this song is about how stupid war is. The first three verses outline a man going to war and dying and his wife and family suffering from their loss. The last verse talks about ending the lies that make war possible and with a new sun rising in the east symbolising the start of a new day for peace.