"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 can't ask you now
But if I could, I'd say the same
I can't be the wound you wear to sleep, always
I can't watch you dream
Beside a fire
You made to leave
But, if you let me be there, again
If you let me be there, again
If you let me be there, again
I'll be still, won't say a word
And, I will wait tonight
Along a pier, alone in light
And, I will wait in sight, for you to call
In purple night
But, I can't watch you dream
Beside a fire
You made to leave
But, if you let me be there, again
If you let me be there, again
If you let me be there, again
I'll be still, won't say a word
If you let me be there, again
I'll be still, won't say a word
But if I could, I'd say the same
I can't be the wound you wear to sleep, always
I can't watch you dream
Beside a fire
You made to leave
But, if you let me be there, again
If you let me be there, again
If you let me be there, again
I'll be still, won't say a word
And, I will wait tonight
Along a pier, alone in light
And, I will wait in sight, for you to call
In purple night
But, I can't watch you dream
Beside a fire
You made to leave
But, if you let me be there, again
If you let me be there, again
If you let me be there, again
I'll be still, won't say a word
If you let me be there, again
I'll be still, won't say a word
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Fast Car
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Ed Sheeran
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Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
This song reminds me of Dumb and Dumber. When you go into the movie, you KNOW Jim Carrey is gonna bring it. But what makes the movie so funny is that Jeff Daniels is just as funny as Carrey. Their chemistry elevates that movie so much for me. The same thing with this song. I knew Sam Herring was gonna kill it. And he does. But when Jenn Wasner comes in, I melt. Every fucking time. i'm not gonna say her vocal performance is better, but its definitely just as good. Her voice is just on the edge of cracking from desperation. Staggering.
Just left a live FI show. 2 things:
First of all, milkman313, I just created this account because I wanted to tell you how great your comment is. Seriously, it's the best thing I've read in a while.
Second, this song is a testament to how much Herring benefits from having weight around him, and Jenn Wasner is an inspired choice to add such a weight. Both voices are so expressive and substansive. An entire album of this would be mesmerizing.
i agree wasner was joking around on twitter last year about a wye oak/ future islands supergroup but i think that experiment would be awesome