"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.
With a hammer and nails and a fear of failure we are building a shed
Between here and heaven, between the wait and the wedding
For as long as we both shall be dead to the world
Beyond the boys and the girls trying to keep us calm
We can practice our lines ’til we’re deaf and blind
To ourselves, to each other, where it’s
Fall, not winter; spring, not summer; cool, not cold
And it’s warm, not hot; have we all forgotten that we’re getting old?
With an arrow and bow and some seeds left to sow, we are staking our claim
On ground so fertile, we forget who we’ve hurt along the way
And reach out for a strange hand to hold
Someone strong, but not bold enough to tear down the wall
’Cause we ain’t lost enough to find the stars ain’t crossed—why align them?
Why fall hard, not soft into
Fall, not winter; spring, not summer; cool, not cold
Where it’s warm, not hot; have we all forgotten that we’re getting old?
And it’s fall, not winter; spring, not summer; cool, not cold
And it’s warm, not hot; has everyone forgotten that we’re getting old?
And it’s fall, not winter; spring, not summer; cool, not cold
And it’s warm, not hot; have we all forgotten that we’re getting old?
Between here and heaven, between the wait and the wedding
For as long as we both shall be dead to the world
Beyond the boys and the girls trying to keep us calm
We can practice our lines ’til we’re deaf and blind
To ourselves, to each other, where it’s
Fall, not winter; spring, not summer; cool, not cold
And it’s warm, not hot; have we all forgotten that we’re getting old?
With an arrow and bow and some seeds left to sow, we are staking our claim
On ground so fertile, we forget who we’ve hurt along the way
And reach out for a strange hand to hold
Someone strong, but not bold enough to tear down the wall
’Cause we ain’t lost enough to find the stars ain’t crossed—why align them?
Why fall hard, not soft into
Fall, not winter; spring, not summer; cool, not cold
Where it’s warm, not hot; have we all forgotten that we’re getting old?
And it’s fall, not winter; spring, not summer; cool, not cold
And it’s warm, not hot; has everyone forgotten that we’re getting old?
And it’s fall, not winter; spring, not summer; cool, not cold
And it’s warm, not hot; have we all forgotten that we’re getting old?
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
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."
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
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.
I'm in love with this song.
First, I think the second verse is off slightly. The lyrics should read: "'Cause we're not lost enough to find the stars aren't crossed why align them why fall hard not soft into..."
It makes a difference.
As far as what the lyrics mean, I'm not really sure. It seems like kind of sad, pessimistic song about relationships. Instead of the traditional line from marriage vows "For as long as we both shall live" it's changed to "for as long as we both shall be dead," as if being married kills part of you.
The chorus seems to advocate for playing it safe, opting for something less than an extreme (fall not winter, spring not summer, cool not cold, warm not hot). Perhaps the idea is that the singer is settling, knowing that they're getting older.
The second verse suggests more of the same to me. The singer still craves a relationship but only in a limited, safe fashion. Why take a risk and fall hard for someone? Why not guard yourself and fall soft into fall not winter, spring not summer, etc.
I'd love to hear some feedback on this.
Oh I get the opposite. The song certainly speaks of playing it safe but it's not advocating it all.<br /> <br /> "Warm not hot"- we opt for safe lukewarm relationships instead of the one that takes us out of "here" and transports us to "heaven"<br /> <br /> "Have we all forgotten that we're getting old"- Do we not realize life is too short to live in fear of failure. Go for what scares you yet excites you at the same time. The love that terrifies you yet REQUIRES you to change for the better.<br /> <br /> "Fall not winter, spring not summer, cool not cold, warm not hot":- Contrast between dullness and intensity, imitation vs. the real pure thing, version of love vs. real true love! Wow, reminds me of a bible scripture where Jesus said: "come hot or cold but if you're lukewarm I will spit you out!"<br /> <br /> "And reach out for a strange hand to hold<br /> Someone strong, but not bold enough to tear down the wall" - we sometimes opt for relationships that keep us in our comfort zone, rather than the ones that break down the facade we've created and force us to reveal our true selves...whatever that may be (but how freeing would that be!?)<br /> <br /> Just my 2 pennies :)