"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.
When I became of age my mother called me to her side,
She said, "Son, you're growing up now pretty soon you'll take a bride"
And then she said, "Just because you've become a young man now,
There's still somethings that you don't understand now,
Before you ask some girl for her hand now
Keep your freedom for as long as you can now."
My mama told me, "You better shop around, (Shop, shop)
Oh yeah, you better shop around" (Shop, shop around)
Ah, there's somethings that I want you to know now
Just as sure as the winds gonna blow now
The women come and the women gonna go now
Before you tell 'em that you love em so now.
My mama told me, "You better shop around, (Shop, shop)
Oh yeah, you better shop around" (Shop, shop around)
A-try to get yourself a bargain son
Don't be sold on the very first one
A-pretty girls come a dime a dozen,
A-try to find one who's gonna give you true lovin'
Before you take a girl and say I do, now,
Make sure she's in love with-a you now.
My mama told me, "You better shop around."
Ooh yeah, a-try to get yourself a bargain son
Don't be sold on the very first one
A-pretty girls come a dime a dozen,
A-try to find one who's gonna give you true lovin'.
Before you take a girl and say I do, now,
Make sure she's in love with-a you now.
Make sure that her love is true now.
I hate to see you feelin' sad and blue now"
My mama told me, "You better shop around (Shop, shop)
Don't let the first one get you
Oh no 'cause I don't want to see her with you
Uh huh before you let her hold you tight, ah yeah make sure she's alright
Uh huh before you let her take your hand my son
Understand my son, be a man my son I know you can my son I love you"
She said, "Son, you're growing up now pretty soon you'll take a bride"
And then she said, "Just because you've become a young man now,
There's still somethings that you don't understand now,
Before you ask some girl for her hand now
Keep your freedom for as long as you can now."
My mama told me, "You better shop around, (Shop, shop)
Oh yeah, you better shop around" (Shop, shop around)
Ah, there's somethings that I want you to know now
Just as sure as the winds gonna blow now
The women come and the women gonna go now
Before you tell 'em that you love em so now.
My mama told me, "You better shop around, (Shop, shop)
Oh yeah, you better shop around" (Shop, shop around)
A-try to get yourself a bargain son
Don't be sold on the very first one
A-pretty girls come a dime a dozen,
A-try to find one who's gonna give you true lovin'
Before you take a girl and say I do, now,
Make sure she's in love with-a you now.
My mama told me, "You better shop around."
Ooh yeah, a-try to get yourself a bargain son
Don't be sold on the very first one
A-pretty girls come a dime a dozen,
A-try to find one who's gonna give you true lovin'.
Before you take a girl and say I do, now,
Make sure she's in love with-a you now.
Make sure that her love is true now.
I hate to see you feelin' sad and blue now"
My mama told me, "You better shop around (Shop, shop)
Don't let the first one get you
Oh no 'cause I don't want to see her with you
Uh huh before you let her hold you tight, ah yeah make sure she's alright
Uh huh before you let her take your hand my son
Understand my son, be a man my son I know you can my son I love you"
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Shop Around Lyrics as written by William Robinson Jr. Berry Gordy Jr
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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,
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
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.