"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.
It's just a hill of beans to some
Bums talking 6-figure shit, while they taking their lump
See I grew up on the hill
But still I keep ready
Had a mind of my own like West gave to Freddy
As Freddy got clipped, man, so did my youth
Spending nights with my rights, knocked out my tooth
Yeah, it scarred my soul
It fucked me up like vodka
Had me walking around mumbling shit like I was Latka
The Hill don't discriminate, they know who you are
If you make it over the edge then baby, you the star
The Big Top knows all the choices you chose
Both respected and feared by your friends and your foes
[Chorus 1:]
Now up on the Hill is where you find us
Yeah, up on the Hill that shit is timeless
Yeah, up on the Hill that burns the brightest
Yeah, up on the Hill, up on the Hill
[Chorus 2:]
And up on the Hill is where you find us
And up on the Hill that shit is timeless
Yeah, up on the Hill there ain't no contest
Yeah, up on the Hill, up on the Hill
Now go make your mound in an anthill, sonny
You be dead by 40, but you make a lotta money
A shot clock is dropped, choose when you choose
And if you ain't up on the Hill, you lose
Now damn the jokes and damn the torpedos
Live a life of your dreams,like boz did Lido
I said Lido, who-a-oh
I said one more time, ought to get it
Now look up, look up higher and see
It's not as hard as you figured it would be
Now 2 tons, 2 tons lighter
Agreed, Now, if it's all right with you it's all right with me
[Chorus 2 x 2]
[Chorus 1 x 2]
[Chorus 2 x 2]
[Chorus 1]
It's just a hill of beans to some
Bums talking 6-figure shit, while they taking their lump
See I grew up on the hill
But still I keep ready
Had a mind of my own like West gave to Freddy
As Freddy got clipped, man, so did my youth
Spending nights with my rights, knocked out my tooth
Yeah, it scarred my soul
It fucked me up like vodka.
Bums talking 6-figure shit, while they taking their lump
See I grew up on the hill
But still I keep ready
Had a mind of my own like West gave to Freddy
As Freddy got clipped, man, so did my youth
Spending nights with my rights, knocked out my tooth
Yeah, it scarred my soul
It fucked me up like vodka
Had me walking around mumbling shit like I was Latka
The Hill don't discriminate, they know who you are
If you make it over the edge then baby, you the star
The Big Top knows all the choices you chose
Both respected and feared by your friends and your foes
[Chorus 1:]
Now up on the Hill is where you find us
Yeah, up on the Hill that shit is timeless
Yeah, up on the Hill that burns the brightest
Yeah, up on the Hill, up on the Hill
[Chorus 2:]
And up on the Hill is where you find us
And up on the Hill that shit is timeless
Yeah, up on the Hill there ain't no contest
Yeah, up on the Hill, up on the Hill
Now go make your mound in an anthill, sonny
You be dead by 40, but you make a lotta money
A shot clock is dropped, choose when you choose
And if you ain't up on the Hill, you lose
Now damn the jokes and damn the torpedos
Live a life of your dreams,like boz did Lido
I said Lido, who-a-oh
I said one more time, ought to get it
Now look up, look up higher and see
It's not as hard as you figured it would be
Now 2 tons, 2 tons lighter
Agreed, Now, if it's all right with you it's all right with me
[Chorus 2 x 2]
[Chorus 1 x 2]
[Chorus 2 x 2]
[Chorus 1]
It's just a hill of beans to some
Bums talking 6-figure shit, while they taking their lump
See I grew up on the hill
But still I keep ready
Had a mind of my own like West gave to Freddy
As Freddy got clipped, man, so did my youth
Spending nights with my rights, knocked out my tooth
Yeah, it scarred my soul
It fucked me up like vodka.
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Up on the Hill Lyrics as written by Hugh Thomas Morgan Brian Andrew Leiser
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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
No Surprises
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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.
Just A Little Lovin'
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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/
Amazing
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.