"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.
Looking around your home town
Trying to find a reason not to leave
All of your friends don't understand
You find that small town air so hard to breathe
Clock keeps ticking
You don't need the life your living
Deep in your heart don't you feel like running
Over the hills where the real worlds going on
There's nothing to keep you here
So what have you got to fear ?
You'll never be young again
So kick off the ball and chain (get running)
Kick off the ball and chain (get running)
You work in a job you really hate
For a guy who thinks you're just a waste of space
You've been telling yourself so long now
One day you're gonna put him in his place
And wouldn't you love it
Telling the boss to shove it
Stay where you are you'll amount to nothing
It's only a step in your mind and you'll be gone
You know that you wanna go
Like the wind you've got to blow
So don't you hesitate
Kick off the ball and chain (get running)
Kick off the ball and chain (get running)
Get you ticket and board that train
And kick off the ball and chain
You know you haven't got a thing to lose
You don't wanna spend your life in a dead man's shoes
There's nothing to keep you here
So what have you got to fear
You'll never be young again
Kick off the ball and chain
You know that you wanna go
Like the wind you've got to blow
So don't you hesitate
Kick off the ball and chain (get running)
Kick off the ball and chain (get running)
Get your ticket and board that train
And kick off the ball and chain
Trying to find a reason not to leave
All of your friends don't understand
You find that small town air so hard to breathe
Clock keeps ticking
You don't need the life your living
Deep in your heart don't you feel like running
Over the hills where the real worlds going on
There's nothing to keep you here
So what have you got to fear ?
You'll never be young again
So kick off the ball and chain (get running)
Kick off the ball and chain (get running)
You work in a job you really hate
For a guy who thinks you're just a waste of space
You've been telling yourself so long now
One day you're gonna put him in his place
And wouldn't you love it
Telling the boss to shove it
Stay where you are you'll amount to nothing
It's only a step in your mind and you'll be gone
You know that you wanna go
Like the wind you've got to blow
So don't you hesitate
Kick off the ball and chain (get running)
Kick off the ball and chain (get running)
Get you ticket and board that train
And kick off the ball and chain
You know you haven't got a thing to lose
You don't wanna spend your life in a dead man's shoes
There's nothing to keep you here
So what have you got to fear
You'll never be young again
Kick off the ball and chain
You know that you wanna go
Like the wind you've got to blow
So don't you hesitate
Kick off the ball and chain (get running)
Kick off the ball and chain (get running)
Get your ticket and board that train
And kick off the ball and chain
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Ball and Chain Lyrics as written by Murray James Mark-anthony Tieku
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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,
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
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.
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.