"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'VE GOT SOME SHIRTS OF YOURS
I GOT A SUIT THAT USED TO BELONG TO YOU
I OUGHTA THROW THEM OUT
CALL THE SALVATION ARMY
GIVE EM TO SOMEONE WHO CAN REALLY USE EM
BUT YOU MIGHT COME BACK
THE DOOR'S NOT BROKEN
IF YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND
MINE'S STILL OPEN
YOU'LL NEED SOMETHING TO WEAR
TO TAKE ME OUT TO DINNER
CAUSE WE'RE GONNA WANNA CELEBRATE
WE'LL DRINK CHAMPAGNE
I JUST CAN'T WAIT
BUT THEN AGAIN, THE LAST TIME THAT YOU MOVED ON
I CRIED FROM DUSK TIL DAWN
ON SECOND THOUGHT
I GUESS YOU BETTER STAY GONE
I GOT SOME NEWS TODAY
A LITTLE BIRD TOLD ME
SHE'D SEEN YOU AROUND
I GOT ALL HOT AND FLUSTERED
I DUSTED OFF YOUR PICTURE
DUG UP MY DIAPHRAGM AND CHECKED IT FOR HOLES
BECAUSE YOU MIGHT COME BACK
YOU'RE HEARTS STILL BEATING
WHAT WAS GOOD BEFORE
CAN BEAR REPEATING
I'VE GOT CANDLES LIT
THE BATHTUB'S OVERFLOWING
CAUSE YOU KNOW YOU LIKE TO TAKE A BATH
SHAMPOO MY HAIR AND MAKE ME LAUGH
BUT THEN AGAIN, THE LAST TIME THAT YOU MOVED ON
I FELT SO STEPPED UPON
ON SECOND THOUGHT
I GUESS YOU'D BETTER STAY GONE
INSTR.
BECAUSE YOU MIGHT COME BACK
THE BELL STILL BUZZES
IF YOU'VE GOT SOME DOUBTS
WHAT COULD BE WAS
IS THERE A SONG YOU'D LIKE
SOME RECORD IN THE PLAYER
CAUSE WE'RE GONNA WANT TO SING AND DANCE
AND GIVE ROMANCE ANOTHER CHANCE
BUT THEN AGAIN THE LAST TIME THAT YOU MOVED ON
LOVE LEFT MY LEXICON
ON SECOND THOUGHT
I GUESS YOU'D BETTER STAY GONE
I GOT A SUIT THAT USED TO BELONG TO YOU
I OUGHTA THROW THEM OUT
CALL THE SALVATION ARMY
GIVE EM TO SOMEONE WHO CAN REALLY USE EM
BUT YOU MIGHT COME BACK
THE DOOR'S NOT BROKEN
IF YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND
MINE'S STILL OPEN
YOU'LL NEED SOMETHING TO WEAR
TO TAKE ME OUT TO DINNER
CAUSE WE'RE GONNA WANNA CELEBRATE
WE'LL DRINK CHAMPAGNE
I JUST CAN'T WAIT
BUT THEN AGAIN, THE LAST TIME THAT YOU MOVED ON
I CRIED FROM DUSK TIL DAWN
ON SECOND THOUGHT
I GUESS YOU BETTER STAY GONE
I GOT SOME NEWS TODAY
A LITTLE BIRD TOLD ME
SHE'D SEEN YOU AROUND
I GOT ALL HOT AND FLUSTERED
I DUSTED OFF YOUR PICTURE
DUG UP MY DIAPHRAGM AND CHECKED IT FOR HOLES
BECAUSE YOU MIGHT COME BACK
YOU'RE HEARTS STILL BEATING
WHAT WAS GOOD BEFORE
CAN BEAR REPEATING
I'VE GOT CANDLES LIT
THE BATHTUB'S OVERFLOWING
CAUSE YOU KNOW YOU LIKE TO TAKE A BATH
SHAMPOO MY HAIR AND MAKE ME LAUGH
BUT THEN AGAIN, THE LAST TIME THAT YOU MOVED ON
I FELT SO STEPPED UPON
ON SECOND THOUGHT
I GUESS YOU'D BETTER STAY GONE
INSTR.
BECAUSE YOU MIGHT COME BACK
THE BELL STILL BUZZES
IF YOU'VE GOT SOME DOUBTS
WHAT COULD BE WAS
IS THERE A SONG YOU'D LIKE
SOME RECORD IN THE PLAYER
CAUSE WE'RE GONNA WANT TO SING AND DANCE
AND GIVE ROMANCE ANOTHER CHANCE
BUT THEN AGAIN THE LAST TIME THAT YOU MOVED ON
LOVE LEFT MY LEXICON
ON SECOND THOUGHT
I GUESS YOU'D BETTER STAY GONE
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Better Stay Gone Lyrics as written by Amy Rigby
Lyrics © DEMI MUSIC CORP. D/B/A LICHELLE MUSIC COMPANY
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Fast Car
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Ebba Grön
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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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.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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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,