"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.
Well, rock 'n rollin' holiday
Rock 'n rollin all the way
Rock 'n rollin' to the end
'Till the saints go marchin' in
Now when the saints go marchin' in
Well, when the saints go marchin' in
Yeah, Lord, I want want'a be in that number
When the saints go marchin' in
Well, now when Nick, comes wailin' in
Yeah, when old Nick comes wailin' in
Oh, Lord, I want want'a be in that number
When that guitar comes wailin' in
Well, now when Rudy begins to blow
Well, when old are you-Dy starts to wail
Yeah, Lord, I want want'a be in that number
When that sax man starts wailin' in
(Here we go now)
Well, when that rhythm comes wailin' in
Yeah, when old Rapper starts to wail
Well, Lord, I want want'a be in that number
When old Rapper comes wailin' in
Now when the band plays rock 'n roll
Well, when the Comets rock 'n roll
Yeah, Lord, I want want'a be in that number
When the Comets play rock 'n roll
(All together now)
When the saints go marchin' in
Rock 'n rollin all the way
Rock 'n rollin' to the end
'Till the saints go marchin' in
Now when the saints go marchin' in
Well, when the saints go marchin' in
Yeah, Lord, I want want'a be in that number
When the saints go marchin' in
Well, now when Nick, comes wailin' in
Yeah, when old Nick comes wailin' in
Oh, Lord, I want want'a be in that number
When that guitar comes wailin' in
Well, now when Rudy begins to blow
Well, when old are you-Dy starts to wail
Yeah, Lord, I want want'a be in that number
When that sax man starts wailin' in
(Here we go now)
Well, when that rhythm comes wailin' in
Yeah, when old Rapper starts to wail
Well, Lord, I want want'a be in that number
When old Rapper comes wailin' in
Now when the band plays rock 'n roll
Well, when the Comets rock 'n roll
Yeah, Lord, I want want'a be in that number
When the Comets play rock 'n roll
(All together now)
When the saints go marchin' in
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
The Saints Rock 'N' Roll Lyrics as written by Porter Grainger Everett Robbins
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management
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,
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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/
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.