"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.
Maybe it's the thug in me
Maybe it's the thug in me
Maybe it's the thug in me
Maybe it's the thug in me
Maybe it's the thug in me
Ever since I was a young scrub
I was a thug on the corner with my niggaz slangin' drugs
I'm runnin' from the narcs when they pass by
Don't ask why, I'm a hustler till my ass die
Even if I do come up, I'll be ready when they run up, huh
I'll be a nut to put my gun up, huh
I never trust these hoes at all
Fucking with them tramp ass sluts, you suppose to fall
Since she played you for you money but the shit was cool
Yes, it's true niggaz be bitches too
You can't see how she worked you, all up in her skirt
Now you looking like a jerk, 'cause she hurt you
Now heads up, don't be a playa, hater
Just peep game, keep your mind on your money
Watch the bitch change
See hoes love thugs and thugs love loot
Hand it over, motherfucker, before I shoot
Who do you love?
Maybe it's the thug in me
Maybe it's the thug in me
Tell me, who do you love?
Maybe it's the thug in me
Maybe it's the thug in me
Who do you love?
Maybe it's the thug in me
Maybe it's the thug in me
Tell me, who do you love?
Maybe it's the thug in me
Maybe it's the thug in me
I'm livin' that thug life, baby
Steady smoking endo, going crazy
Baby, come and hug me
When you rub me, turn the lights down
We in the dark, do you love me
Everybody is talking 'bout they know me
But they ain't down like my motherfucking homies
Tell me what you need when you see me
And we can get it on, biatch, take it easy
Don't try to hold me, control me
But you can take my number, baby, call me when you lonely
'Cause it's a mans world, ain't no need to ask why
I'm high till I die and strapped with my 4-5
'Cause you can lose it in the gutter
I wonder if I die by the hands of another broke motherfucker
They call me the alcoholer, I'm all in, thug for life nigga ballin'
I'm gettin' tired of these hoes tryna play me
You can't fade me and my niggaz going crazy
All day long I'm straight thuggin' and constantly mean muggin'
Breakin' the bitches that be buggin'
Tell me who do you love?
Maybe it's the thug in me
Maybe it's the thug in me
Tell me, who do you love?
Maybe it's the thug in me
Maybe it's the thug in me
Who do you love?
Maybe it's the thug in me
Maybe it's the thug in me
Tell me who do you love?
Maybe it's the thug in me
Maybe it's the thug in me
Who do you love?
Maybe it's the thug in me
Maybe it's the thug in me
Maybe it's the thug in me
Maybe it's the thug in me
Ever since I was a young scrub
I was a thug on the corner with my niggaz slangin' drugs
I'm runnin' from the narcs when they pass by
Don't ask why, I'm a hustler till my ass die
Even if I do come up, I'll be ready when they run up, huh
I'll be a nut to put my gun up, huh
I never trust these hoes at all
Fucking with them tramp ass sluts, you suppose to fall
Since she played you for you money but the shit was cool
Yes, it's true niggaz be bitches too
You can't see how she worked you, all up in her skirt
Now you looking like a jerk, 'cause she hurt you
Now heads up, don't be a playa, hater
Just peep game, keep your mind on your money
Watch the bitch change
See hoes love thugs and thugs love loot
Hand it over, motherfucker, before I shoot
Who do you love?
Maybe it's the thug in me
Maybe it's the thug in me
Tell me, who do you love?
Maybe it's the thug in me
Maybe it's the thug in me
Who do you love?
Maybe it's the thug in me
Maybe it's the thug in me
Tell me, who do you love?
Maybe it's the thug in me
Maybe it's the thug in me
I'm livin' that thug life, baby
Steady smoking endo, going crazy
Baby, come and hug me
When you rub me, turn the lights down
We in the dark, do you love me
Everybody is talking 'bout they know me
But they ain't down like my motherfucking homies
Tell me what you need when you see me
And we can get it on, biatch, take it easy
Don't try to hold me, control me
But you can take my number, baby, call me when you lonely
'Cause it's a mans world, ain't no need to ask why
I'm high till I die and strapped with my 4-5
'Cause you can lose it in the gutter
I wonder if I die by the hands of another broke motherfucker
They call me the alcoholer, I'm all in, thug for life nigga ballin'
I'm gettin' tired of these hoes tryna play me
You can't fade me and my niggaz going crazy
All day long I'm straight thuggin' and constantly mean muggin'
Breakin' the bitches that be buggin'
Tell me who do you love?
Maybe it's the thug in me
Maybe it's the thug in me
Tell me, who do you love?
Maybe it's the thug in me
Maybe it's the thug in me
Who do you love?
Maybe it's the thug in me
Maybe it's the thug in me
Tell me who do you love?
Maybe it's the thug in me
Maybe it's the thug in me
Who do you love?
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
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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,
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.