"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 can feel a new breeze
That will ease our minds
It's a different heartbeat
And the timing feels right
Gonna feed this hunger
Gonna quench my thirst
Though i know indulgence
It could make it much worse
We have talked it over
Cause the prize ain't small
But it will be worth it after all
We can cross the ocean
Take it day by day
We can stop our watches
And we'll never be late
We can have a daughter
We can have a son
We don't know tomorrow
But we'll do what seems right after all
That will ease our minds
It's a different heartbeat
And the timing feels right
Gonna feed this hunger
Gonna quench my thirst
Though i know indulgence
It could make it much worse
We have talked it over
Cause the prize ain't small
But it will be worth it after all
We can cross the ocean
Take it day by day
We can stop our watches
And we'll never be late
We can have a daughter
We can have a son
We don't know tomorrow
But we'll do what seems right after all
Lyrics submitted by Memoscorp
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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
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
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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.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
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Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
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.
I believe this song is about the decision to have a baby. Or maybe they are already pregnant and they decide to keep it, despite they weren't really trying for a baby in the first place. They have talked about the possibility of having a baby, but the decision has been made for them, and they come to terms with it.
The idea of a "different heartbeat" in my opinion points to this direction, not as a simple metaphore, but as a physical different heartbeat. Then again, in the part when the singer explains that they had talked it over, and the timing feels right. He's scared of the responsibility ("the prize ain't small" / "take it day by day") but he has probably wanted this for a long time ("Gonna feed this hunger / gonna quench my thirst"). The final lines "We can have a son / We can have a daughter" finally reveal this riddle. At least to me, they were the solution. From the idea of a new breeze, something brand new that will pull them out of a different situation they had been going through, probably, to all the little signs I sad before can't help but lead me to this interpretation.Even the rhythm points to something fragile, inconsistent, almost as if the author is still dreaming and doesn't really believe that it's actually happening.
I hope it was clear enough, English is not my first language, but I wanted to leave my opinion on such a sweet, gentle song that had none. Beautiful song, one of the best discoveries I made lately.