"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 don't see me mad at situations, I see me turn and walk away
I see a tattoo on my right thigh that I will probably regret one day
Yeah, I will probably regret one day
But now, I am happy to be bonding in a kitchen with my friends
A spool of thread, a few more good vibes, a safety pin and a ballpoint pen
A safety pin and a ballpoint pen
A safety pin and a ballpoint pen
And a ballpoint pen
But there are answers here, they're just harder to figure out
Since all your questions got harder to dodge and dip around
And there is nothing wrong with my lifestyle
No matter how many times I tell myself to breathe in, hold it, hold it, now let it out, now let it out
One day I will realize I don't need this because it is just not who I am
Until that day comes, I'll keep my eyes closed, and I will try to feel all of the effects
Yeah, I will try to feel all of the effects
And now I am talking way too fast and a little bit louder than I should,
Trying to say thank you for understanding my side of the story the best that you could
My side of the story the best that you could
My side of the story the best that you could
The best that you could
But there are answers here, they're just harder to figure out
Since all your questions got harder to dodge and dip around
And there is nothing wrong with your lifestyle
No matter how many times they tell themselves just breathe in, hold it, hold it, now let it out
And this is how the cool boyfriend sits in the passenger seat of his girlfriend's car
He's lookin' at me, I wish the light would turn green, set me free, oh set me free, oh set me
Teach my rolling veins where there's a will, there is a way
Just cut me open, let me drain, oh let me drain, oh let me drain, oh let me
I'll move to Florida, and I'll buy a brand new pick-up truck
And I'll tint all the windows including the driver's side
Now you can't see me, so you can't touch me
When I sit at the red light and watch your boyfriend wonder if I'm inside
If I am dead inside
I see a tattoo on my right thigh that I will probably regret one day
Yeah, I will probably regret one day
But now, I am happy to be bonding in a kitchen with my friends
A spool of thread, a few more good vibes, a safety pin and a ballpoint pen
A safety pin and a ballpoint pen
A safety pin and a ballpoint pen
And a ballpoint pen
But there are answers here, they're just harder to figure out
Since all your questions got harder to dodge and dip around
And there is nothing wrong with my lifestyle
No matter how many times I tell myself to breathe in, hold it, hold it, now let it out, now let it out
One day I will realize I don't need this because it is just not who I am
Until that day comes, I'll keep my eyes closed, and I will try to feel all of the effects
Yeah, I will try to feel all of the effects
And now I am talking way too fast and a little bit louder than I should,
Trying to say thank you for understanding my side of the story the best that you could
My side of the story the best that you could
My side of the story the best that you could
The best that you could
But there are answers here, they're just harder to figure out
Since all your questions got harder to dodge and dip around
And there is nothing wrong with your lifestyle
No matter how many times they tell themselves just breathe in, hold it, hold it, now let it out
And this is how the cool boyfriend sits in the passenger seat of his girlfriend's car
He's lookin' at me, I wish the light would turn green, set me free, oh set me free, oh set me
Teach my rolling veins where there's a will, there is a way
Just cut me open, let me drain, oh let me drain, oh let me drain, oh let me
I'll move to Florida, and I'll buy a brand new pick-up truck
And I'll tint all the windows including the driver's side
Now you can't see me, so you can't touch me
When I sit at the red light and watch your boyfriend wonder if I'm inside
If I am dead inside
Lyrics submitted by wolfsmouth
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Little Feat
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Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Mountain Song
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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."
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
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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/
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
I really think the chorus is about a stick and poke tattoo. Giving yourself a tattoo with a saftey pin and the ink from a pen. Now hear me out. Obviously its the front bottoms and lyrics can get deeper then most people appreciate, I feel like the general mood of the song is kinda about having fun in the moment enjoying your life for where your at in that moment. And just like the stick in poke he says "I see a tattoo on my right thigh I will proablly regret some day" he might be referring to how the girl he's with wasn't really something he wanted to get tied down to. But more just something in the moment to enjoy and instead of rushing things he wanted them to happen naturally and maybe the girl moved on just because she wanted someone to call her own for a status or something. I might be totally wrong that's just how I see it and freakin love this band ! Saw them in Birmingham and if you get a chance you should check them out.