"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.
Whatever you're searching for,
you won't find it here.
But I'll admit, something keeps pulling me back
into your atmosphere.
I'm really good at mistakes.
All the marks I left on the page.
They seem to never wanna disappear.
Why do you still come around,
when all I do is push, push, push you away.
I really, really wanna take a chance on you,
but I, I hesitate.
I'm afraid to start.
Don't wanna break your heart.
Just finished picking up the pieces from this mess.
I never meant to hurt nobody.
But now I tend to move slowly.
Cause if I ever slip from your fingertips.
My name will be stained on your lips.
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.
It feels like everybody's watching
To see what my next move is.
Do I proceed with caution
Or do I just dive in.
I'm fine with taking it slow.
Enjoy life on my own.
But I can be confusing sometimes.
I know.
I'm surprised you're still around.
Baby all I do is push, push, push you away.
I really, really wanna take a chance on you.
But I, I need to make sure
This isn't just a phase.
I'm afraid to start.
Don't wanna break your heart.
Just finished picking up the pieces from this mess.
I never meant to hurt nobody.
But now I tend to move slowly.
Cause if I ever slip from your fingertips.
My name will be stained...
I'm afraid to start.
Don't wanna break your heart.
Just finished picking up the pieces from this mess.
I never meant to hurt nobody.
But now I tend to move slowly.
Cause if I ever slip from your fingertips.
My name will be stained on your lips.
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.
Nothing wrong with taking my time with love.
I don't wanna be the bad guy again.
I don't wanna be the bad guy again.
Still working out the kinks in my tainted love.
Colors played out from my heart to his
Different shades that I can't predict.
Nothing wrong with taking my time with love.
you won't find it here.
But I'll admit, something keeps pulling me back
into your atmosphere.
I'm really good at mistakes.
All the marks I left on the page.
They seem to never wanna disappear.
Why do you still come around,
when all I do is push, push, push you away.
I really, really wanna take a chance on you,
but I, I hesitate.
I'm afraid to start.
Don't wanna break your heart.
Just finished picking up the pieces from this mess.
I never meant to hurt nobody.
But now I tend to move slowly.
Cause if I ever slip from your fingertips.
My name will be stained on your lips.
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.
It feels like everybody's watching
To see what my next move is.
Do I proceed with caution
Or do I just dive in.
I'm fine with taking it slow.
Enjoy life on my own.
But I can be confusing sometimes.
I know.
I'm surprised you're still around.
Baby all I do is push, push, push you away.
I really, really wanna take a chance on you.
But I, I need to make sure
This isn't just a phase.
I'm afraid to start.
Don't wanna break your heart.
Just finished picking up the pieces from this mess.
I never meant to hurt nobody.
But now I tend to move slowly.
Cause if I ever slip from your fingertips.
My name will be stained...
I'm afraid to start.
Don't wanna break your heart.
Just finished picking up the pieces from this mess.
I never meant to hurt nobody.
But now I tend to move slowly.
Cause if I ever slip from your fingertips.
My name will be stained on your lips.
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.
Nothing wrong with taking my time with love.
I don't wanna be the bad guy again.
I don't wanna be the bad guy again.
Still working out the kinks in my tainted love.
Colors played out from my heart to his
Different shades that I can't predict.
Nothing wrong with taking my time with love.
Lyrics submitted by jsd6793
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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.
No Surprises
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Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
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.
I'm in love with the lyrics and it complements her voice. I was actually in this situation recently.