"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.
God, I've been sent here blind to learn to see,
Remembering you were always there with me.
But do you know just how hard that's been?
Could all of this have really been foreseen?
I'd like to say a prayer, how does it go?
I'm tired. Tell me, God, does it show?
What could have called for such a handicap?
I was sent out here without a map.
cll this time I've had to guess the way,
To keep moving when I wished to stay.
I've been wrong as much as I've been right.
You tell me: 'Walk by faith and not by sight, and
Keep your heavy heart afloat.
You are a timber carved by knife, but
Someday you may serve as a boat.'
What I lose here on earth...
...Is lost in heaven.
If I ask you for help...
...it will be given.
But you've waited this long...
...you weren't ready.
My devotion was strong...
...it wasn't steady.
I have one more question...
...you have the answer too.
But what does that mean?
You're I, and I am you.
Why speak in riddles?
Then let me show the way.
That's all I've wanted.
That's all you've had to say.
Well come on then, God, show me,
Which way you would like me to go, and
I won't resume to question,
How I was ever supposed to know.
There have been signs along the way, but
They've been so very obscure.
ct times I thought I knew their meaning, but
How could I've ever been sure?
God, I was sent here deaf to learn to hear,
To have faith in you and never fear.
Life is an ocean, you its every wave,
Your arms would cradle me, and keep me safe.
You're right, all this, and more I need to learn,
cll this unease just makes my stomach churn.
It was I not you who set this trap, but
You did leave me here without a map.
cll this time I've had to guess the way,
To keep moving when I wished to stay.
I've been right as much as I've been wrong, so
cll I hear from you is: 'You are strong enough,
For all you'll ever have to face,
The only map you need is Love,
To guide you through this illusion of a maze.'
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
On east, as it is in heaven,
Give us today our daily bread,
Forgive us, Father, all our sins,
cs we forgive those who sin against us, and
Lead us not into temptation, but
Deliver us from evil, for thy is the kingdom, and
The power, and the glory,
Now and forever more,
cmen.
Remembering you were always there with me.
But do you know just how hard that's been?
Could all of this have really been foreseen?
I'd like to say a prayer, how does it go?
I'm tired. Tell me, God, does it show?
What could have called for such a handicap?
I was sent out here without a map.
cll this time I've had to guess the way,
To keep moving when I wished to stay.
I've been wrong as much as I've been right.
You tell me: 'Walk by faith and not by sight, and
Keep your heavy heart afloat.
You are a timber carved by knife, but
Someday you may serve as a boat.'
What I lose here on earth...
...Is lost in heaven.
If I ask you for help...
...it will be given.
But you've waited this long...
...you weren't ready.
My devotion was strong...
...it wasn't steady.
I have one more question...
...you have the answer too.
But what does that mean?
You're I, and I am you.
Why speak in riddles?
Then let me show the way.
That's all I've wanted.
That's all you've had to say.
Well come on then, God, show me,
Which way you would like me to go, and
I won't resume to question,
How I was ever supposed to know.
There have been signs along the way, but
They've been so very obscure.
ct times I thought I knew their meaning, but
How could I've ever been sure?
God, I was sent here deaf to learn to hear,
To have faith in you and never fear.
Life is an ocean, you its every wave,
Your arms would cradle me, and keep me safe.
You're right, all this, and more I need to learn,
cll this unease just makes my stomach churn.
It was I not you who set this trap, but
You did leave me here without a map.
cll this time I've had to guess the way,
To keep moving when I wished to stay.
I've been right as much as I've been wrong, so
cll I hear from you is: 'You are strong enough,
For all you'll ever have to face,
The only map you need is Love,
To guide you through this illusion of a maze.'
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
On east, as it is in heaven,
Give us today our daily bread,
Forgive us, Father, all our sins,
cs we forgive those who sin against us, and
Lead us not into temptation, but
Deliver us from evil, for thy is the kingdom, and
The power, and the glory,
Now and forever more,
cmen.
Lyrics submitted by smallwonderrobot
Without a Map Lyrics as written by Marketa Irglova
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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
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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.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
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.