"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'm fine
The world can wait a little while
And I'll remember its face
So kind for giving me the privilege to stay
Whatever happens next is up to me
Drop everything
Come back to me
(Float in ecstasy)
(With you next to me now)
When you play for the long run
You play for the team
(We're all coming home)
I'm fine
And I can handle myself
The world's an addict
With a vice upon the shelf
Glaring there and barely out of reach
Drop everything
Come back to me
(Float in ecstasy)
(With you next to me now)
When you play for the long run
You play for the team
(We're all coming home)
When you talk among friends
You kill for a reason to be somewhere else
Anywhere
I didn't mind
You weren't there
You were just out of reach
I won't lie
I wore your name for a while
Until it's started to burn in my head
Well you once said
If home was a place
You'd do all that you could not to stay
Drop everything
Come back to me
(Float in ecstasy)
(With you next to me now)
When you play for the long run
You play for the team
(Float in ecstasy)
(Float in ecstasy)
When you talk among friends
You kill for a reason to be somewhere else
Anywhere
I didn't mind
You weren't there
You were just out of reach
Just out of reach
Just out of reach
Just out of reach
Just out of reach
Just out of reach
Just out of reach
The world can wait a little while
And I'll remember its face
So kind for giving me the privilege to stay
Whatever happens next is up to me
Drop everything
Come back to me
(Float in ecstasy)
(With you next to me now)
When you play for the long run
You play for the team
(We're all coming home)
I'm fine
And I can handle myself
The world's an addict
With a vice upon the shelf
Glaring there and barely out of reach
Drop everything
Come back to me
(Float in ecstasy)
(With you next to me now)
When you play for the long run
You play for the team
(We're all coming home)
When you talk among friends
You kill for a reason to be somewhere else
Anywhere
I didn't mind
You weren't there
You were just out of reach
I won't lie
I wore your name for a while
Until it's started to burn in my head
Well you once said
If home was a place
You'd do all that you could not to stay
Drop everything
Come back to me
(Float in ecstasy)
(With you next to me now)
When you play for the long run
You play for the team
(Float in ecstasy)
(Float in ecstasy)
When you talk among friends
You kill for a reason to be somewhere else
Anywhere
I didn't mind
You weren't there
You were just out of reach
Just out of reach
Just out of reach
Just out of reach
Just out of reach
Just out of reach
Just out of reach
Lyrics submitted by Skoobasteve24, edited by InDreams
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Hayalperest
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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.
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.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
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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.
It took me a few times of listening to the song to get my interpretation. I feel like this song is about a guy that loves a girl but he just can't have her (because she's dating another guy or has moved away), and he wants to get over her but he can't because he sees her every now and again which brings back all of his memories and feelings about her.
In my opinion its similar to the previous comment but not for the reason of location or them dating someone else. I believe it to be more about a woman who is mentally running from herself, her past, intimacy, etc. "If home was a place You'd do all that you could not to stay" The team lines are a bit ambiguous, because it could mean she's promiscuous. It could mean other things but that seems to obvious.