"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.
In bars and in restaurants
In the cheapest Paris fairground
Each night he is found
With fury and handwringing
Each night he’s singing
Until he’s laughed out of town
Jazz band goes jingle jangle
Vicious monkeys scramble
To show their crippled teeth all worn down
He’s drunk and he’s obnoxious
And then he’s feeling nauseous
He spreads his faded blooms upon the ground
He’s drunk on his nirvana
Asleep at the piano
In this crazy celebration drowns
Jazz band goes jingle jangle
Vicious monkeys gamble
Shouting Merry Christmas and come on
The musicians they are leaving
Here comes the end of evening
But he can’t even raise his head to frown
And from the green fir branches
A yellow angel drops down
And says poor maestro you’ve lost your crown
They say you sang the tango
In the brothels dens and night streets
You’re a sad and tired clown
And up in the high heavens
God extinguishes the candles
And the yellow angel drowns
In the cheapest Paris fairground
Each night he is found
With fury and handwringing
Each night he’s singing
Until he’s laughed out of town
Jazz band goes jingle jangle
Vicious monkeys scramble
To show their crippled teeth all worn down
He’s drunk and he’s obnoxious
And then he’s feeling nauseous
He spreads his faded blooms upon the ground
He’s drunk on his nirvana
Asleep at the piano
In this crazy celebration drowns
Jazz band goes jingle jangle
Vicious monkeys gamble
Shouting Merry Christmas and come on
The musicians they are leaving
Here comes the end of evening
But he can’t even raise his head to frown
And from the green fir branches
A yellow angel drops down
And says poor maestro you’ve lost your crown
They say you sang the tango
In the brothels dens and night streets
You’re a sad and tired clown
And up in the high heavens
God extinguishes the candles
And the yellow angel drowns
Lyrics submitted by Mellow_Harsher
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
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”
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
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.
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.