"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 vibrant hues and subtle brush strokes of memory
The life I've painted I've sold for a quick twenty
It's on display now for the privileged and the wealthy
God, I despise their reassuring, lying eyes
Our home stands tall behind that foreclosure sign
Everything in boxes from another lifetime
Continental breakfast in the lobby
But they're always out of coffee
Only a fool would think living could be easy
Only a fool would think living could be easy
This little motel room on I-80 west of nowhere
Why count the stars?
You'll never know where you are
Somewhere light years from the world you used to know
Like a lock that doesn't turn
Like a plant that doesn't grow
Long for the words with hearts and wings
From five states over, I'm running from everything
Continental breakfast in the lobby
But they're always out of coffee
Only a fool would think living could be easy
Only a fool would think living could be easy
Oh you know it breaks my heart
Watching your whole life fall apart
While bastards dance off with the night
As we try to break free with all our might
Only a fool would think living could be easy
Only a fool would think living could be easy
Only a fool would think living could be easy
Only a fool would think living could be easy
In vibrant hues and subtle brush strokes of memory
The life I've painted I've sold for a quick twenty
The life I've painted I've sold for a quick twenty
It's on display now for the privileged and the wealthy
God, I despise their reassuring, lying eyes
Our home stands tall behind that foreclosure sign
Everything in boxes from another lifetime
Continental breakfast in the lobby
But they're always out of coffee
Only a fool would think living could be easy
Only a fool would think living could be easy
This little motel room on I-80 west of nowhere
Why count the stars?
You'll never know where you are
Somewhere light years from the world you used to know
Like a lock that doesn't turn
Like a plant that doesn't grow
Long for the words with hearts and wings
From five states over, I'm running from everything
Continental breakfast in the lobby
But they're always out of coffee
Only a fool would think living could be easy
Only a fool would think living could be easy
Oh you know it breaks my heart
Watching your whole life fall apart
While bastards dance off with the night
As we try to break free with all our might
Only a fool would think living could be easy
Only a fool would think living could be easy
Only a fool would think living could be easy
Only a fool would think living could be easy
In vibrant hues and subtle brush strokes of memory
The life I've painted I've sold for a quick twenty
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
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