"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.
[Adam]
Chérie, votre langage me semble difficile.
Récemment, vous parliez dans un autre style
Et je ne peux faire confiance à vos mots d'amour
Que si vous les exprimez sans aucun détour.
[Adam & Virginie]
On veut toucher du doigt les belles promesses.
Avant la confiance, on voudrait les caresses.
[Adam]
Il paraît que mon charme a su vous séduire.
Alors, pourquoi ne pas me le faire mieux sentir ?
[Adam & Virginie]
No happiness is so complete
No happiness is so complete
As when from lips we love, come words so sweet.
[Virginie]
Je vois clairement qu'il faut vous contenter
Et faire tout comme vous le souhaitez.
Quand je sens vos brûlants désirs
Je ne vois d'autre issue que d'y consentir
Mais c'est peut-être un mal, une mauvaise pensée
Et c'est vous qui m'y aurez poussée.
Je dois rester... Irréprochable.
[Adam]
Bien sûr, Madame, je suis le seul coupable.
[Adam & Virginie]
No happiness is so complete
No happiness is so complete
As when from lips we love, come words so sweet.
[Virginie]
Mais comment puis-je accepter vos avances
Sans que le Ciel dont vous parlez toujours, n'y voit offense ?
[Adam]
Ne vous en faites pas ! Si ça ne tient qu'au Ciel
Je pourrai bien avoir le coup de pouce providentiel.
Certains plaisirs sont condamnables
Mais on peut s'arranger à l'amiable.
Avec sa conscience, il y a mille manières
De rendre nos âmes un peu plus légères.
[Virginie]
Aussi, peu importe une mauvaise action.
[Adam & Virginie]
Elle est rachetée par la pureté de l'intention.
[Adam]
Suivez donc mon désir ! Dites oui au plaisir !
Ne vous en privez pas ! Tout le mal est pour moi.
[Adam & Virginie]
No happiness is so complete
No happiness is so complete
As when from lips we love, come words so sweet.
So sweet... No happiness, no happiness... So sweet...
So sweet... No happiness, no happiness... So sweet...
So sweet... No happiness, no happiness... So sweet...
So sweet... No happiness, no happiness...
So sweet... No happiness, no happiness...
So sweet... No happiness, no happiness...
Chérie, votre langage me semble difficile.
Récemment, vous parliez dans un autre style
Et je ne peux faire confiance à vos mots d'amour
Que si vous les exprimez sans aucun détour.
[Adam & Virginie]
On veut toucher du doigt les belles promesses.
Avant la confiance, on voudrait les caresses.
[Adam]
Il paraît que mon charme a su vous séduire.
Alors, pourquoi ne pas me le faire mieux sentir ?
[Adam & Virginie]
No happiness is so complete
No happiness is so complete
As when from lips we love, come words so sweet.
[Virginie]
Je vois clairement qu'il faut vous contenter
Et faire tout comme vous le souhaitez.
Quand je sens vos brûlants désirs
Je ne vois d'autre issue que d'y consentir
Mais c'est peut-être un mal, une mauvaise pensée
Et c'est vous qui m'y aurez poussée.
Je dois rester... Irréprochable.
[Adam]
Bien sûr, Madame, je suis le seul coupable.
[Adam & Virginie]
No happiness is so complete
No happiness is so complete
As when from lips we love, come words so sweet.
[Virginie]
Mais comment puis-je accepter vos avances
Sans que le Ciel dont vous parlez toujours, n'y voit offense ?
[Adam]
Ne vous en faites pas ! Si ça ne tient qu'au Ciel
Je pourrai bien avoir le coup de pouce providentiel.
Certains plaisirs sont condamnables
Mais on peut s'arranger à l'amiable.
Avec sa conscience, il y a mille manières
De rendre nos âmes un peu plus légères.
[Virginie]
Aussi, peu importe une mauvaise action.
[Adam & Virginie]
Elle est rachetée par la pureté de l'intention.
[Adam]
Suivez donc mon désir ! Dites oui au plaisir !
Ne vous en privez pas ! Tout le mal est pour moi.
[Adam & Virginie]
No happiness is so complete
No happiness is so complete
As when from lips we love, come words so sweet.
So sweet... No happiness, no happiness... So sweet...
So sweet... No happiness, no happiness... So sweet...
So sweet... No happiness, no happiness... So sweet...
So sweet... No happiness, no happiness...
So sweet... No happiness, no happiness...
So sweet... No happiness, no happiness...
Lyrics submitted by Oliviaka
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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@[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.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
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Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
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,
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.
[Adam] Darling, your language seems hard to me. Recently, you were talking in another style And I cannot confide in your words of love Only if you express them without any detour. [Adam & Virginie] We want to touch beautiful promises on our fingers. Before confidence, we would like cuddles. [Adam] It appears that my charm knew how to seduce you. So, why not make it feel better to me?
[Adam & Virginie] No happiness is so complete No happiness is so complete As when from lips we love, come words so sweet.
[Virginie] I clearly see you have to be satisfied And do everything as you wish. When I feel your burning desires I cannot find any other issue than accept them But it may be harm, a bad thought And you are the one who pushed me to that. I must remain... Irreproachable. [Adam] Of course, Madam, I am the only culprit.
[Adam & Virginie] No happiness is so complete No happiness is so complete As when from lips we love, come words so sweet.
[Virginie] But how can I accept your demands Without offending Heaven you talk so much of? [Adam] Don't worry! If that concerns Heaven I will be able to have the providential help.
Some pleasures are condemnable But we can make an amical arrangement. With its conscience, there are thousands of manners To make our souls a little lighter. [Virginie] Also, no matter a bad action. [Adam & Virginie] It is bought back by the purity of intention. [Adam] So, follow my desire! Say yes to pleasure! Do not abstain! All the sin is upon me.
[Adam & Virginie] No happiness is so complete No happiness is so complete As when from lips we love, come words so sweet.
So sweet... No happiness, no happiness... So sweet... So sweet... No happiness, no happiness... So sweet... So sweet... No happiness, no happiness... So sweet... So sweet... No happiness, no happiness... So sweet... No happiness, no happiness... So sweet... No happiness, no happiness...
FYI, it is based on a part from Molière's play, Tartuffe. Act IV, scene 5. Tartuffe, the hypocritical religious devotee, attempts to seduce Elmire, Orgon's wife.
Directed by Jean-Marc Joseph, the video is in black and white, with Adam playing a man in white suit and Virginie playing a woman in white coat. The outside scenes were actually shot inside.
@Oliviaka I meant "a man in black suit"... My bad.