"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.
You made a fool out of someone
(Out of someone)
You thought love was true
And found out that you were just having fun
(Just having fun)
And oh, why do you wanna make me blue?
After all, I've been good to you
(I've been good to you)
Oh, yes I have
And I recall the time
You needed somebody and I made you mine
You needed a friend
So I took you in and treated you so kind
And oh, why do you wanna make me blue?
After after all, I've been good to you
(I've been good to you)
Oh, yes I have
And you know I've always been around
And I never, never, never let you down
And now you're telling me that you must go
You know that you're hurting me so
But there, there come a time
One day, one day, one day you gonna wake up and find
You'll come back to me on your bending knee
And you're gonna be crying
And oh, believe me, what I say it true, baby
After all, Lord I've been good to you
(I've been good to you)
Everyday and every way
(I've been good to you)
You know, you know, you know, baby
I've been so good
(I've been good to you)
You made a fool out of someone
(Out of someone)
(Out of someone)
You thought love was true
And found out that you were just having fun
(Just having fun)
And oh, why do you wanna make me blue?
After all, I've been good to you
(I've been good to you)
Oh, yes I have
And I recall the time
You needed somebody and I made you mine
You needed a friend
So I took you in and treated you so kind
And oh, why do you wanna make me blue?
After after all, I've been good to you
(I've been good to you)
Oh, yes I have
And you know I've always been around
And I never, never, never let you down
And now you're telling me that you must go
You know that you're hurting me so
But there, there come a time
One day, one day, one day you gonna wake up and find
You'll come back to me on your bending knee
And you're gonna be crying
And oh, believe me, what I say it true, baby
After all, Lord I've been good to you
(I've been good to you)
Everyday and every way
(I've been good to you)
You know, you know, you know, baby
I've been so good
(I've been good to you)
You made a fool out of someone
(Out of someone)
Lyrics submitted by Mellow_Harsher
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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,
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.