"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 chose to believe every word I was fed
And I thought the coals on my back
Were a product of the lack you left
When you stepped back and racked your brain
For a reason to stay
But you could not seem to formulate
Any such thought in your head
So you left with nothing more than a reason you kept silent
And my mind would riot, stuck in self-perpetuated mental violence
And dreams kept private
The ambition to fix this wishlist of selfish misfit realist
Missions contained within a vision
Of wishful thinking and sinking deep
Into a new bit of misproportioned emotions
Leaking through a seeping truth
Constructed by my need to feel important
When you would look back
And think of all the little things you regret
I just wanted you to think of me when you think back
To all the things you regret
I spent so much time convincing myself
That the rest of this mess that I stressed within this relationship
Was a product of the world’s oppressions
Not my deep desire to be needed
And it’s hard to admit, but I guess I’ve come to terms
With the fact that I just want to be needed
And I convinced myself that I needed to be needed
And if that was true, I would still be smiling
Like you still today but for different reasons
I chose to dismiss the possible instance
That the lips I love to kiss
Could form the words goodbye
And it was a simple lie but I told it to you
Like the captain of a sinking ship
Choosing to believe the bottom of the ocean
Was a better source of oxygen
It’s so nice, and I still chose to believe
I misinterpreted your dialect and everything you said about it
Your diction, your diatribe, posture
Body language ,and connotations
All pointed in the same direction
The selection of contingent messages
Postponed until further notice
Because I was ashamed to admit the problem
And pretend your happiness came from me
And that your happiness was important
But we aborted the sordid truths we once distorted
When I saw the shape of your dress when you wore it
And that was enough, until it wasn’t
And that’s when you finally felt supported
So the others courted you, and you mentally recorded
And endorsed the force perform of compliments
You received came in
And you felt empowered enough to take your final bow
And find love within the arms of another
Instead of this heart of mine
And that’s fine, because I would do the same
And I would leave me
Not because I’m useless, and not because I’m broken
Not because I’m sad, and not because I’m worthless
But because I saw value in your smile and not in your values
And I’m sorry, and I love you
And that’s why I can finally sleep at night
Because you are free and you can thrive
And I’m just happy I got to be a part of your life
I’m just happy I got to be a part
Of the journey that you call your life
And I finally feel fine
Because I spent so long trying to change you
Not realizing I was the one who needed to change
I was selfish to assume you loved me more than you love yourself
Even though I never felt the same
And there’s so many things that my selfishness tried to take away
But you were the one that was the hardest to watch walk away
But thank you for letting me be
A part of everything you were building and creating
And finding truth and life and you were relating so much beauty
And I love you, and I’m sorry
Thank you for letting me be a part of your journey
Thank you for letting me be me
And thank you for setting me free
And showing me love
And showing me love in its full capacity
And I thought the coals on my back
Were a product of the lack you left
When you stepped back and racked your brain
For a reason to stay
But you could not seem to formulate
Any such thought in your head
So you left with nothing more than a reason you kept silent
And my mind would riot, stuck in self-perpetuated mental violence
And dreams kept private
The ambition to fix this wishlist of selfish misfit realist
Missions contained within a vision
Of wishful thinking and sinking deep
Into a new bit of misproportioned emotions
Leaking through a seeping truth
Constructed by my need to feel important
When you would look back
And think of all the little things you regret
I just wanted you to think of me when you think back
To all the things you regret
I spent so much time convincing myself
That the rest of this mess that I stressed within this relationship
Was a product of the world’s oppressions
Not my deep desire to be needed
And it’s hard to admit, but I guess I’ve come to terms
With the fact that I just want to be needed
And I convinced myself that I needed to be needed
And if that was true, I would still be smiling
Like you still today but for different reasons
I chose to dismiss the possible instance
That the lips I love to kiss
Could form the words goodbye
And it was a simple lie but I told it to you
Like the captain of a sinking ship
Choosing to believe the bottom of the ocean
Was a better source of oxygen
It’s so nice, and I still chose to believe
I misinterpreted your dialect and everything you said about it
Your diction, your diatribe, posture
Body language ,and connotations
All pointed in the same direction
The selection of contingent messages
Postponed until further notice
Because I was ashamed to admit the problem
And pretend your happiness came from me
And that your happiness was important
But we aborted the sordid truths we once distorted
When I saw the shape of your dress when you wore it
And that was enough, until it wasn’t
And that’s when you finally felt supported
So the others courted you, and you mentally recorded
And endorsed the force perform of compliments
You received came in
And you felt empowered enough to take your final bow
And find love within the arms of another
Instead of this heart of mine
And that’s fine, because I would do the same
And I would leave me
Not because I’m useless, and not because I’m broken
Not because I’m sad, and not because I’m worthless
But because I saw value in your smile and not in your values
And I’m sorry, and I love you
And that’s why I can finally sleep at night
Because you are free and you can thrive
And I’m just happy I got to be a part of your life
I’m just happy I got to be a part
Of the journey that you call your life
And I finally feel fine
Because I spent so long trying to change you
Not realizing I was the one who needed to change
I was selfish to assume you loved me more than you love yourself
Even though I never felt the same
And there’s so many things that my selfishness tried to take away
But you were the one that was the hardest to watch walk away
But thank you for letting me be
A part of everything you were building and creating
And finding truth and life and you were relating so much beauty
And I love you, and I’m sorry
Thank you for letting me be a part of your journey
Thank you for letting me be me
And thank you for setting me free
And showing me love
And showing me love in its full capacity
Lyrics submitted by natrium
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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Hayalperest
Hayalperest
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.
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.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
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.
I found this song’s lyrics rather interesting, and couldn’t find any explanation on what the song was written about, or referring to. I searched the lyrics and have come to a conclusion on what it may be about; \nI believe the narrator is singing about an ex, and the things that occurred which lead to her leaving him. \n“…Were a product of the lack you left\nWhen you stepped back and racked your brain\nFor a reason to stay” \nCould be suggesting she’s taken a look at her relationship overall, and was finding reasons to stay.\n“But you could not seem to formulate\nAny such thought in your head” \nMeaning she’s now come to the decision she had to leave her relationship. \n\n“So you left with nothing more than a reason you kept silent and my mind would riot, stuck in self-perpetuated mental violence” \nThis line is telling us she had left without any explanation which lead to the narrator going somewhat ‘crazy’ and wondering what rid her. \n\n“When you would look back\nAnd think of all the little things you regret\nI just wanted you to think of me when you think back\nTo all the things you regret” \nIs the narrator explaining he hopes at the end of the day when she looks back on their relationship, she regrets learning him. \n\n“I chose to dismiss the possible instance\nThat the lips I love to kiss\nCould form the words goodbye”\nThis line is talking about how he (the narrator) chose to ignore the possibility his partner could leave him. \n\n“Because I was ashamed to admit the problem\nAnd pretend your happiness came from me\nAnd that your happiness was important” \nMight mean deep down he knew your happiness wasn’t due to him, and that he was ashamed to admit his happiness meant more to him then yours. \n\n“And find love within the arms of another\nInstead of this heart of mine\nAnd that’s fine, because I would do the same\nAnd I would leave me\nNot because I’m useless, and not because I’m broken\nNot because I’m sad, and not because I’m worthless\nBut because I saw value in your smile and not in your values” \n\nThis is the narrator coming to terms with you finding a new lover. He stated it’s “fine” but not because he’s useless, sad, broken or worthless, but because he’s come to terms he couldn’t appreciate you in the right ways one should appreciate a partner. \n\n“And I’m sorry, and I love you\nAnd that’s why I can finally sleep at night\nBecause you are free and you can thrive\nAnd I’m just happy I got to be a part of your life”\n\nIs him explaining he’s sorry and loves her, and finds comfort in the fact he knows someone can love her the way she needs to be loved, and is grateful he got to be a part of her life. \n\n“Because I spent so long trying to change you\nNot realizing I was the one who needed to change” \nComing into realisation that he kept trying to change her when he was the one who needed to change. \n\n“I was selfish to assume you loved me more than you love yourself\nEven though I never felt the same” \nThe narrator could be suggesting throughout their relationship he thought she loved him more than she loved herself, which lead him into thinking he could treat her how he wanted without worrying the consequences. He states he knows it’s selfish as he didn’t feel the same. \n\n-So, in conclusion, I think this song is about a man taking advantage and taking his girlfriend for granted. Treating her unfairly throughout the relationship as he believed she’d accept his behaviour because she “loved him more than herself” and the stages of grief he went through after she had left him, realising he done her wrong. By the end of the song we learn his ex was a huge part of his life but he couldn’t communicate that to her because of his selfishness.