"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 learned about America from my first day in school
Land of opportunity, land of the free
They told us we were blessed and fortunate
But they turned away my questions on homelessness
I don't believe, I don't believe
Born into a national identity
A citizenship that defines the word "free"
But if we're so fucking free why don't we even get a choice?
I never choose to be a citizen, there was no choice given to make
I don't believe, I don't believe
I don't believe in America
Or the "Americain Dream"
I don't believe in nationalism
We're all the same
Until the rich old men who control the world find something they can't have
And they send us out there to kill each other, let the rich fight their wars
themselves
I don't believe
You've got nothing to gain, by fighting for them!
Land of opportunity, land of the free
They told us we were blessed and fortunate
But they turned away my questions on homelessness
I don't believe, I don't believe
Born into a national identity
A citizenship that defines the word "free"
But if we're so fucking free why don't we even get a choice?
I never choose to be a citizen, there was no choice given to make
I don't believe, I don't believe
I don't believe in America
Or the "Americain Dream"
I don't believe in nationalism
We're all the same
Until the rich old men who control the world find something they can't have
And they send us out there to kill each other, let the rich fight their wars
themselves
I don't believe
You've got nothing to gain, by fighting for them!
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More Featured Meanings
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.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
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."
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.
taking stanford 9s i saw how biased the test was. one question, the only answer that made sense was that north korea invaded south korea with the help of the russians. that is such bullshit. the russians didnt even kno the invasions happened and were boycotting the UN security coucil meetings. as a result the US was able to back a UN resolution to support the south koreans. the russians, who were absent could not veto. they never missed a security council meeting again :]... yet it shows the tainted atmosphere in which we are supposed to be able to think for ourselves
heh, dude, i really wish i could learn more about events such as this, but i can't find anybody but Noam Chomsky who knows about it, isn't there a big website of the history of the corruption of the united states? for the most part, i know my shit, but i'm not about to go write a book on the subjects, this song rules, thanks for the info about the stanford 9's don't think i'll be taking them haha, rock on man
punk sucks, try Howard Zinn, Michael Parenti....a book called "Lies My Teacher Told Me"....hmm, can't think of any more off the top of my head ;)
I don't think punk sucks...but I know who Howard Zinn is...My history teacher last year had a big hard on for him and gave us tons of essays and stuff by him, and they were really good. Anyway, this song is great, and so is Anti-Flag, and so is punk, goddam it!
lol, i'm so lucky to have politically aware parents..
madcap..he was talking to the guy before him punk_sucks_ass just to clear things up
Yeah Michael Parenti has some good stuff. Parts of some speaches from him are in a couple of songs from Choking Victim, great stuff. Anyway this song is pretty ok, there are some better on A New Kind of Army though.