"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.
Through word of mouth let it be know
The man who spends his life on a mission, he's legendary
Traveling from coast to coast
He's the contemporary Johnny Appleseed
Now, man, who was talking shit about Johnny anyway?
He's down for the cause, holmes
He's making sure his garden grows
He'll plant a seed in every town he goes
Fertilizing the countryside
Couldn't stop him with insecticide
Making sure the garden grows, yeah, yeah, yeah
He'll water the yard with a agrden hose
And you know he'll be plantin' his seed, yeah, yeah, yeah
Groomin' the backyard, or whackin' a weed
Oh, yes, this Johnny character is just what we're looking for
He's very straight, very gang, very Hispanic
He'll do just fine
When diggin' holes he'll be wearing a glove
He go into the shed, get the shovel, and he shove
He'll plant the seed, makin' sure it's sown
He go into the shed and he start hoein' with the hoe, ho, ho, ho
Makin' sure that the garden grow, yeah, yeah, yeah
He'll water the yard with the garden hose
Groomin' the backyard or whackin' the weed, yeah, yeah, yeah
The contemporary Johnny Appleseed
The man who spends his life on a mission, he's legendary
Traveling from coast to coast
He's the contemporary Johnny Appleseed
Now, man, who was talking shit about Johnny anyway?
He's down for the cause, holmes
He's making sure his garden grows
He'll plant a seed in every town he goes
Fertilizing the countryside
Couldn't stop him with insecticide
Making sure the garden grows, yeah, yeah, yeah
He'll water the yard with a agrden hose
And you know he'll be plantin' his seed, yeah, yeah, yeah
Groomin' the backyard, or whackin' a weed
Oh, yes, this Johnny character is just what we're looking for
He's very straight, very gang, very Hispanic
He'll do just fine
When diggin' holes he'll be wearing a glove
He go into the shed, get the shovel, and he shove
He'll plant the seed, makin' sure it's sown
He go into the shed and he start hoein' with the hoe, ho, ho, ho
Makin' sure that the garden grow, yeah, yeah, yeah
He'll water the yard with the garden hose
Groomin' the backyard or whackin' the weed, yeah, yeah, yeah
The contemporary Johnny Appleseed
Lyrics submitted by AtomicGarden, edited by aflycon
Johnny Appleseed Lyrics as written by Mike Burkett
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
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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.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
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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/
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
I always thought this song was just a commentary on hispanic gardeners - i.e. the stereotype that many gardeners are Latino, and therefore they are the modern day Johnny Appleseeds.
A second thought that came to mind was the possibility that this guy plants Marijuana seeds everywhere, but there's not really any direct evidence to support that. More likely this is just about general gardening.
Although I took a re-listen, and maybe there is some direct evidence to support the marijuana thing. At the first spoken bit:<br /> <br /> "Hey man, why you talkin shit about Johnny anyway? He's down with the cause, holmes."<br /> <br /> "The cause" perhaps being legalization of pot? Then, the second spoken part:<br /> <br /> "This Johnny character is just what we're looking for. He's very street, very gang, and very Hispanic. He'll do just fine."<br /> <br /> This could be either an authority figure saying that Johnny would be a good person to go after as he "fits the profile", so they should throw him in jail, or perhaps (and more unlikely) it's a pro-pot organization looking for a spokesperson.
this song is about the band's drummer, erik sandin. its rumored that he gets laid in ever town (he'll plant a seed in ever town he goes). this earned him the nickname 'johnny appleseed'.
Ahahaha, that's freakin awesome.
"Johnny Appleseed" is in fact about Erik Sandin, (or "Smelly"), the drummer for NOFX. Fat Mike and Melvin talked about it in an interview a few years after White Trash... was released.
The only idiosyncrasy is that in the spoken lyrics after each chorus, El Hefe describes someone Hispanic while in reality, Smelly is representative of the "White Trash" in the album title - Mike and Melvin are the "Two Heebs," and of course El Hefe is the "Bean."
During recording, the album was to be called White Trash, Two Kikes, and a Spic. However, Eric Melvin's mom caught wind of this, explained it to Melvin's grandmother, and she became so upset that Melvin decided they needed to change the title. This was also discussed in an interview circa 1996/1997.
I submitted the spoken lyrics and made a few corrections so that these lyrics match what is featured on the original lyric sheet issued with the LP in 1992.
Happy listening!
I always thought that this song was about American legend 'Johnny Appleseed'. But the comment about the band's drummer makes a lot more sense. NEway, fine guitar work here, good harmonies, funky song. IMHO, the 'White Trash...' album is NOFX' only real good one. Or, at least, the last good album they made.
If you really like NOFX, you should like something about every album. If you read their book (hepatitis bathtub) and watch videos of their live shows AND watch NOFX backstage passport you'll get to know a lot about them and appreciate them more. They've been through a lot and are good dudes. I ask myself sometimes "what would you say if someone asked you your favorite song by them". And I realized that o can't pick just one. Each song has its own magic and genius. Do any of you have favorites? And why?
o yea, this song is sung by el hefe, if it wasnt obvious enough...
German Hitmeister, sorry but you are wrong. Punk in Drublic is their best.