"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.
Mr. Merry cries in his coffin
For days he says he can remember
And through the town the pallbearers sing old songs
Of a beautiful purple mountain
From every walk of life we've come to see the last great American
May I now present you the speaker,
"Friends he was a man of men, a man of gold:
He had a how do you say, ethical like sense"
That's when the President started to giggle
And the children gave the blessing
Though the service weren't half done
Each of them sued the other one
For the last great American
Merry reaches up, we bow our heads
He pulls the lid on down and his stone is read
Here lies our Merry
The man with the heart so spent
That in this day and age
Is sick of living
And judges argue letters
Fabric comes undone
For every daughter every son
Of the last great American
For every daughter every son
Of the last great American
For days he says he can remember
And through the town the pallbearers sing old songs
Of a beautiful purple mountain
From every walk of life we've come to see the last great American
May I now present you the speaker,
"Friends he was a man of men, a man of gold:
He had a how do you say, ethical like sense"
That's when the President started to giggle
And the children gave the blessing
Though the service weren't half done
Each of them sued the other one
For the last great American
Merry reaches up, we bow our heads
He pulls the lid on down and his stone is read
Here lies our Merry
The man with the heart so spent
That in this day and age
Is sick of living
And judges argue letters
Fabric comes undone
For every daughter every son
Of the last great American
For every daughter every son
Of the last great American
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
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.
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/
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.
I love this song but i dont get the impression that the reborn American spirit lasted for very long after 9/11 - the American government have just spent about 5 years blaming the entire middle eastern world only to become really half arsed about what they have taken as their job to 'sort out'. The full lyrics are:
Mr. Merry cries in his coffin for days he says he can remember home And through the town the pallbearers sing old songs Of a beautiful and purple mountain From every walk of life we've come to see the Last Great American So may I now present you the speaker Friends he was a man of men, a man of gold He had a how do you say ethical like sense That's when the President started to giggle Then the children gave the blessing Though the service weren't half done Each of them sued the other one For the last great American
Wait, wait it's time, time for my coffin Wait, It's time for my prayer Wait, It's time, time for my coffin
Merry reaches up and we bow our heads pulls the lid on down and his stone is read here lies merry, the man with the heart so spent that in this day and age was sick of living
.....
etc