"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.
Welcome to the second reel
Glad that you can make it
We thought your fate was sealed
It's not what we expected
But you punch above your weight
And you're stronger than you look
And the ending's not the same
They changed it from the book
I'm the boy with the bubble gun
I'm taking aim
I cannot hit to hurt or cause you pain
If words could kill I'd spell out your name
It's time to kill the king
It's written in the scripture
See what tomorrow brings
Got to get a bigger picture
So forgive me forgive me for I am born
To be what I must be and I must be
The boy with the bubble gun
I'm taking aim
I cannot hit to hurt or cause you pain
If words could kill I'd spell out your name
I'm the boy with the bubble gun
The boy with the bubble gun
I'm the boy with the bubble gun
With work to do
If songs could kill
This one's for you
Glad that you can make it
We thought your fate was sealed
It's not what we expected
But you punch above your weight
And you're stronger than you look
And the ending's not the same
They changed it from the book
I'm the boy with the bubble gun
I'm taking aim
I cannot hit to hurt or cause you pain
If words could kill I'd spell out your name
It's time to kill the king
It's written in the scripture
See what tomorrow brings
Got to get a bigger picture
So forgive me forgive me for I am born
To be what I must be and I must be
The boy with the bubble gun
I'm taking aim
I cannot hit to hurt or cause you pain
If words could kill I'd spell out your name
I'm the boy with the bubble gun
The boy with the bubble gun
I'm the boy with the bubble gun
With work to do
If songs could kill
This one's for you
Lyrics submitted by ThreeMilesDown
The Boy with the Bubblegun Lyrics as written by Tom Mcrae Mcrae
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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.
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/
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.
Its a dig at himself.......whatever he writes songs about will not change anything in the world. The bubblegun would be a useless, ineffective weapon....like words
Its a dig at himself.......whatever he writes songs about will not change anything in the world. The bubblegun would be a useless, ineffective weapon....like words
this song is so powerful when performed live. you really get the feeling that tom has reached his limits with this person and wishes he could do something other than talk about it.
I always find it a shame that the verses don't come upto the level of perfect understated bial of the Choruses.
I wonder if it was aimed at someone in particular and if they know it's about them?
Check the "Black Session" live recordings, he dedicades this song to Tony Blair :)
it's the boy with the bubblegun, and not with the bubblegum, like the title says, so Tom_999, it has nothing to do with children choking on bubblegum.
I think thelastnarrator is right about this song. And Itekei is also right.
i love the two lines "If words could kill I'd spell out your name" and "If songs could kill this one's for you" he's reached the end of his tether with this person - it's kind of scary how much hate comes across in the lyrics. but also frustration - he can't do anything and he can do as much damage as a boy with a bubblegun. he wishes that songs and words could kill (and we all breathe a sigh of relief that they can't...)
d
I'm not certain about this song, but I vaguely remember hearing news stories about children choking on bubblegum and suffering to death. It may have something to do with this song.