"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.
Still it came passing by
The pieces weaved together rose the sun
And fooled me with another day
The knocking message called for my life
Sealed the spell of my scrawny body
Soil to skin, my next of kin
Damp air grasped, stole the words
And greeted me with a hiss
This is forgiveness, so I know
Once I repent I seal the lid
I slither for you and I´m dying
I find trust in hate
They wear white for me
Seemingly jaded and lost
I forge myself into your dreams
And here I am your life
Hangman, clutching at his tools
I will come for you
The noose is tied
Murmur through the crowd
Plunging into anywhere but here
Cloak-captured sighs of relief
As the primal touch brought me back
And the last sight I did see is still here
Beckoning right behind me
The pieces weaved together rose the sun
And fooled me with another day
The knocking message called for my life
Sealed the spell of my scrawny body
Soil to skin, my next of kin
Damp air grasped, stole the words
And greeted me with a hiss
This is forgiveness, so I know
Once I repent I seal the lid
I slither for you and I´m dying
I find trust in hate
They wear white for me
Seemingly jaded and lost
I forge myself into your dreams
And here I am your life
Hangman, clutching at his tools
I will come for you
The noose is tied
Murmur through the crowd
Plunging into anywhere but here
Cloak-captured sighs of relief
As the primal touch brought me back
And the last sight I did see is still here
Beckoning right behind me
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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/
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Blindwish has it all right, and to expand on his explanation, this is the final chapter of "Still Life". (Track 7) In case you don't know yet, "Still Life" by Opeth is a concept album that tells a story and each track is a chapter. They are:
1) The Moor 2) Godhead's Lament 3) Benighted 4) Moonlapse Vertigo 5) The Face of Melinda 6) Serenity Painted Death 7) White Cluster
Read my explanations on "The Moor" and "Serenity Painted Death" to get an idea of what I am talking about. Anyway, on to the final chapter...
The narrator has been sentenced to die by the village that hates him, probably due to his revengeful acts hinted at in "Serenity Painted Death". And this song describes his final moments, and then the album ends. It's as simple as that.