"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.
This is the next century
Where the universal's free
You can find it anywhere
Yes, the future's been sold
Every night we're gone
And to karaoke songs
How we like to sing along
Though the words are wrong
It really, really, really could happen
Yes, it really, really, really could happen
When the days, they seem to fall through you
Well, just let them go
No one here is alone
Satellites in every home
Yes, the universal's here, here for everyone
Every paper that you read
Says tomorrow's your lucky day
Well, here's your lucky day
It really, really, really could happen
Yes, it really, really, really could happen
If the days, they seem to fall through you
Well, just let them go
Well, it really, really, really could happen
Yes, it really, really, really could happen
When the days they seem to fall through you
Well, just let them go
Just let them go
Just let them go
Where the universal's free
You can find it anywhere
Yes, the future's been sold
Every night we're gone
And to karaoke songs
How we like to sing along
Though the words are wrong
It really, really, really could happen
Yes, it really, really, really could happen
When the days, they seem to fall through you
Well, just let them go
No one here is alone
Satellites in every home
Yes, the universal's here, here for everyone
Every paper that you read
Says tomorrow's your lucky day
Well, here's your lucky day
It really, really, really could happen
Yes, it really, really, really could happen
If the days, they seem to fall through you
Well, just let them go
Well, it really, really, really could happen
Yes, it really, really, really could happen
When the days they seem to fall through you
Well, just let them go
Just let them go
Just let them go
Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae, edited by tpfang56, ShaiJDM
The Universal Lyrics as written by David Rowntree Damon Albarn
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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Silent Planet
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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.
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.
Of the two guys drinking together, the man in the monochromatic outfit was definitely gay. I believe the point was that, because they both took 'The Universal', the straight man couldn't tell that his friend was hitting on him, while the gay man couldn't see that his love interest wasn't returning the favor.
The four pictures were (I believe there were four)..
Despite the fact that Damon can easily tell that the gay friend is going to make a move that night, even winking right before it happens, neither person can see it in the other from literally feet away from each other. Damon's also under the influence of the drug (he can't fully smile and when he does, it doesn't seem quite right), but is self aware. The users of The Universal have become so devoid of emotion that they can't even sense love if it isn't shoved right in their faces, maybe because it numbs them, maybe because it helps them choose to forget.
The point is that, while being completely numb to emotions makes life easier to manage and control, it doesn't lead to a satisfying life. Damon's practically bashing a possible future generation, "the Prozac generation".
..oh, and one more thing, since none of you realized it yet. Notice that even though the old men were very happy with the real world in their force-fed happiness (notice how their glasses are specifically rose colored), once they found out it wasn't what they were told happiness is, they were immediately unhappy. It was practically "Wow, this is great! ..wait a second, I recognize this place. This isn't true happiness! (outrage)".