"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.
Caroline says
as she gets up off the floor
Why is it that you beat me
it isn't any fun
Caroline says
as she makes up her eyes
You ought to learn more about yourself
think more than just I
But she's not afraid to die
all her friends call her "Alaska"
When she takes speed, they laugh and ask her
What is in her mind
what is in her mind
Caroline says
as she gets up from the floor
You can hit me all you want to
but I don't love you anymore
Caroline says
while biting her lip
Life is meant to be more than this
and this is a bum trip
But she's not afraid to die
all her friends call her "Alaska"
When she takes speed, they laugh and ask her
What is in her mind
what is in her mind
She put her fist through the window pane
It was such a funny feeling
It's so cold in Alaska
it's so cold in Alaska
It's so cold in Alaska
as she gets up off the floor
Why is it that you beat me
it isn't any fun
Caroline says
as she makes up her eyes
You ought to learn more about yourself
think more than just I
But she's not afraid to die
all her friends call her "Alaska"
When she takes speed, they laugh and ask her
What is in her mind
what is in her mind
Caroline says
as she gets up from the floor
You can hit me all you want to
but I don't love you anymore
Caroline says
while biting her lip
Life is meant to be more than this
and this is a bum trip
But she's not afraid to die
all her friends call her "Alaska"
When she takes speed, they laugh and ask her
What is in her mind
what is in her mind
She put her fist through the window pane
It was such a funny feeling
It's so cold in Alaska
it's so cold in Alaska
It's so cold in Alaska
Lyrics submitted by spliphstar
Caroline Says II Lyrics as written by Jerry Dixon Eric Turner
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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One of my absolute favourites! the lyrics are amazing, I think. for a long time i have asked myself what the final part "It's so cold in Alaska" means, but in the context it's quite clear, it is her who feels cold...
It might be a little game with words here. Since the lyrics don't go "Alaska's so cold" (or something like that), he might be talking about, you know, being inside her. Like, even if you make love to Caroline, it doesn't really give you a warm feeling.
I was always under the impression that each Alaska lyric meant somethig different<br />
Possibly the rawest song on Berlin and one of my personal favorites in Lou's catalogue. While the meaning of the song, I think, is clear, Lou compares Caroline's situation to her nickname "Alaska" to make the song seem extremely cold. In fact, Lou leaves the listener with nothing but chills with this one.
Is that a joke?
by rushmore_8 on 08-03-2005 @ 01:38:12 PM Is that a joke?
I hope so
There are loads of 'says' songs, Caroline, Candy, Stephanie... my favourite is Lisa says. And he wasn't exactly 'ripping off' the velvets, since they were kinda HIS band and everything... he wrote most of their songs anyway.
by Coney_island_baby on 12-15-2005 @ 07:40:17 PM And he wasn't exactly 'ripping off' the velvets, since they were kinda HIS band and everything... he wrote most of their songs anyway
He wasn't ripping them off at all, he wrote the lyrics, he can use them however he feels in whatever song he likes.
That's what i meant :)
Oh ok, sorry then =)
She put her fist through the window pane It was such a funny feeling
It's so cold in Alaska it's so cold in Alaska It's so cold in Alaska
I've always pictured her sinking to the floor with wrist slashed from punching the window and experiencing the rush of knowing she was bleeding out before starting to feel "so cold" but knowing it's over is some kind of bittersweet comfort to her...
too melodramatic?
stop ripping off the velvet underground. listn to stephanie says.