"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.
Here we go, I'm hanging out in Camden
Drinking with my girlfriends on a Saturday night
This guy says, "Come and meet my girlfriend"
She's sitting in the corner looking rather uptight
So I say "Hello" and I try to be nice
But I see he's feeling itchy
Trying to play us off each other
"Girls, girls, please don't fight" (you get the picture)
Hey you, the muscles and the long hair
Telling me that women are superior to men
Most guys just don't appreciate this
You just try convincing me you're better than them
So he talks for hours about his sensitive soul
And his favorite subject is sex
I don't even think he really wanted it
But, Christ this guy's too much (I want to tell him)
I'm as human as the next girl
I like a bit of flattery
But I don't need your practiced lines
Your school of charm mentality so
Save your breath for someone else and credit me with something more
When it comes to men like you
I know the score
I've heard it all before
(Here comes the next one)
Blondie was with me for a summer
He flirted like a maniac but I wouldn't bite
I'm weak and he was so persistent
He only had to have me 'cause I put up a fight
Oh God, the boy had such an ego
He liked to talk about himself all day and all night
You think you're such a ladykiller
But you were nothing special 'til you turned out the light
When he's nice to me he's just nice to himself
And he's watching his reflection
I'm a five foot mirror for adoring himself
Here's seven years bad luck (I want to tell him)
When you say you love me you're just flattering your vanity
But I don't need your practiced lines
Your school of charm mentality so
Save your breath for someone else and credit me with something more
When it comes to men like you
I know the score
I've heard it all before
Ooh, you're such a ladykiller
Always on a winner, thinking that you're in there
Oh boy, you're such a ladykiller
Super sexy mister, call it what you will, oh
You think you're such a lady killer
I just bet you're still there, posing in the mirror
Hey girls, he's such a ladykiller
But we know where he's coming from and we know the score
Drinking with my girlfriends on a Saturday night
This guy says, "Come and meet my girlfriend"
She's sitting in the corner looking rather uptight
So I say "Hello" and I try to be nice
But I see he's feeling itchy
Trying to play us off each other
"Girls, girls, please don't fight" (you get the picture)
Hey you, the muscles and the long hair
Telling me that women are superior to men
Most guys just don't appreciate this
You just try convincing me you're better than them
So he talks for hours about his sensitive soul
And his favorite subject is sex
I don't even think he really wanted it
But, Christ this guy's too much (I want to tell him)
I'm as human as the next girl
I like a bit of flattery
But I don't need your practiced lines
Your school of charm mentality so
Save your breath for someone else and credit me with something more
When it comes to men like you
I know the score
I've heard it all before
(Here comes the next one)
Blondie was with me for a summer
He flirted like a maniac but I wouldn't bite
I'm weak and he was so persistent
He only had to have me 'cause I put up a fight
Oh God, the boy had such an ego
He liked to talk about himself all day and all night
You think you're such a ladykiller
But you were nothing special 'til you turned out the light
When he's nice to me he's just nice to himself
And he's watching his reflection
I'm a five foot mirror for adoring himself
Here's seven years bad luck (I want to tell him)
When you say you love me you're just flattering your vanity
But I don't need your practiced lines
Your school of charm mentality so
Save your breath for someone else and credit me with something more
When it comes to men like you
I know the score
I've heard it all before
Ooh, you're such a ladykiller
Always on a winner, thinking that you're in there
Oh boy, you're such a ladykiller
Super sexy mister, call it what you will, oh
You think you're such a lady killer
I just bet you're still there, posing in the mirror
Hey girls, he's such a ladykiller
But we know where he's coming from and we know the score
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
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Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
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.
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.
I love this track. I can definitely relate to it too!