"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.
Skillfully tested, rhythmically possessed with rhymes
And when it was time, Jah gave me the mic after he blessed it
He said share the loving, prepare them for the Second Coming
Beware of the false prophets, because they got my people bugg'n
Put on the full armor, cause you know these fools they're gonna wanna
Talk behind your back, but stay away from the drama
You know that I'm gonna keep you safe inside the palm of my hand
Cause you the man and that's word to your mama
So give it to 'em, it's themselves that they're fool'n
Gotta head of the game too quick, what they lack is ol' school'n
You know who's who, whether or not I'm talking to your crew
It's up to you to keep it true, nuff respect due.
chorus (2x):
Dem test me crew, but dem can't get with this
Dem all the same, talking wickedness (nonsense – 2nd time)
Your styles been played, and I'm already sick of it
Them so ridiculous, them so ridiculous.
Original Rude Boy, we bring the styles
Ain’t heard this in a while, check the stats, review my profile
They dime a dozen, can't understand why all the fuss'n
Known for talking loud but they really saying nothing
With every word you poison my mental concept
Negative be the topic, somebody's got to stop it
And clear your mind and continue to come alive
And he love, we love, bring it back, come, rewind.
chorus
To all my peoples that be keeping it real
They know the time and they know the deal
To all my peoples that are down with this crew
We keep it live cause this one's for you
chorus
“Christ”
You're not who they say you are
They made you the enemy
(CHRIST-Jah flesh; CHRIST-Light within; CHRIST- Beginning and the end)
Taken something so beautiful
Painted a new picture that makes me sick
(CHRIST-Witness; CHRIST-Living one; CHRIST-First and the last)
Feed our minds confusion
Sweeten the taste of pollution.
(CHRIST-Word life; CHRIST-Resurrect; CHRIST-Everlasting Jah)
chorus:
Some people call you father
Maybe you could set me free
These people hate each other
But you've always been there for me
I refuse to be like you
Without life, caving in
(CHRIST-Jah flesh; CHRIST-Light within; CHRIST- Beginning and the end)
I surrender, giving up all that is me
Yielding to you
(CHRIST-Witness; CHRIST-Living one; CHRIST-First and the last)
Shape me in my brokeness
Empower me forever
(CHRIST-Word life; CHRIST-Resurrect; CHRIST-Everlasting Jah)
chorus
I know you will complete this work started in me
I need you more than ever now that I know who you are
I know you will complete this work started in me
I need you more than ever now that I've come so far
And when it was time, Jah gave me the mic after he blessed it
He said share the loving, prepare them for the Second Coming
Beware of the false prophets, because they got my people bugg'n
Put on the full armor, cause you know these fools they're gonna wanna
Talk behind your back, but stay away from the drama
You know that I'm gonna keep you safe inside the palm of my hand
Cause you the man and that's word to your mama
So give it to 'em, it's themselves that they're fool'n
Gotta head of the game too quick, what they lack is ol' school'n
You know who's who, whether or not I'm talking to your crew
It's up to you to keep it true, nuff respect due.
chorus (2x):
Dem test me crew, but dem can't get with this
Dem all the same, talking wickedness (nonsense – 2nd time)
Your styles been played, and I'm already sick of it
Them so ridiculous, them so ridiculous.
Original Rude Boy, we bring the styles
Ain’t heard this in a while, check the stats, review my profile
They dime a dozen, can't understand why all the fuss'n
Known for talking loud but they really saying nothing
With every word you poison my mental concept
Negative be the topic, somebody's got to stop it
And clear your mind and continue to come alive
And he love, we love, bring it back, come, rewind.
chorus
To all my peoples that be keeping it real
They know the time and they know the deal
To all my peoples that are down with this crew
We keep it live cause this one's for you
chorus
“Christ”
You're not who they say you are
They made you the enemy
(CHRIST-Jah flesh; CHRIST-Light within; CHRIST- Beginning and the end)
Taken something so beautiful
Painted a new picture that makes me sick
(CHRIST-Witness; CHRIST-Living one; CHRIST-First and the last)
Feed our minds confusion
Sweeten the taste of pollution.
(CHRIST-Word life; CHRIST-Resurrect; CHRIST-Everlasting Jah)
chorus:
Some people call you father
Maybe you could set me free
These people hate each other
But you've always been there for me
I refuse to be like you
Without life, caving in
(CHRIST-Jah flesh; CHRIST-Light within; CHRIST- Beginning and the end)
I surrender, giving up all that is me
Yielding to you
(CHRIST-Witness; CHRIST-Living one; CHRIST-First and the last)
Shape me in my brokeness
Empower me forever
(CHRIST-Word life; CHRIST-Resurrect; CHRIST-Everlasting Jah)
chorus
I know you will complete this work started in me
I need you more than ever now that I know who you are
I know you will complete this work started in me
I need you more than ever now that I've come so far
Lyrics submitted by HoldURBreath
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
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/
Indeed. Cool song. Wish they could just stop preaching about God and Jesus Christ. I appreciate their belief in the Lord, but I don't believe anymore.