"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.
Beneath the snow lies a dream that I once had
And I know that I'll never go back
To the Christmas colored neighborhood as thoughtful as a card
With a plastic baby Jesus in the yard
It was all, and it was nothing at all
It was all, and it was nothing at all
What we didn't know we didn't think to ask
The world was just a globe they used in class
Where the gym teacher was always mad, and as far as we could tell
He only exercised his right to yell
It was all, and it was nothing at all
It was all, and it was nothing at all
As the kings of boredom we ruled as we knew how
Or at least as long as our curfews would allow
Couple skates, love-sick songs, in moments without pause
As Johnny Cougar amplified our cause
It was all, and it was nothing at all
It was all, and it was nothing at all
We were the great believers that dreams came with stars
And freedom just depended on the car
Until one day the sky fell in and freedom lost control
And ran off the road and hit a pole
It was all, and it was nothing at all
It was all, and it was nothing at all
Beneath the snow lies a dream that I once had
And I know that I'll never go back
To the Christmas colored neighborhood as thoughtful as a card
With a plastic baby Jesus in the yard
It was all, and it was nothing at all
It was all, and it was nothing at all
What we didn't know we didn't think to ask
The world was just a globe they used in class
Where the gym teacher was always mad, and as far as we could tell
He only exercised his right to yell
It was all, and it was nothing at all
It was all, and it was nothing at all
As the kings of boredom we ruled as we knew how
Or at least as long as our curfews would allow
Couple skates, love-sick songs, in moments without pause
As Johnny Cougar amplified our cause
It was all, and it was nothing at all
It was all, and it was nothing at all
We were the great believers that dreams came with stars
And freedom just depended on the car
Until one day the sky fell in and freedom lost control
And ran off the road and hit a pole
It was all, and it was nothing at all
It was all, and it was nothing at all
Beneath the snow lies a dream that I once had
Lyrics submitted by BlueAndStarry
Dutch Wonderland Lyrics as written by Josh Joplin
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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.
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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/
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
This song is an observation about the precious simplicity and carefree innocence of childhood, and a lament for their loss as we become adults and complicate our lives.
For example:
"We were the great believers that dreams came with stars And freedom just depended on the car Until one day the sky fell in and freedom lost control And ran off the road and hit a pole"
What a brilliant verse...
It should not be taken literally. It simply highlights that with freedom comes the fetters of responsibility.