"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.
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
I'm beggin' of you, please don't take my man
(Jolene)
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
Please don't take him just because you can
Your beauty is beyond compare
With flaming locks of auburn hair
With ivory skin and eyes of emerald green
(Jolene)
Your smile is like a breath of spring
Your voice is soft like summer rain
And I cannot compete with you, Jolene (Jolene)
He talks about you in his sleep
And there's nothing I can do to keep from crying
When he calls your name, Jolene (Jolene)
And I can easily understand
How you could easily take my man
But you don't know what he means to me, Jolene (don't take him)
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
I'm begging of you, please don't take my man
Oh, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
Oh, please don't take him just because you can (don't take him)
You could have your choice of men
But I could never love again
He's the only one for me, Jolene (he's the only one)
I had to have this talk with you
My happiness depends on you
Whatever you decide to do, Jolene
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
I'm begging of you, please don't take my man
(Don't take him, don't take him, don't take him)
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
Please don't take him just because you can (just because you can)
Jolene, Jolene (please don't take him, please don't take him, Jolene)
Jolene
Jolene
He's the only one for me
Jolene
Jolene, Jolene
Jolene
Please don't take him just because you can
I'm beggin' of you, please don't take my man
(Jolene)
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
Please don't take him just because you can
Your beauty is beyond compare
With flaming locks of auburn hair
With ivory skin and eyes of emerald green
(Jolene)
Your smile is like a breath of spring
Your voice is soft like summer rain
And I cannot compete with you, Jolene (Jolene)
He talks about you in his sleep
And there's nothing I can do to keep from crying
When he calls your name, Jolene (Jolene)
And I can easily understand
How you could easily take my man
But you don't know what he means to me, Jolene (don't take him)
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
I'm begging of you, please don't take my man
Oh, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
Oh, please don't take him just because you can (don't take him)
You could have your choice of men
But I could never love again
He's the only one for me, Jolene (he's the only one)
I had to have this talk with you
My happiness depends on you
Whatever you decide to do, Jolene
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
I'm begging of you, please don't take my man
(Don't take him, don't take him, don't take him)
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
Please don't take him just because you can (just because you can)
Jolene, Jolene (please don't take him, please don't take him, Jolene)
Jolene
Jolene
He's the only one for me
Jolene
Jolene, Jolene
Jolene
Please don't take him just because you can
Lyrics submitted by Moondragon
Jolene Lyrics as written by Dolly Parton
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Fast Car
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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.
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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,
When you are in love, you will take alot of crap. You have this mind set you won't be happy without him, so you don't care how you get him, as long as you still do have him. It wasn't over another girl, but I just recently experienced that. This it seems is written while the mind is not yet over him. The White Stripes do a interesting cover!