"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.
Still want you with everything you've made me do
You almost taste like hate and I can't stay away
Self destruction, no pain
Character reduction, slow fade
Lazy reflex, no feeling
Hand to mouth, tightly bound
Remember when we met seemed so innocent
But I was different then now I know how the story ends
[Chorus]
I'm the one with the unreached goals
Never thought I could sink so low
I believed everything I was told
Save me from the undertow
Big on suckers bets placed my soul in debt
Looks like from where I'm at there's no coming back
[Chorus]
You almost taste like hate and I can't stay away
Self destruction, no pain
Character reduction, slow fade
Lazy reflex, no feeling
Hand to mouth, tightly bound
Remember when we met seemed so innocent
But I was different then now I know how the story ends
[Chorus]
I'm the one with the unreached goals
Never thought I could sink so low
I believed everything I was told
Save me from the undertow
Big on suckers bets placed my soul in debt
Looks like from where I'm at there's no coming back
[Chorus]
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
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/
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
girlfriend treated him like crap, he just shied it away, kinda like sunshine(Samiam's best?) That's the first verse Now he's older and he realized his wife is a bitch that's what's with unreached goals and undertow , and the reason he knows why the story ends is because he's in the ending now! Looks like from where he's there's no coming back, which is why he is going at it FULL ON
First of all, the above lyrics are severly incomplete, a full version is below.
Secondly, @BeatJunkie08: while the first verse suggests your interpretation, the following ones and especially the two choruses make me think much more of the addressed "you" being some sedative drug(s). Whatever was originally meant, this song always reminds me of my more excessive pot-smoking days and can help me stop when I'm about to binge too heavily. "Lazy reflex" and "unreached goals" ring a loud bell.
Correction:
How do i still want you With everything you've made me do You almost taste like hate And i can't stay away
Self destruction, no pain, Character reduction, slow fade, Lazy reflex, no feelings Hand to mouth, tightly bound
Remember when we met Seemed so innocent But i was different then Now i know how the story ends
Self destruction, no pain, Character reduction, slow fade, Lazy reflex, no feeling, Hand to mouth, tightly bound
I'm the one with the unreached goals Never thought i could sink so low I believed everything i was told Save me from the undertow
I'm the one with the unreached goals Never thought i could sink so low I believed everything i was told Save me from the undertow
Big on suckers bets Placed my soul in debt Looks like from where I'm at There's no coming back
Self destruction, no pain, Character reduction, slow fade, Lazy reflex, no feeling, Hand to mouth, tightly bound
I'm the one with the unreached goals Never thought i could sink so low I believed everything i was told Save me from the undertow Save me, save me, save me...
Sorry, it wasn't that incomplete after a second look. I saw the missing beginning of the first verse and failed to spot the remaining ones due to the lack of blank lines. To correct my self: the text itself was almost complete, just the formatting rather poor.
Hard to adjust to adult life when you were abused as a kid.