"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.
It is not too late to carry on
So you've made mistakes, and here's another one
Oh, but you deserve another chance
Chasing 'round until you phase yourself
[Chorus:]
The world is flat and we're insane
And we have fallen off again
It really helps to know the way
What if you take more than you deserve?
(more than you deserve)
What if you give all and you get nothing back?
Sell your soul, nature's stereo
Take your favorite songs and sail away
The world is flat and we're insane
And we have fallen off again
The world is round and we are mad
And world opinion's where it's at
Don't make this so
Don't take the blow
The world is flat and we're insane
I won't be sad, I won't be sorry
I've no regrets and I don't worry
I'll roll this sail and I won't let go
I'd rather wait until tomorrow
There are some who do, and some do not (there are some who don't)
There are some who can't and we're the other ones
Shave your face, let your body go
Take your favorite songs and sail away
The world is flat and we're insane
And we have fallen off again
The world is round and we are mad
And world opinion's where it's at
Don't make this so
Don't take the blow
The world is flat and we're insane
So you've made mistakes, and here's another one
Oh, but you deserve another chance
Chasing 'round until you phase yourself
[Chorus:]
The world is flat and we're insane
And we have fallen off again
It really helps to know the way
What if you take more than you deserve?
(more than you deserve)
What if you give all and you get nothing back?
Sell your soul, nature's stereo
Take your favorite songs and sail away
The world is flat and we're insane
And we have fallen off again
The world is round and we are mad
And world opinion's where it's at
Don't make this so
Don't take the blow
The world is flat and we're insane
I won't be sad, I won't be sorry
I've no regrets and I don't worry
I'll roll this sail and I won't let go
I'd rather wait until tomorrow
There are some who do, and some do not (there are some who don't)
There are some who can't and we're the other ones
Shave your face, let your body go
Take your favorite songs and sail away
The world is flat and we're insane
And we have fallen off again
The world is round and we are mad
And world opinion's where it's at
Don't make this so
Don't take the blow
The world is flat and we're insane
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Yo La Tengo
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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 We Were Young
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Plastic Bag
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“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
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