"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.
Tell me that you've got everything you want
And your bird can sing
But you don't get me
You don't get me
You say you've seen seven wonders
And you bird is green
But you can't see me
You can't see me
When your prized possessions
Start to weigh you down
Look in my direction
I'll be 'round, I'll be 'round
When your bird is broken
Will it bring you down?
You may be awoken
I'll be 'round, I'll be 'round
You tell me that you've heard every sound there is
And your bird can swing
But you can't hear me
You can't hear me
And your bird can sing
But you don't get me
You don't get me
You say you've seen seven wonders
And you bird is green
But you can't see me
You can't see me
When your prized possessions
Start to weigh you down
Look in my direction
I'll be 'round, I'll be 'round
When your bird is broken
Will it bring you down?
You may be awoken
I'll be 'round, I'll be 'round
You tell me that you've heard every sound there is
And your bird can swing
But you can't hear me
You can't hear me
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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.
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.
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.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
this song definitelly talks about materialism.. the "green bird" is money. having money makes u think u can buy everything u want, go to every place there is and hear every sound there is but you'll eventually find out that money can't buy u everything. you don't get/see/hear me, even though u get/see/hear everything else.
When your prized possessions start to wear you down Look in my direction I'll be 'round, I'll be 'round
"when you find out u couldn't get everything u want, u can always look for me. u don't need money to see me".
A great song denouncing materialism
I don't think it fully denounces materialism. The Beatles were materialistic too, as is almost everyone to a certain extent. But they are denouncing in this song someone so obsessed with material things that they're blinded by it and neglect other things like simple human interaction ("You don't get me," you can't see me" etc.) Also, an interesting point- seeing as this is on Revolver, they probably were starting to not care about their public image and just focus on the music. This change in attitude is reflected in this song I think.
The song is under rated, thats all i have to say. Its amazing
this is my all time favorite song and i agree that hardly no one knows about it. this should be one of the songs the beatles are known for
To me it'a about someone who thinks they've got and seen it all but they ain't seen sh!t. So yeah, it is about materialism. Even if the Beatles were materialistic (don't forget Johns love of cars and stuff) it doesn't mean they didn't see beyond that only. i thankyou.
this is not the beatles best song, but it is no doubt there greatest riffit was played with a bunch of multi tracked guitars, whch is wot gives it that heavy feeling.Bob Dylan described it as "the strength of strings no voice can hope to hum" compared to the riff who cares wot the words mean?
Sooo amazing, that riff........ you can't hear me.......
Maybe John did hate this song, but as so many people have said, what a kick-ass guitar riff!
I love this song. Listening to it makes me feel all oogy inside. The guitar parts were played live by George and Paul.
The working title for the song was "You don't get me"
dude, this song is FANTASTIC. i love this song especially on the beatles anthology cd because paul is cracking up with laughter the entire song and john seems to be pretty bothered by it. it's obvious that paul was majorly stoned, but it's great nonetheless.
Has anyone heard the version where Paul (or is it John) is laughing his ass off all through the song? Always cracks me up. I always assumed it was John actually since he was the naughtiest of the Beatles.
I actually love that version as well, it always makes me crack up. But I always thought it was the two of them cracking each other up, an image I loved: the two old mates busting up in the studio giggling like genies.