"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.
displacement, the basement
isolation cemented
relented six stairs down
naked bulb, tired lungs
tired eyes, crooked thumbs
not up but sideways for now
the rise and fall and gentle drops
precipitation never stops
i pulled the clouds
inside me and now it's raining
raining again
cried in my sleep last night
for the first time
dying while i live
living where we die
futility abounds
six feet deep
beneath the coffee grounds
these ashtrays are volcanoes now
apartments burn in red and brown
salt the earth and never grow
notice ashes look like snow
falling and just sitting there
more trash than the county fair
the smell of crowds, a burning nose
a smell familiarly morose
half-assed attempt only to fail
half-assed reflection ghostly pale
you're waving while i disappear
ashes cementing my fear
isolation cemented
relented six stairs down
naked bulb, tired lungs
tired eyes, crooked thumbs
not up but sideways for now
the rise and fall and gentle drops
precipitation never stops
i pulled the clouds
inside me and now it's raining
raining again
cried in my sleep last night
for the first time
dying while i live
living where we die
futility abounds
six feet deep
beneath the coffee grounds
these ashtrays are volcanoes now
apartments burn in red and brown
salt the earth and never grow
notice ashes look like snow
falling and just sitting there
more trash than the county fair
the smell of crowds, a burning nose
a smell familiarly morose
half-assed attempt only to fail
half-assed reflection ghostly pale
you're waving while i disappear
ashes cementing my fear
Lyrics submitted by AllStarMe
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
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,
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/
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
holy crap, these lyrics are so goddamn great. what makes this song incredibly cool is the way brendan makes his voice clean in the middle and then halfway through changes it back to his gravelly-roar-type-voice. it's just like "holy shit, this is the coolest man alive." what is so cool about this is that, as far as i can tell, brendan's never recorded using his voice with that clean sound other than on this song. i know he didn't when he was in the broadways, and i'm pretty sure about slapstick, but not positive. anyway, it sounds really, really great, and i kind of wish he'd use it more. it would be cool, because for the verses of songs he could make his voice all clean, and then do the choruses all scratchy and shit. it'd be like matt skiba did with "radio." i think it'd rock like hizell. i think the second verse is the best, but that's stupid, since the whole song is amazing as hell. " a smell familiarly morose." i could listen to that thing over and over and over. also, i think when brendan's voice is clean, it sounds amazing with chris's backups.