"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.
When I get home from work
I want to wrap myself around you
I want to take you and squeeze you
'Til the passion starts to rise
I want to take you to heaven
That would make my day complete
But you and me ain't no movie stars
What we are is what we are
We share a bed
Some lovin'
And TV, yeah
And that's enough for a workin' man
What I am is what I am
And I tell you, babe
Well that's enough for me
Sometimes when you're asleep
And I'm just starin' at the ceiling
I want to reach out and touch you
But you just go on dreamin'
If I could take you to heaven
That would make my day complete
But you and me ain't no movie stars
What we are is what we are
We share a bed
Some lovin'
And TV, yeah
That's enough for a workin' man
What I am is what I am
And I tell you, sweetheart
That's just enough for me
You and me ain't no super stars
What we are is what we are
We share a bed
Some popcorn
And TV, yeah
And that's enough for a workin' man
What I am is what I am
And I tell you, babe
You're just enough for me
When I get home from work
I want to wrap myself around you
I like to hold you squeeze you
'Til the passion starts to rise
I want to take you to heaven
That would make my day complete
You and me ain't no movie stars
What we are is what we are
We share a bed
Of lovin'
And TV, yeah
And that's enough for a workin' man
What I am well that's what I am
I tell you, baby
That's just enough for me
I want to wrap myself around you
I want to take you and squeeze you
'Til the passion starts to rise
I want to take you to heaven
That would make my day complete
But you and me ain't no movie stars
What we are is what we are
We share a bed
Some lovin'
And TV, yeah
And that's enough for a workin' man
What I am is what I am
And I tell you, babe
Well that's enough for me
Sometimes when you're asleep
And I'm just starin' at the ceiling
I want to reach out and touch you
But you just go on dreamin'
If I could take you to heaven
That would make my day complete
But you and me ain't no movie stars
What we are is what we are
We share a bed
Some lovin'
And TV, yeah
That's enough for a workin' man
What I am is what I am
And I tell you, sweetheart
That's just enough for me
You and me ain't no super stars
What we are is what we are
We share a bed
Some popcorn
And TV, yeah
And that's enough for a workin' man
What I am is what I am
And I tell you, babe
You're just enough for me
When I get home from work
I want to wrap myself around you
I like to hold you squeeze you
'Til the passion starts to rise
I want to take you to heaven
That would make my day complete
You and me ain't no movie stars
What we are is what we are
We share a bed
Of lovin'
And TV, yeah
And that's enough for a workin' man
What I am well that's what I am
I tell you, baby
That's just enough for me
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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,
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.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
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 is the song my parents call "their song" my dad says it describes them perfectly, and after 22 years, still goin strong