"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.
March, Friday or Saturday
Art show with Ron English
Says I'm a worthless bum
You know they call me a worthless bum
You know I had my share of chums
But I'm a worthless bum, says I
You might be thinkin' of Davinare
You might be thinkin' of things that scare
Whatever you're thinking, I don't care
To be stripped bare
Worthless bum says I
I never deny a precious gift
You know I probably stole all my riffs
But I'm a worthless bum, says I
Oh, can't you see
You belong to me
How my poor heart aches
Every move you make
You know if things get outta hand
You know I'm the one who understands
Without or with you I'm just doin', doin' fine
You know I probably stole all my poetry
Even they took the most of it from me
But I will go on through the infinite
Believin' the lie
Worthless bum says I
You know who that I hear is pretty good
Understand, I'm a worthless bum
Worthless bum says I
You know I never tried to rip you off
Never tried to take your life
Worthless bum says I
If you were me
And I was you
Then everything's alright
We're outta sight
Worthless bum
Worthless bum
Worthless bum, says I
Art show with Ron English
Says I'm a worthless bum
You know they call me a worthless bum
You know I had my share of chums
But I'm a worthless bum, says I
You might be thinkin' of Davinare
You might be thinkin' of things that scare
Whatever you're thinking, I don't care
To be stripped bare
Worthless bum says I
I never deny a precious gift
You know I probably stole all my riffs
But I'm a worthless bum, says I
Oh, can't you see
You belong to me
How my poor heart aches
Every move you make
You know if things get outta hand
You know I'm the one who understands
Without or with you I'm just doin', doin' fine
You know I probably stole all my poetry
Even they took the most of it from me
But I will go on through the infinite
Believin' the lie
Worthless bum says I
You know who that I hear is pretty good
Understand, I'm a worthless bum
Worthless bum says I
You know I never tried to rip you off
Never tried to take your life
Worthless bum says I
If you were me
And I was you
Then everything's alright
We're outta sight
Worthless bum
Worthless bum
Worthless bum, says I
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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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,
Magical
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Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
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Page
Ed Sheeran
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