"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.
I stepped out onto the midway
I was looking for the pirate ship
And saw this small, old white tent at one end
It was blue
And had white lights hanging all around it
I decided to check out the tent
It seemed like I could hear music coming from inside
As I walked toward it, I passed a crowd of people at the sideshow
I couldn't figure out why they would want to wait in line
I pulled back the drape thing on the tent
There was a crystal ball on the table
And behind it, a girl wearing a hat
She smiled, and asked me if I wanted my fortune read
I said okay
And sat down
Then I thought about it for a minute
And asked her if she would rather go on the roller coaster instead
Creeping up into the sky
Stopping at the top and
Starting down
The girl grabbed my hand
I clutched it tight
I said goodbye to the ground
Far below, a soiled man
A bucket of torn tickets at his side
He watches the children run by
And picks his teeth
Spinning round, my head begins to turn
I shouted, and searched
The sky for a friend
I heard the fortune teller
Screaming back at me
We stuck out our hands and met the winds
The girl falters as she steps down from the platform
She clutches her stomach, and begins to heave
The ticket-taker smiles, and the last car is ready
Who told you that you could leave?
The sun was setting by the time we left
We walked across the deserted lot, alone
We were tired, but we managed to smile
At the gate I said goodnight to the fortune teller
The carnival sign threw colored shadows on her face
But I could tell she was blushing
I was looking for the pirate ship
And saw this small, old white tent at one end
It was blue
And had white lights hanging all around it
I decided to check out the tent
It seemed like I could hear music coming from inside
As I walked toward it, I passed a crowd of people at the sideshow
I couldn't figure out why they would want to wait in line
I pulled back the drape thing on the tent
There was a crystal ball on the table
And behind it, a girl wearing a hat
She smiled, and asked me if I wanted my fortune read
I said okay
And sat down
Then I thought about it for a minute
And asked her if she would rather go on the roller coaster instead
Creeping up into the sky
Stopping at the top and
Starting down
The girl grabbed my hand
I clutched it tight
I said goodbye to the ground
Far below, a soiled man
A bucket of torn tickets at his side
He watches the children run by
And picks his teeth
Spinning round, my head begins to turn
I shouted, and searched
The sky for a friend
I heard the fortune teller
Screaming back at me
We stuck out our hands and met the winds
The girl falters as she steps down from the platform
She clutches her stomach, and begins to heave
The ticket-taker smiles, and the last car is ready
Who told you that you could leave?
The sun was setting by the time we left
We walked across the deserted lot, alone
We were tired, but we managed to smile
At the gate I said goodnight to the fortune teller
The carnival sign threw colored shadows on her face
But I could tell she was blushing
Lyrics submitted by a thousand leaks
Breadcrumb Trail Lyrics as written by Brian Scott Mcmahan Christopher Todd Brashear
Lyrics © SC PUBLISHING DBA SECRETLY CANADIAN PUB.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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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.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
To me, if the song had a meaning (which I doubt it is meant to, it just meant to sustain the atmosphere in my opinion), the meaning revolves around seeing the true beauty in life. The narrator goes to a tent that is basically desserted, and finds love inside. Then, he criticizes the others saying "I couldn't figure out why they would want to wait in line. He has found love outside of the mainstream; Whereas all of the other people continue to stand lined up waiting, he is elsewhere.
This only applies to a portion of the song, I know. But that's always been the meaning in my heart.