"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.
Congratulate you
Said you had a double tongue
Balancing cake and bread
Say goodbye to a glitter girl
Talula
Talula
You don't want to lose her
She must be worth losing
If it is worth something
Talula
Talula
She's brand new now to you
Wrapped in your papoose
Your little Fig Newton
Say goodbye to the old world
Ran into the Henchman who severed
Anne Boleyn
He did it right quickly a merciful man
She said one plus one is two
But Henry said that it was three
So it was
Here I am
Talula
Talula
I don't want to lose it
It must be worth losing
If it is worth something
Talula
Talula
She's brand new now to you
Wrapped in your papoose
Your little Fig Newton
And Jamaica
Do you know what I have done
Mary M weaving on said
What you want is in the blood Senators
I got Big Bird on the fishing line
With a bit of a shout a bit of a shout
A bit of an angry snout
He's my favourite hooker of the whole bunch
And I know about his only Bride
And how the Russians die on the ice
I got my rape hat on
Honey but I always could accessorise
And I never cared too much for the money
But I know right now
That it's in God's hands
But I don't know who the Father is
Talula
Talula
I don't want to lose him
He must be worth losing
If it is worth something
Talula
Talula
He's brand new now to you
Wrapped in your papoose
Your little Fig Newton
Said you had a double tongue
Balancing cake and bread
Say goodbye to a glitter girl
Talula
Talula
You don't want to lose her
She must be worth losing
If it is worth something
Talula
Talula
She's brand new now to you
Wrapped in your papoose
Your little Fig Newton
Say goodbye to the old world
Ran into the Henchman who severed
Anne Boleyn
He did it right quickly a merciful man
She said one plus one is two
But Henry said that it was three
So it was
Here I am
Talula
Talula
I don't want to lose it
It must be worth losing
If it is worth something
Talula
Talula
She's brand new now to you
Wrapped in your papoose
Your little Fig Newton
And Jamaica
Do you know what I have done
Mary M weaving on said
What you want is in the blood Senators
I got Big Bird on the fishing line
With a bit of a shout a bit of a shout
A bit of an angry snout
He's my favourite hooker of the whole bunch
And I know about his only Bride
And how the Russians die on the ice
I got my rape hat on
Honey but I always could accessorise
And I never cared too much for the money
But I know right now
That it's in God's hands
But I don't know who the Father is
Talula
Talula
I don't want to lose him
He must be worth losing
If it is worth something
Talula
Talula
He's brand new now to you
Wrapped in your papoose
Your little Fig Newton
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More Featured Meanings
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.
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/
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.
Like she says in her quote, she’s referring to loss - as in the loss of a piece of yourself when a relationship ends. I think she’s named this missing piece “Talula”. She’s calling for her in this song, the wild and wiley bit of herself that she feels is getting away. She references Ann Bolen, who Henry adored but she was so strong willed and bold and confident, he eventually couldn’t take her anymore and had her killed. I think Tori empathizes with the feeling and sentiment in that verse. As for the bridge, she’s talking about several things here. Big Bird doubles for youth and the “polite, everything in its right place” attitude of the actual big bird - but also THE big bird, Talula that’s flying away, she’s hanging onto it all by a thread, and she’s calling for it - a bit of a shout. I know about his only bride and the Russians: another reference to Josephine and Napoleon- that tragic story of unrequited love and neglect, and Tori says she knows all about that. I’ve got my rape hat on- this is real deal Tori saying that she knows how others perceive her, like she feels that rape is top of mind when you think of her, but she shakes it off with the accessories line in her spectacular Tori way. She says I’m not doing this life, the music, for the money and the whole thing is above me, whatever or whoever (I don’t know who the father is) divine power has control of it. I think the whole song is a reflection on the brokenness of the end of a relationship, finding the pieces of yourself that you felt like you lost, salvaging what can be saved, pulling yourself back together, and looking forward to a more free and confident future: mind, body, and soul - not perfect - but intact.