"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.
All alone in your dirty chair
Washin' all your dirty hair
Wonderin' how long till they come for you
Watch the lines form on your face
Down the block all the people chase
Just what you were after before this happened to you
And if I could be the chains, I'd fall from you
And let you fly to the angels
And if I could be your pain, I'd run from you so far away
And if I could turn the time back just one day
Would it be enough to say
All the things I never said to you
Make the plans to fall in place
Only to fall behind in the race
And you can't keep up and I know that it pisses you off
And your roller coaster climbs the hill
Up and down, it sure does feel
A bit too much, are you ready to get off?
And if I could be the chains, I'd fall from you
And let you fly like an angels
And if I could be your pain, I'd run from you so far away
And if I could turn the time back just one day
Would it be enough to say
All the things I never said to you
What you don't know won't hurt you
What you don't show will kill you
What you don't know won't hurt you
What you don't show will kill you
What you don't know won't hurt you
What you don't show will kill you
What you don't know won't hurt you
And I
And if I could be the chains, I'd fall from you
And let you fly like an angels
And if I could be your pain, I'd run from you so far away
And if I could turn the time back just one day
Would it be enough to say
All the things I never said to you
What you don't know won't hurt you
What you don't show will kill you
What you don't know won't hurt you
What you don't show will kill you
What you don't know won't hurt you
What you don't show will kill you
What you don't know won't hurt you
What you don't show will kill you
Washin' all your dirty hair
Wonderin' how long till they come for you
Watch the lines form on your face
Down the block all the people chase
Just what you were after before this happened to you
And if I could be the chains, I'd fall from you
And let you fly to the angels
And if I could be your pain, I'd run from you so far away
And if I could turn the time back just one day
Would it be enough to say
All the things I never said to you
Make the plans to fall in place
Only to fall behind in the race
And you can't keep up and I know that it pisses you off
And your roller coaster climbs the hill
Up and down, it sure does feel
A bit too much, are you ready to get off?
And if I could be the chains, I'd fall from you
And let you fly like an angels
And if I could be your pain, I'd run from you so far away
And if I could turn the time back just one day
Would it be enough to say
All the things I never said to you
What you don't know won't hurt you
What you don't show will kill you
What you don't know won't hurt you
What you don't show will kill you
What you don't know won't hurt you
What you don't show will kill you
What you don't know won't hurt you
And I
And if I could be the chains, I'd fall from you
And let you fly like an angels
And if I could be your pain, I'd run from you so far away
And if I could turn the time back just one day
Would it be enough to say
All the things I never said to you
What you don't know won't hurt you
What you don't show will kill you
What you don't know won't hurt you
What you don't show will kill you
What you don't know won't hurt you
What you don't show will kill you
What you don't know won't hurt you
What you don't show will kill you
Lyrics submitted by BlueAndStarry
If (Jeannie's Song) Lyrics as written by Butch Walker
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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,
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.
All I know is, it's about cancer.
I know Butch, this song is about his girlfriend's mother and her experiance with cancer. However, she didn't win the battle :( she died on Christmas of 2002. The last time I saw him perform this song was two days before she died and he cried. It was so upsetting.
i love this fucking song. the line 'if i could be your pain i'd run from you so far away' always gets me
i dont acually think it was chrismas i belive it was befor then because i talked to him at a tower records on december 26 2002 and he said that she had passed a few weeks ago
this song is beautiful, all his songs are beatufiul actually! "And if I could be the chains I'd fall from you And let you fly like an angel" so sad
Beautiful song. He writes truly amazing and powerful music. This one is very touching and deep.