"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.
Every night I walk the streets,
awake while everyone else sleeps.
I'm giving unease to anyone I meet.
My generosity can never runout,
because I give a gift from what's within myself.
No hope at all.
Take nothing from nothing and you'll have nothing left.
I can't recall.
I can't recall a moment in my life when life was at it's best.
Everyone avoids my stare
and no one cares to ever dare to look into my eyes of what they most fear.
And they're taught to fear,
to fear no evil.
And they know no fear,
they've learned to love themselves.
Forever unlucky,
'cause I'll own tomorrow.
Forever unwanted,
outcast today.
I'm not mislead,
I've got no one to follow.
Everywhere to go,
no place to stay.
awake while everyone else sleeps.
I'm giving unease to anyone I meet.
My generosity can never runout,
because I give a gift from what's within myself.
No hope at all.
Take nothing from nothing and you'll have nothing left.
I can't recall.
I can't recall a moment in my life when life was at it's best.
Everyone avoids my stare
and no one cares to ever dare to look into my eyes of what they most fear.
And they're taught to fear,
to fear no evil.
And they know no fear,
they've learned to love themselves.
Forever unlucky,
'cause I'll own tomorrow.
Forever unwanted,
outcast today.
I'm not mislead,
I've got no one to follow.
Everywhere to go,
no place to stay.
Lyrics submitted by oofus
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Fast Car
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Wu-Tang Clan
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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.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
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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.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
I totally agree. I think it's about someone who is different and knows it but still can't get acceptance amongst people because people are afraid of something that is different. Ignorance is what its called. I think the part where it says "Forever unlucky, 'cause I'll own tomorrow. Forever unwanted, outcast today. I'm not mislead, I've got no one to follow. Everywhere to go, no place to stay." means that no one will accept him for who he is and he has no place to stay in life because no one can accept him.
Yes, I agree with everyone so far. I don't really like to listen to AFI's older music, but I will present a brief elaboration of what everyone has already said anyway: First, (I am praying that no one will lash at me for saying this because it's an opinion) I think that AFI has evolved from beginning to mature and kind of screaming sporradically about...err, I don't want to say self-pity/self-doubt at all...maybe you'll get what I'm saying...well they, in my opinion, evolved from that melancholy, immature stage of lyric-writing to a more formal and deeper, almost more beautiful meaning of sadness (because a lot of AFI's songs now are dark).
I can still somewhat relate to these lyrics. I do feel isolated sometimes because everyone calls me different and too mature to have fun at my age. I find it great, personally, and I do have people that like me for who I am, thank goodness, but what really gets me is the fact that my family is...a bunch of ding-bats, excluding my aunt and dad...who is going insane anyway, talking about how depressing and strange AFI lovers look (yes it's true...DON'T get me started on that crap) when yet I'm a "different looking" (as my dad would say) AFI lover. My family chooses to try their best to simply put on rose-colored lenses so everything seems okay. They're really in denial and tell me I don't understand. It's quite funny, but they don't understand the complexities of anything I present to them, and I think that this is the kind of people AFI is talking about. I do have hope and everything and I WILL find "a place" because I'm naturally optimistic, but in a strange sense I consider this like my own theme song.
I think he is describing what it is for someone different to be out in the world. Saying that he is opposite of other people "awake while everyone else sleeps". This is my favorite AFI song from their older days.
this is like my theme song i swear...i also completely agree with the two above people on their interpretations.
These lyrics are beautiful. I agree...it's just being completley alone, outcast, not being in the sheltered little world of others..
Wow, I'm sorry for that incessant talking about the one subject but that's just what I thought. Excuse me for that, please. sinks down slowly in chair
GREAT ALBUM. HUGELY UNDERRATED
"im not mislead, ive got no-one to follow." holy shit that is the best line EVER. fucking love VPOY. this is defiantly one of there best older songs.
this is me every time i leave the fucking house :[