"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.
So I spilled out my guts
To look past my regrets
And I sang to the heavens
As I bled from my neck
I said thanks for your patience, God
and all your wisdom and strength
I said thanks for the suffering
As I sang for the dead
They lived for the living God
You ignored every word
We'll all grow old and die
As our pleas go unheard
So I walked through the valley
And I tried to forget
How I loved every moment
Of the life that I left
We were all cheated my brothers
We were all lied to my friends
An' no one can save us from God
Not even death
So cast off what is mortal
And discard all your dreams
They all turn to shit in the end
And you wake up in hell
Why fear the unknown?
The present's as painful
As being ignored
To look past my regrets
And I sang to the heavens
As I bled from my neck
I said thanks for your patience, God
and all your wisdom and strength
I said thanks for the suffering
As I sang for the dead
They lived for the living God
You ignored every word
We'll all grow old and die
As our pleas go unheard
So I walked through the valley
And I tried to forget
How I loved every moment
Of the life that I left
We were all cheated my brothers
We were all lied to my friends
An' no one can save us from God
Not even death
So cast off what is mortal
And discard all your dreams
They all turn to shit in the end
And you wake up in hell
Why fear the unknown?
The present's as painful
As being ignored
Lyrics submitted by foxyurchin
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Holiday
Bee Gees
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Mountain Song
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Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
I Can't Go To Sleep
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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.
Midnight
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“Midnight” is a song about finding a love that is so true that it provides a calming feeling through every storm. Ed Sheeran reflects on his good fortunes in landing someone with such peace and support and speaks of not fearing the dark days because he knows they’ll all end in the safety nets of her arms.
“Well, good morning there / What a way to start the day / With everything laid bare,” Ed Sheeran sings in the first verse, enthusiastic to be waking up beside his woman. He apologizes for missing her calls in the second verse and promises to return them because for him, speaking to her is the most important thing. “Well, I get lost inside my head / In this chaos, you’re my calm / And I will find my feet again / ‘Cause еven the worst days of my life will always еnd / At midnight in your arms,” sings Ed Sheeran in the chorus, revelling in his good luck.
WAA FUCKING HOO I'M THE FIRST TO COMMENT ON THIS SONG! YAYYYY FOR ME. THIS SONG IS SOOOOO AMAZING AHH THE LYRICS, THE BAND AND HIS VOICE JUST MAKE IT. AHHH I LOVE VENDETTA RED AND THIS SONG IS AWESOME!
I told Erik that this song scares the hell out of me and he said that was the point. He said that it was written about a point in time when everything is going wrong and there is no high point in the near future. but i bet you could figure that out by reading it...
this song F***en rules!!! it is kinda scary lol but nevertheless good as hell haha .. get it ? hell ? ehh .. i didnt think so . FOR life baby !!!!
"Why fear the unknown the presents as painful As being ignored"
This song is pretty scary. What do you guys think his religious views are? He mentions religion in just about all their songs.. I'm just wondering?
"por vida" means "by life" in spanish, if that makes any sense or if anybody cares
seems he's pretty pissed at God...
i know he had a pretty shitty childhood & ended up living on the streets as a teen. I've been a fan of them for a few years but they've only toured in the pacific norhtwest recently. They kinda remind me of a punk rock Rage Against The Machine. iono- anyone else agree?
Clearly this song is about religion, and failed faith. It's evident in every single word.
hmm life kinda doesn't matter much...cause when you die...it's all gone. ...So cast off what is mortal and discard all your dreams They all turn to shit in the end and you wake up in hell
i think that the song is talking about how useless praying is..... They lived for the living god you ignored every word We'll all grow old and die as our pleas go unheard it deals with how most people take a false comfort in believing that someone is hearing their prayer.... I said thanks for your patience god and all your wisdom and strength It also tries to tell you not to be afraid of death...Why fear the unknown the presents as painful as being ignored