"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.
One, two, three
She's a real left winger 'cause she's been down south
And held possums in her arms, she said
"I could tell you stories that could make you cry, what about you?"
I said, "Me too, I could tell you a story that would make you cry"
And she sighed, "Ah"
I said, "I wanna be a singer like Lou Reed"
"I like Lou Reed," she said, sticking her tongue in my ear
"Let's go, let's sit, let's talk, politics goes so good with beer
And while we're at it, baby
Why don't you tell me one of your biggest fears?"
I said, "Losing my penis to a whore with disease"
"Just kidding"
I said, "Losing my life to a whore with disease"
She said, "Excuse me, please?"
I said, "Losing my life to a horrible disease"
She said, "Please"
Well, I'm a humble guy with healthy desire
Don't give me no shit because
I've been tired, I've been tired, I've been tired
I've been tired, I've been tired, I've been tired
I told the tale of a girl but I call her a woman
She's a little bit older than me
Strong legs, strong face, voice like milk breasts like a cluster of grapes
I can't escape her ways she raised me
She make me feel like Solomon
Beware your babies even if you have no one
And while we're at it baby
Why don't you tell me one of your biggest fears?
You don't want to sleep after setting my loins on fire
Well, that's okay because
I've been tired, I've been tired, I've been tired
I've been tired, I've been tired, I've been tired
I've been tired, I've been tired, I've been tired
I've been tired, I've been tired, I've been tired
I've been tired, I've been tired, I've been tired
T I are E D spells it, spells it, spells it, spells it
She's a real left winger 'cause she's been down south
And held possums in her arms, she said
"I could tell you stories that could make you cry, what about you?"
I said, "Me too, I could tell you a story that would make you cry"
And she sighed, "Ah"
I said, "I wanna be a singer like Lou Reed"
"I like Lou Reed," she said, sticking her tongue in my ear
"Let's go, let's sit, let's talk, politics goes so good with beer
And while we're at it, baby
Why don't you tell me one of your biggest fears?"
I said, "Losing my penis to a whore with disease"
"Just kidding"
I said, "Losing my life to a whore with disease"
She said, "Excuse me, please?"
I said, "Losing my life to a horrible disease"
She said, "Please"
Well, I'm a humble guy with healthy desire
Don't give me no shit because
I've been tired, I've been tired, I've been tired
I've been tired, I've been tired, I've been tired
I told the tale of a girl but I call her a woman
She's a little bit older than me
Strong legs, strong face, voice like milk breasts like a cluster of grapes
I can't escape her ways she raised me
She make me feel like Solomon
Beware your babies even if you have no one
And while we're at it baby
Why don't you tell me one of your biggest fears?
You don't want to sleep after setting my loins on fire
Well, that's okay because
I've been tired, I've been tired, I've been tired
I've been tired, I've been tired, I've been tired
I've been tired, I've been tired, I've been tired
I've been tired, I've been tired, I've been tired
I've been tired, I've been tired, I've been tired
T I are E D spells it, spells it, spells it, spells it
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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,
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
I really find this song hilarious... especially the 'losing my penis to a whore disease...' part. And could any of you smart folks tell me about solomon?