"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.
Save me, have mercy
Turn me upside down
I know it sounds a little bit lazy
But I lost myself in a mystery
Save me some aggravation
And tell me your wisest tale
Take me away
[Chorus]
Won't you save me
Please hurry please
Won't you tell me what's worthy now
Won't you save me
I thought for myself
Can't you forgive me for that
Turn round, where ya goin'
Slow down my hopes on you
I've paid my dues a thousand times over
'Cause I was not born ready made
Teach me, teach me everything
And leave no turn unstoned
Yeah that's OK
[Chorus]
Now we've been on this walk before
And I can't take it lightly anymore
Well again I said
It's just there's so much wasted time
Quit wasting time.
Hold on, wait a minute
Take note this one's on me
They never put up a monument
For a cynic or a statue of a hypocrite
Turn it up turn it over
Tune in and change your mind
Go your own way
[Chorus]
Turn me upside down
I know it sounds a little bit lazy
But I lost myself in a mystery
Save me some aggravation
And tell me your wisest tale
Take me away
[Chorus]
Won't you save me
Please hurry please
Won't you tell me what's worthy now
Won't you save me
I thought for myself
Can't you forgive me for that
Turn round, where ya goin'
Slow down my hopes on you
I've paid my dues a thousand times over
'Cause I was not born ready made
Teach me, teach me everything
And leave no turn unstoned
Yeah that's OK
[Chorus]
Now we've been on this walk before
And I can't take it lightly anymore
Well again I said
It's just there's so much wasted time
Quit wasting time.
Hold on, wait a minute
Take note this one's on me
They never put up a monument
For a cynic or a statue of a hypocrite
Turn it up turn it over
Tune in and change your mind
Go your own way
[Chorus]
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Silent Planet
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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Yo La Tengo
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Great version of a great song,
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Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.