"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.
Bridge to base , bridge to base
Coolie Ranx is on the case
Alongside Reel Big Fish the RBF speed relatively slow
Pilfers hold tight
I like the way you shake it baby!
You get me in the mood now
Pilfers Reel Big Fish is gonna start your party wohoo
Yeah Coolie Ranx is on the microphone
You've got the eastcoast connection westcoast connection
Providing the music for your dance stimulation
Calling all nations for participation
To play dish ah one on your radio station
And when we com bout now the people start scream
Because this collaboration makes the enemies grieve
We ah nice up the scene and you know what I mean
Coolie Rankin come in
Reel Big Fish now come in
Pilfers Reel Big Fish is gonna start your party wohoo
Yeah Coolie Ranx is on the microphone
Pilfers Reel Big Fish
Launch pad turbo!
Hi yah hi yah hey whe di gal ah sey we rockin it same
way like yo we back in the days
We cool in ah shade we a drink we lemonade
Nuff gal dem just hot we ah go call de brigade
You see hom dem ah walk we dem pon parade
Here we live a life style man we got it made
Gwan now baby girl ahn no you shake
I like the way you shake it Baby!
You get me in the mood now
Coolie Ranx is on the case
Alongside Reel Big Fish the RBF speed relatively slow
Pilfers hold tight
I like the way you shake it baby!
You get me in the mood now
Pilfers Reel Big Fish is gonna start your party wohoo
Yeah Coolie Ranx is on the microphone
You've got the eastcoast connection westcoast connection
Providing the music for your dance stimulation
Calling all nations for participation
To play dish ah one on your radio station
And when we com bout now the people start scream
Because this collaboration makes the enemies grieve
We ah nice up the scene and you know what I mean
Coolie Rankin come in
Reel Big Fish now come in
Pilfers Reel Big Fish is gonna start your party wohoo
Yeah Coolie Ranx is on the microphone
Pilfers Reel Big Fish
Launch pad turbo!
Hi yah hi yah hey whe di gal ah sey we rockin it same
way like yo we back in the days
We cool in ah shade we a drink we lemonade
Nuff gal dem just hot we ah go call de brigade
You see hom dem ah walk we dem pon parade
Here we live a life style man we got it made
Gwan now baby girl ahn no you shake
I like the way you shake it Baby!
You get me in the mood now
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Dreamwalker
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.
I Can't Go To Sleep
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.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
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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.
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.
This song rocks.