"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.
Cold fire
It's such a cold fire
It's a cold fire
It's a cold fire
It was long after midnight
When we got to unconditional love
She said, "Sure, my heart is boundless
But don't push my limits too far"
I said, "If love is so transcendent
I don't understand these boundaries"
She said, "Just don't disappoint me
You know how complex women are"
I'll be around
If you don't let me down too far
I'll be around
If you don't let me down
It was just before sunrise
When we started on traditional roles
She said, "Sure, I'll be your partner
But don't make too many demands"
I said, "If love has these conditions
I don't understand those songs you love"
She said, "This is not a love song
This isn't fantasyland"
Don't go too far
A phosphorescent wave on a tropical sea is a cold fire
Don't cross the line
The pattern of moonlight on the bedroom floor is a cold fire
Don't let me down
The flame at the heart of a pawnbroker's diamond is a cold fire
Don't break the spell
The look in your eyes as you head for the door is a cold fire
I'll be around
If you don't push me down too far
I'll be around
If you don't push me down
I'll be around
If you don't push me down too far
I'll be around
If you don't push me down
Don't go too far
A phosphorescent wave on a tropical sea is a cold fire
Don't cross the line
The pattern of moonlight on the bedroom floor is a cold fire
Don't let me down
The flame at the heart of a pawnbroker's diamond is a cold fire
Don't break the spell
The look in your eyes as you head for the door is a cold fire
I'll be around
If you don't let me down too far
I'll be around
If you don't let me down
I'll be around
If you don't push me down too far
I'll be around
If you don't push me down
I'll be around
If you don't let me down
It's a cold fire
Love is blind if you are gentle
It's such a cold fire
It's a cold fire
Love can turn to a long, cold burn
It's such a cold fire
It's such a cold fire
It's a cold fire
It's a cold fire
It was long after midnight
When we got to unconditional love
She said, "Sure, my heart is boundless
But don't push my limits too far"
I said, "If love is so transcendent
I don't understand these boundaries"
She said, "Just don't disappoint me
You know how complex women are"
I'll be around
If you don't let me down too far
I'll be around
If you don't let me down
It was just before sunrise
When we started on traditional roles
She said, "Sure, I'll be your partner
But don't make too many demands"
I said, "If love has these conditions
I don't understand those songs you love"
She said, "This is not a love song
This isn't fantasyland"
Don't go too far
A phosphorescent wave on a tropical sea is a cold fire
Don't cross the line
The pattern of moonlight on the bedroom floor is a cold fire
Don't let me down
The flame at the heart of a pawnbroker's diamond is a cold fire
Don't break the spell
The look in your eyes as you head for the door is a cold fire
I'll be around
If you don't push me down too far
I'll be around
If you don't push me down
I'll be around
If you don't push me down too far
I'll be around
If you don't push me down
Don't go too far
A phosphorescent wave on a tropical sea is a cold fire
Don't cross the line
The pattern of moonlight on the bedroom floor is a cold fire
Don't let me down
The flame at the heart of a pawnbroker's diamond is a cold fire
Don't break the spell
The look in your eyes as you head for the door is a cold fire
I'll be around
If you don't let me down too far
I'll be around
If you don't let me down
I'll be around
If you don't push me down too far
I'll be around
If you don't push me down
I'll be around
If you don't let me down
It's a cold fire
Love is blind if you are gentle
It's such a cold fire
It's a cold fire
Love can turn to a long, cold burn
It's such a cold fire
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
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."
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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.
Essentially breaks down the concept of "unconditional love" or "I'll love yeu forever" type dealies, as well as challenging traditional values.
Covers everything from stating that "unconditional" is a misnomer, and that there are in fact SOME conditions. Situations such as abuse, disappointment, or a multitude of issues can cause people to either break up, cheat on one another, or whotever. Everyone has a breaking point, and though these can be extended artificially through cultural taboo, religion, or personal values, they still exist and going past that point can end a relationship.
Next, it also covers some ideas such as traditional roles (husband/wife in stereotypical 'man is dominant' ideal, marriage, monogamy, etc implied), but also states that although one may 'agree' to these supposed rules, it doesn't necessarily mean they're going to be followed to the letter in practice. The woman in the song, clearly is not a strict 'traditional' woman in that she is stating conditions, that she's willing to break things off if he doesn't continue to earn her love long term, and so on.
The mentioning of "this is not a love song, this isn't fantasy land" shows that it's being thought of in a more realistic sense, rather than a purely emotional ideal, which 'love' is typical considered as.
In fact, the whole song, including the title "Cold Fire", can be taken as a rationalization and intellectual conversation in regards to love in general.
Cold Fire could very well imply that the "cold" aspect, is the cold, uncaring reasoning, with "fire" being the heat of passion and love.
The pattern of moonlight on the bedroom floor (night being cold, bedroom likely implying lovemaking as passionate and heated)
The flame at the heart of a pawnbroker's diamond (the cold likely relating to 'cold cash', as Rush has a habit of making subtle wordplay like this, where that cold monetary view of things being an expression of love despite that it's a material possession)
The look in your eyes as you head for the door (could mean that she's just leaving in the morning after the conversation, but considering the rest of the song and the progression leading up to such, ie the engagement ring just before this bit, it likely represents her leaving the relationship anyway, and a mixture of thought and emotion behind such)
Love can turn to a long, cold burn (probably directly pointing to the concept of an intense fire is generally short lived and burns out fast, but a cooler one lasts much longer. Passion tempered with reason, emotion watched over by discussion and communication simply works better long term)
As per usual, Rush loves their word play, and thought provoking lyrics.