"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.
It's true you sold your guitar and bought a car?
It's true, I'm leaving now for Santa Fe
It's true, you're with this yuppie scum?
You said you'd never speak to him again
Not now
Who said that you have any say in who she says things to at all?
Yeah
Who said that you should stick your nose in other people's
Who said I was talking to you?
We used to have this fight each night (calm down)
She'd never admit I existed (everyone please)
He was the same way
He was always, run away, hit the road, don't commit
You're full of shit
She's in denial (He's in denial)
Don't give an inch when I gave a mile (come on)
I gave a mile
Gave a mile to who?
Come on guys, chill
I'd be happy to die for a taste of what Angel had
Someone to live for, unafraid to say I love you
All your words are nice, Mimi
But love's not a three way street
You'll never share real love
Until you love yourself, I should know
You all said you'd be cool today
So please, for my sake
I can't believe he's gone
I can't believe you're going
I can't believe this family must die
Angel helped us believe in love
I can't believe you disagree
I can't believe this is goodbye
I hear there are great restaurants out west
Some of the best, how could she?
How could you let her go?
You just don't know
How could we lose Angel?
Maybe you'll see why when you stop escaping your pain
At least now if you try, Angel's death won't be in vain
His death is in vain
Are you insane?
There's so much to care about
There's me, there's Mimi
Mimi's got her baggage too
So do you
Who are you to tell me what I know
What to do
A friend
But who, Mark, are you?
Mark has got his work
They say, "Mark lives for his work"
And, "Mark's in love with his work"
Mark hides in his work
From what?
From facing your failure
Facing your loneliness
Facing the fact you live a lie
Yes, you live a lie, tell you why
You're always preaching not to be numb
When that's how you thrive
You pretend to create and observe
When you really detach from feeling alive
Perhaps it's because I'm the one of us to survive
Poor baby
Mimi still loves Roger
Is Roger really jealous
Or afraid that Mimi's weak?
Mimi did look pale
Mimi's gotten thin
Mimi's running out of time
Roger's running out the door
No more, oh no, I've gotta go
Hey, for somebody who's always been let down who's heading out of town?
For someone who longs for a community of his own
Who's with his camera, alone?
I'll call
I hate the fall
You heard?
Every word
You don't want baggage without lifetime guarantees
You don't want to watch me die?
I just came to say goodbye love
Goodbye love
Came to say goodbye love, goodbye
Just came to say goodbye love (glory)
Goodbye love (one blaze of)
Goodbye love
I have to find (goodbye)
Please don't touch me, understand
I'm scared, I need to go away
I know a place, a clinic
A rehab?
Maybe, could you?
I'll pay
Goodbye love
Goodbye love
Came to say goodbye love, goodbye
Just came to say goodbye love
Goodbye love
Goodbye love
Hello, disease
It's true, I'm leaving now for Santa Fe
It's true, you're with this yuppie scum?
You said you'd never speak to him again
Not now
Who said that you have any say in who she says things to at all?
Yeah
Who said that you should stick your nose in other people's
Who said I was talking to you?
We used to have this fight each night (calm down)
She'd never admit I existed (everyone please)
He was the same way
He was always, run away, hit the road, don't commit
You're full of shit
She's in denial (He's in denial)
Don't give an inch when I gave a mile (come on)
I gave a mile
Gave a mile to who?
Come on guys, chill
I'd be happy to die for a taste of what Angel had
Someone to live for, unafraid to say I love you
All your words are nice, Mimi
But love's not a three way street
You'll never share real love
Until you love yourself, I should know
You all said you'd be cool today
So please, for my sake
I can't believe he's gone
I can't believe you're going
I can't believe this family must die
Angel helped us believe in love
I can't believe you disagree
I can't believe this is goodbye
I hear there are great restaurants out west
Some of the best, how could she?
How could you let her go?
You just don't know
How could we lose Angel?
Maybe you'll see why when you stop escaping your pain
At least now if you try, Angel's death won't be in vain
His death is in vain
Are you insane?
There's so much to care about
There's me, there's Mimi
Mimi's got her baggage too
So do you
Who are you to tell me what I know
What to do
A friend
But who, Mark, are you?
Mark has got his work
They say, "Mark lives for his work"
And, "Mark's in love with his work"
Mark hides in his work
From what?
From facing your failure
Facing your loneliness
Facing the fact you live a lie
Yes, you live a lie, tell you why
You're always preaching not to be numb
When that's how you thrive
You pretend to create and observe
When you really detach from feeling alive
Perhaps it's because I'm the one of us to survive
Poor baby
Mimi still loves Roger
Is Roger really jealous
Or afraid that Mimi's weak?
Mimi did look pale
Mimi's gotten thin
Mimi's running out of time
Roger's running out the door
No more, oh no, I've gotta go
Hey, for somebody who's always been let down who's heading out of town?
For someone who longs for a community of his own
Who's with his camera, alone?
I'll call
I hate the fall
You heard?
Every word
You don't want baggage without lifetime guarantees
You don't want to watch me die?
I just came to say goodbye love
Goodbye love
Came to say goodbye love, goodbye
Just came to say goodbye love (glory)
Goodbye love (one blaze of)
Goodbye love
I have to find (goodbye)
Please don't touch me, understand
I'm scared, I need to go away
I know a place, a clinic
A rehab?
Maybe, could you?
I'll pay
Goodbye love
Goodbye love
Came to say goodbye love, goodbye
Just came to say goodbye love
Goodbye love
Goodbye love
Hello, disease
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
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.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
I think it could be about Todd, his boyfriend during the stage production of RENT. He mentioned in his book "Without You" that Todd took a lot from the relationship, but, at least in Anthony's opinion, didn't give when Anthony needed support after his mom's death. But neither one wanted to leave because each loved the other in his own way.