"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.
Dealers keep dealin'
Thieves keep thievin'
Whores keep whorin'
Junkies keep scorin'
Trade is on the meat rack
Strip joints full of hunchbacks
Bitches keep bitchin'
Clap just keeps a-itchin'
Ain't no use in prayin'
That's the way it's stayin', baby
Johnny ain't so crazy
He's always got a line for the ladies
Yeah-yeah-yeah
Get yer rocks off, get yer rocks off, honey
Shake 'em, now-now, get 'em off downtown
Get yer rocks off, get yer rocks off, honey
Shake 'em now-now, get 'em off downtown
Creeps keep crawlin'
Drunks keep fallin'
Teasers keep teasin'
Holy joes are preachin'
Cops keep bustin'
Hustlers keep hustlin'
Death keeps a-knockin'
Souls are up for auction
Ain't no use in prayin'
That's the way it's stayin', baby
Johnny ain't so crazy
He's always got a line for the ladies
Yeah-yeah-yeah
Get yer rocks off, get yer rocks off, honey
Shake 'em, now-now, get 'em off downtown
Get yer rocks off, get yer rocks off, honey
Shake 'em now-now, get 'em off downtown, get down!
Ain't no use in prayin'
That's the way it's stayin', baby
Johnny ain't so crazy
He's always got a line for the ladies
(Yeah-yeah-yeah)
Get yer rocks off, get yer rocks off, honey
Shake 'em, now-now, get 'em off downtown
Get yer rocks off, get yer rocks off, honey
Shake 'em now-now, get 'em off downtown
Get yer rocks off, get yer rocks off, honey
Shake 'em, now-now, get 'em off downtown
Get yer rocks off, get yer rocks off, honey
Shake 'em now-now, get 'em off downtown
Get yer rocks off, get yer rocks off, honey
Get yer rocks off, get yer rocks off, honey
Get yer rocks off, get yer rocks off, honey
Get yer rocks off, get yer rocks off, honey
Get yer rocks off, get yer rocks off, honey
Get yer rocks off, get yer rocks off, honey
Thieves keep thievin'
Whores keep whorin'
Junkies keep scorin'
Trade is on the meat rack
Strip joints full of hunchbacks
Bitches keep bitchin'
Clap just keeps a-itchin'
Ain't no use in prayin'
That's the way it's stayin', baby
Johnny ain't so crazy
He's always got a line for the ladies
Yeah-yeah-yeah
Get yer rocks off, get yer rocks off, honey
Shake 'em, now-now, get 'em off downtown
Get yer rocks off, get yer rocks off, honey
Shake 'em now-now, get 'em off downtown
Creeps keep crawlin'
Drunks keep fallin'
Teasers keep teasin'
Holy joes are preachin'
Cops keep bustin'
Hustlers keep hustlin'
Death keeps a-knockin'
Souls are up for auction
Ain't no use in prayin'
That's the way it's stayin', baby
Johnny ain't so crazy
He's always got a line for the ladies
Yeah-yeah-yeah
Get yer rocks off, get yer rocks off, honey
Shake 'em, now-now, get 'em off downtown
Get yer rocks off, get yer rocks off, honey
Shake 'em now-now, get 'em off downtown, get down!
Ain't no use in prayin'
That's the way it's stayin', baby
Johnny ain't so crazy
He's always got a line for the ladies
(Yeah-yeah-yeah)
Get yer rocks off, get yer rocks off, honey
Shake 'em, now-now, get 'em off downtown
Get yer rocks off, get yer rocks off, honey
Shake 'em now-now, get 'em off downtown
Get yer rocks off, get yer rocks off, honey
Shake 'em, now-now, get 'em off downtown
Get yer rocks off, get yer rocks off, honey
Shake 'em now-now, get 'em off downtown
Get yer rocks off, get yer rocks off, honey
Get yer rocks off, get yer rocks off, honey
Get yer rocks off, get yer rocks off, honey
Get yer rocks off, get yer rocks off, honey
Get yer rocks off, get yer rocks off, honey
Get yer rocks off, get yer rocks off, honey
Lyrics submitted by chocolatejesus
Rocks Lyrics as written by Bobby Gillespie Robert Young
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Holiday
Bee Gees
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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.
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.
I listened to the song life 50 times continuously and I finally have it figured out. A "rock" on your "shoulder", at least in Russian, means something that weighs you down. And the lead singer is talking about shaking off these rocks by "shaking them off dontown", which I assume refers to going to a club to dance.