"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.
I'm a man without a soul, Honey, yeah
Who lost it
While parading it
In a town full of thieves
You see I didn't wanna be with any people I know
But god knows I didn't wanna be alone
I thought if I acted like someone else
I'd feel more comfortable with myself
So I showered down
Left my little room
Jumped in my car for protection from hostility
Well it ain't easy to be bold
In an unknown city
I was feeling strong mouthed
And weak willed
When I ran into the cure for my ills
Don't tell me what your name is
I want your body, not your mind
I want a feeling, worth paying for
Before I say goodbye
As I was talking, I couldn't look her in the eyes
I just kept wondering
How many men unleashed their frustration between her thighs
There'll be no sleep 'till the morning
There'll be no lullabies
'Cause the devil's borrowed my clothes
Just for tonight
Well my adrenalin was curdling like cream
As I was being led by the hand
Through the sound of sirens
And the distant noise of some drunken jazz band
Through the stench of disinfectant
That infected my head
Through the darkness of a corridor
Into a strangers bed
Well I didn't wanna hurt your feelings, honey
But I couldn't suppress my own
I had to pull myself outta this nose-dive
By proving something to myself
She was lying on her back
With her lips parted
Squealing like a stuffed pig
I was going through the motions
Faking the emotions
Wriggling around like lizard in a tin
Trying so hard to cleanse myself
I was turning into somebody else
I was trying so hard to please myself
I was turning into somebody else
I was trying so hard to be myself
I was turning into somebody else
I was trying so hard to be myself
I was turning into somebody else
I was trying so hard to be myself
I was turning into somebody else
I was trying so hard to be myself
I was turning into somebody else
Come my love with your desire
Out of the blue and into the fire
Come my love with your desire
Out of the blue and into the fire
Who lost it
While parading it
In a town full of thieves
You see I didn't wanna be with any people I know
But god knows I didn't wanna be alone
I thought if I acted like someone else
I'd feel more comfortable with myself
So I showered down
Left my little room
Jumped in my car for protection from hostility
Well it ain't easy to be bold
In an unknown city
I was feeling strong mouthed
And weak willed
When I ran into the cure for my ills
Don't tell me what your name is
I want your body, not your mind
I want a feeling, worth paying for
Before I say goodbye
As I was talking, I couldn't look her in the eyes
I just kept wondering
How many men unleashed their frustration between her thighs
There'll be no sleep 'till the morning
There'll be no lullabies
'Cause the devil's borrowed my clothes
Just for tonight
Well my adrenalin was curdling like cream
As I was being led by the hand
Through the sound of sirens
And the distant noise of some drunken jazz band
Through the stench of disinfectant
That infected my head
Through the darkness of a corridor
Into a strangers bed
Well I didn't wanna hurt your feelings, honey
But I couldn't suppress my own
I had to pull myself outta this nose-dive
By proving something to myself
She was lying on her back
With her lips parted
Squealing like a stuffed pig
I was going through the motions
Faking the emotions
Wriggling around like lizard in a tin
Trying so hard to cleanse myself
I was turning into somebody else
I was trying so hard to please myself
I was turning into somebody else
I was trying so hard to be myself
I was turning into somebody else
I was trying so hard to be myself
I was turning into somebody else
I was trying so hard to be myself
I was turning into somebody else
I was trying so hard to be myself
I was turning into somebody else
Come my love with your desire
Out of the blue and into the fire
Come my love with your desire
Out of the blue and into the fire
Lyrics submitted by [inactive account]
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
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"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."
No Surprises
Radiohead
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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.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
the video makes it clear he is hiring a prostitute.
I recommend looking at The The videos, they are excellent
About hiring a prostitute methinks
these lyrics are pure genius, as are most of his songs. think its about wanting, always wanting something, anything...to fill you with feelings so you can stop feeling nothing. complicated, i can feel it but not describe it. one of my very favorite songs of all time.
I agree the video shows him hireing a prostitute but I believe there is more to it than that. I suffer bipolar disorder, and to me this song describes what it is like. The title alone "Out of the blue (depression) (into the fire (mania))", and the lyric "Well I didn't want to hurt your feelings, honey. But I couldn't suppress my own" demonstrates someone going from depression into uncontrolled mania. Also "Trying so hard to cleanse myself, I was turning into somebody else" is the feeling of guilt ridden depression turning into a frenzy of sexual lust as mania takes over once again. Maybe I am reading to much into this song but to me it's exactly what it describes. It's a brilliant lyric from the wonderful Mr Johnson once again. One day he will be appreciated for his gift of prophecy and skilled song craft.
Might not be a prostitute, just an unknown person.
The line "I want a feeling, worth paying for" is saying that people do pay for that feeling - not that he's paid for it.
Awesome song.