"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.
Remember that blue crystal sky, the sun reflected in your eyes
You kissed me unexpectedly
The moment I just can't forget, we filled the air with promises
And sealed them up so tenderly
But life never asks you what you want, it's just gonna have it's way
And sometimes it doesn't give like it takes
[Chorus]
If I never see your face, if wings take you away from me
If tomorrow never happens, baby
If the world comes tumblin' down and crumbles all around us
Fat turns cruel, you're on your knees
Desperate for one truth
Know that I have loved you
Don't think I'll write another letter, or watch another pink sunset
Without thinking about you
I will take a walk along the blue seaside how will I sleep at night?
How will I wipe the tears from your eyes?
[Chorus]
Without a single hesitation
Without thought or reservation
Baby, I'll be waiting, even
[Chorus]
With all my heart and all my soul
Yeah, yeah
If I never see your face
If wings take you away from me
Know that I have loved you
You kissed me unexpectedly
The moment I just can't forget, we filled the air with promises
And sealed them up so tenderly
But life never asks you what you want, it's just gonna have it's way
And sometimes it doesn't give like it takes
[Chorus]
If I never see your face, if wings take you away from me
If tomorrow never happens, baby
If the world comes tumblin' down and crumbles all around us
Fat turns cruel, you're on your knees
Desperate for one truth
Know that I have loved you
Don't think I'll write another letter, or watch another pink sunset
Without thinking about you
I will take a walk along the blue seaside how will I sleep at night?
How will I wipe the tears from your eyes?
[Chorus]
Without a single hesitation
Without thought or reservation
Baby, I'll be waiting, even
[Chorus]
With all my heart and all my soul
Yeah, yeah
If I never see your face
If wings take you away from me
Know that I have loved you
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
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.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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.
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.
i love this song!