"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 am still what I meant to be
And I'm losing my mind
But our burdens must lessen
Though our enemies thrive
Crowded the hall with stock women parts
Candles were lit, burdened the hearts
Felt a bad vibe kick in just then
Things seemed to smolder, enclosing us in
I am still what I meant to be
And I'm losing my mind
But our burdens must lessen
And our enemies die
Down in the basement, up in the attic
I promised you that I would not stay sick
Here is the hand now placed over the heart
Admire it lover, rend it apart
I am still what I meant to be
And I'm losing my mind
But our burdens must lessen
And our enemies die
Regardless of all I will not stay in
Off to the market I'm going again
Kicking the dust, waving at all
Covering the face, starting to bawl
I am still what I meant to be
And I'm losing my mind
But our burdens must lessen
And our enemies die
And I'm losing my mind
But our burdens must lessen
Though our enemies thrive
Crowded the hall with stock women parts
Candles were lit, burdened the hearts
Felt a bad vibe kick in just then
Things seemed to smolder, enclosing us in
I am still what I meant to be
And I'm losing my mind
But our burdens must lessen
And our enemies die
Down in the basement, up in the attic
I promised you that I would not stay sick
Here is the hand now placed over the heart
Admire it lover, rend it apart
I am still what I meant to be
And I'm losing my mind
But our burdens must lessen
And our enemies die
Regardless of all I will not stay in
Off to the market I'm going again
Kicking the dust, waving at all
Covering the face, starting to bawl
I am still what I meant to be
And I'm losing my mind
But our burdens must lessen
And our enemies die
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
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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.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
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Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
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.
@sidneycarton See, I have the opposite interpretation. Great songs are like that. I think it is about this pretentious guy who fancies himself a cinematographer. He walks away from New York, California, and even Louisville because he is an utter failure. I think it is a self-parody in a way because Will Oldham himself has a "starving artist" image. But even though the guy in the song is a pretentious douche bag, it is still sad in a way.