"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 sick from this city
It burns in my side
The ships that are leaving
Shine so bright in the night time
And though the memories fade
It's still you that I find
If only you could stay and not leave me behind
The tide that left & never came back is on my mind tonight
Cause it's a small town & it misses you my love
Don't fall into all
Those sad stories you write
Your voice is so pretty
When it gets caught in the right rhyme
And though the memories still fade
It's still you that i find
If only you could stay and not leave me behind
]The tide that left & never came back is on my mind tonight
'Cause it's a small town & it misses you my love
It burns in my side
The ships that are leaving
Shine so bright in the night time
And though the memories fade
It's still you that I find
If only you could stay and not leave me behind
The tide that left & never came back is on my mind tonight
Cause it's a small town & it misses you my love
Don't fall into all
Those sad stories you write
Your voice is so pretty
When it gets caught in the right rhyme
And though the memories still fade
It's still you that i find
If only you could stay and not leave me behind
]The tide that left & never came back is on my mind tonight
'Cause it's a small town & it misses you my love
Lyrics submitted by Phrogex
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"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."
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"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
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.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
I'm not sure I can really put a literal translation and have it all analytical, though that's usually my style.
but being sick from a city and feeling it burn in your side, well, that could be a reference from just being restless or just drinking too much out of misery. takes a toll on your liver.
and you feel like the one you want is gone and everything has left you behind. you are in a city surrounded by people and things,
the ships i think are airplanes. ships don't shine, but you can see the lights of the planes as they take off and look like really bright stars. you know somehow it takes a few moments to tell sometimes if it's a star or a plane when it's far away? they look like pretty stars... stars shine.
the tide i guess could be just the person leaving... the one that never came back.
anyway!
The lead singer of the Veils is the most beautiful person i have ever seen in my entire life. i saw them in Liverpoollast May and the whole room was mesmerised by his face. The lead singer, Finn Andrews just stood there and crooned out these amazing songs, this one being the best one. i've never seen anyone like him in my entire life. he was more than a pretty boy model or whatever. he had this porcelain skin and wow about him. but that's beside the point. this song applies to anyone whos ever left someone behind or has had someone leave them behind. it's very beautiful.
i totally agree with tinkerbell
Finn Andrews is from New Zealand. Makes me proud. We don't turn out too many good musicians. Apart from The Actualities and a few other obscure bands..
It's about Davenport - where Finn is from