"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.
Never mind me ‘cause I've been dead
Out of my body, been out of my head
Never mind the songs they hum
Don't want to sing along with nothin' that I said
Let him bring you happiness, happiness
It's hard to come by, I confess
I'm better at this than happiness,
If you find it, share it with the rest of us
Never mind the words that came
Out of my mouth when all I could feel was pain
The difference in the two of us
Comes down to the way you rise over things I just put down
Let him bring you happiness, happiness
It's hard to come by, I confess
I'm better at this than, happiness
If you find it share it with the rest of us, the rest of us
Never mind me ‘cause I've been dead
Out of my body, been out of my head
Never mind the curse of war
Proud like a badge that just don't shine no more
Let him bring you happiness, happiness
Hard to come by, I confess
I'm better at this than happiness,
If you find it, share it with the rest of us
Out of my body, been out of my head
Never mind the songs they hum
Don't want to sing along with nothin' that I said
Let him bring you happiness, happiness
It's hard to come by, I confess
I'm better at this than happiness,
If you find it, share it with the rest of us
Never mind the words that came
Out of my mouth when all I could feel was pain
The difference in the two of us
Comes down to the way you rise over things I just put down
Let him bring you happiness, happiness
It's hard to come by, I confess
I'm better at this than, happiness
If you find it share it with the rest of us, the rest of us
Never mind me ‘cause I've been dead
Out of my body, been out of my head
Never mind the curse of war
Proud like a badge that just don't shine no more
Let him bring you happiness, happiness
Hard to come by, I confess
I'm better at this than happiness,
If you find it, share it with the rest of us
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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,
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.
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.
Songs can't solve our problems, is how I interpret this one. Songwriters like Grant-Lee Phillips can bring us joy and solace, but sooner or later, we must leave the nest. Which isn't to say we can't give credit to our inspirations when we get there, if we get there.
He sounds much more apologetic than he should ever need to be, having written even a few songs as good as this one.