"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.
On top of the sky is a place where you go if you've done nothing wrong
If you've done nothing wrong
And down in the ground is a place where you go if you've been a bad boy
If you've been a bad boy
Why can't we have eternal life
And never die
Never die?
In the place up above you grow feather wings and you fly round and round
With a harp singing hymns
And down in the ground you grow horns and a tail and you carry a fork
And burn away
Why can't we have eternal life, and never die
Never die?
If you've done nothing wrong
And down in the ground is a place where you go if you've been a bad boy
If you've been a bad boy
Why can't we have eternal life
And never die
Never die?
In the place up above you grow feather wings and you fly round and round
With a harp singing hymns
And down in the ground you grow horns and a tail and you carry a fork
And burn away
Why can't we have eternal life, and never die
Never die?
Lyrics submitted by planetearth, edited by digitalmanMKII
Heaven and Hell Lyrics as written by John Entwistle
Lyrics © GOWMONK, INC.
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Bee Gees
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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,
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
That's odd that the band didn't like this song, because they used it frequently to open their concerts and decided to make a studio version of it which by the way kicks major ass. The meanings very obvious but call me crazy, this has got to be if not my favourite who song.
@heyjude55 -- Me too. It's almost my new favorite Who song. Just discovered it (at age 55) a couple weeks ago!
I think it's the first song at "Live at Leeds".
I love this song a lot too. I'm not sure what album the studio version is on, and I don't know if I've ever even heard a studio version.
There's a studio version on Entwistle's solo album "Smash Your Head Against The Wall."
It seems to come from an idea or challenge of how does one explain the nature of Heaven and Hell to a small child (or someone of likeminded intelligence). Heaven is simply that "place where you go if you've done nothing wrong" and hell is that place "where you go if you've been a bad boy." What's the nature of these places? Well in Heaven "you grow feathered wings" and there's "harps singing hymns (presumably religious)" whereas in hell there's fire so you'll "burn away."
The chorus seems to have roots in the occult, mythology and in religion as all of these subjects seem to have as a central motif eternal life.
Its actually "Mold away" not "Burn Away"
well despite the who not really likin this song i think that it's a damn fine song. won't bother sayin what tis about thats obvious
hey which album is it on anyways? I think its on some weird comp cd (not odds and sods because I have that). Let me know. I LOVE this song but I've only heard it live (which is AMAZING!)
they open 'live at leeds' with it.
The best song that John Entwistle has contributed to the band's catalogue (along with Boris the spider). Great tune.
There's two live versions available, Leeds and the IoW Festival, and a shorter studio version recording a year or two later that is as of current only available on the $80 Maximum R&B box set.
Great tune.
Though this song apparently does not appear on a Who album, my opinion is it was meant for Tommy or maybe even Quadrophenia. It's got that whole rock-opera vibe with dramatic chord changes and 3-part harmonies. Phew.
Though this song apparently does not appear on a Who album, my opinion is it was meant for Tommy or maybe even Quadrophenia. It's got that whole rock-opera vibe with dramatic chord changes and 3-part harmonies. Phew.