"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.
Believe the news, I'm gone for good
Call off the search, no one will know that I'm down here
Believe the note, I left for you
You can't turn back the clocks
You can't pull me up from here, so don't try
I'm in a car underwater with time to kill
Thinking back I forgot to tell you this:
I didn't care that you left and abandoned me,
What hurts more is I would still die for you
I'm in a car underwater with time to kill
Thinking back I forgot to tell you this:
I didn't care that you left and abandoned me,
What hurts more is I would still die for you
Make time slower
Give me longer
It's too late for me
No one will know that I'm down here
Believe your dreams of me sinking
So far below
You can't pull me up from here, so don't try
I'm in a car underwater with time to kill
Thinking back I forgot to tell you this
I didn't care that you left and abandoned me
What hurts more is I would still die for you, I'm in a car underwater with time to kill
Thinking back I forgot to tell you this
I didn't care that you left and abandoned me
What hurts more is I would still die for you
Leave it up to me
To burn in you again
This one's not your fault
Please forgive me
Leave it up to me
To burning you again
This one's not your fault
Please forgive me
Leave it up to me
To burning you again
This one's not your fault
So forget, so forget, so forget me
And don't think back, don't think back on me at all
Just let me go
Don't think back, don't think back on me at all
Just let me go
Don't think back, don't think back on me at all
(Let me go)
Don't think back, don't think back on me at all
(Let me go)
Don't think back, don't think back on me at all
You can't pull me up from here, so don't try
I'm in a car underwater with time to kill
Thinking back I forgot to tell you this
I didn't care that you left and abandoned me
What hurts more is I would still die for you
I'm in a car underwater with time to kill
Thinking back I forgot to tell you this
I didn't care that you left and abandoned me
What hurts more is I would still die for you
I would still die for you
I would still die for you
And I would still die for you
I would still die for you
And I would still die for you
Call off the search, no one will know that I'm down here
Believe the note, I left for you
You can't turn back the clocks
You can't pull me up from here, so don't try
I'm in a car underwater with time to kill
Thinking back I forgot to tell you this:
I didn't care that you left and abandoned me,
What hurts more is I would still die for you
I'm in a car underwater with time to kill
Thinking back I forgot to tell you this:
I didn't care that you left and abandoned me,
What hurts more is I would still die for you
Make time slower
Give me longer
It's too late for me
No one will know that I'm down here
Believe your dreams of me sinking
So far below
You can't pull me up from here, so don't try
I'm in a car underwater with time to kill
Thinking back I forgot to tell you this
I didn't care that you left and abandoned me
What hurts more is I would still die for you, I'm in a car underwater with time to kill
Thinking back I forgot to tell you this
I didn't care that you left and abandoned me
What hurts more is I would still die for you
Leave it up to me
To burn in you again
This one's not your fault
Please forgive me
Leave it up to me
To burning you again
This one's not your fault
Please forgive me
Leave it up to me
To burning you again
This one's not your fault
So forget, so forget, so forget me
And don't think back, don't think back on me at all
Just let me go
Don't think back, don't think back on me at all
Just let me go
Don't think back, don't think back on me at all
(Let me go)
Don't think back, don't think back on me at all
(Let me go)
Don't think back, don't think back on me at all
You can't pull me up from here, so don't try
I'm in a car underwater with time to kill
Thinking back I forgot to tell you this
I didn't care that you left and abandoned me
What hurts more is I would still die for you
I'm in a car underwater with time to kill
Thinking back I forgot to tell you this
I didn't care that you left and abandoned me
What hurts more is I would still die for you
I would still die for you
I would still die for you
And I would still die for you
I would still die for you
And I would still die for you
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental 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.
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.
suicide because they don't love you, but you love them?
"Leave it up to me. To burden you again. "