"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 got troubles, Lord, but not today.
Cause they're gonna wash away.
They're gonna wash away.
And I have sins, Lord, but not today.
Cause they're gonna wash away.
They're gonna wash away.
And I had friends, Lord, but not today.
Cause they done; washed away.
They done; washed away.
And oh, I've been cryin'.
And oh, I've been cryin'.
And oh, no more cryin'.
And oh, no more cryin' here.
And we got lonely, Lord, but not today.
Cause we gonna wash away.
We gonna wash away.
And I got troubles, Lord, but not today.
Cause they're gonna wash away.
This old heart is gonna take them away.
Cause they're gonna wash away.
They're gonna wash away.
And I have sins, Lord, but not today.
Cause they're gonna wash away.
They're gonna wash away.
And I had friends, Lord, but not today.
Cause they done; washed away.
They done; washed away.
And oh, I've been cryin'.
And oh, I've been cryin'.
And oh, no more cryin'.
And oh, no more cryin' here.
And we got lonely, Lord, but not today.
Cause we gonna wash away.
We gonna wash away.
And I got troubles, Lord, but not today.
Cause they're gonna wash away.
This old heart is gonna take them away.
Lyrics submitted by lily(myoneandonly), edited by vaysym
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[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.
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.
Well, I'm not sure what it meant to Joe Purdy but I feel like I can relate to this song. My interpretation is that he's had all these trouble and he's lost friends and has sinned and he's just been miserable and crying but he's decided he's going to let his hurt go and I don't think it's about suicide. I think it's more about even though he has troubles he's going try and let go of them and be happy. I think it's more about overcoming his problems then the problems disappearing...and even though they are still there he was able to let go of them and be happy. well that's my take on it. Well, I love this song and it always makes me feel better.
i think it's just him saying all this crap is going on and he's been caring so much so now he's just going to turn himself off and take a step back from everything. just take a time out.
could easily be a suicide song, but i don't really think it is.
Heard this on lost as well. Surprised it's not more well known... It's hard to tell whether this is a happy or sad song, the music itself cheers me up but theres some sad element to it as well...
It isn't "We get along Lord, but not today"
He is saying "We get lonely Lord, but not today"
basically, its about finding the strength to move on. the song lists all of the things he has in his life, but now are "wash[ing] away"-- he is moving on from these various aspects.
i dont think this song is about suicide at all. i think its about how even when times are bad you can just enjoy a moment or a day: "i got troubles Lord, but not today". its forgetting your troubles for a moment and just enjoying yourself. i also think this was the intention when the song was used in Lost, even though they were in a really bad situation, in that moment everything was ok
They played this song on the end of the third episode of lost. The song is so shiney!
yeh, i think that it is a good song, i saw it on lost too, i really like it. I dunno why it isn't bigger then it is.
Excellent song! Reminds me very much of Jack Johnson. I heard it on Lost too, I like being introduced to music via. TV shows, there's some good stuff I'd never hear otherwise!
And Lost is a great show :)
This is an amazing song! i heard it on lost to! i think it should be really popular!