"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.
At night we crossed the border following a Black robe
To the edge of the reservation—to Cataldo Mission
Where the saints and all the martyrs look down on dying converts
What makes the water holy she says is that that it’s the closest thing to rain
I stole a mule from Anthony—I helped Anne up upon it
And we rode to Coeur d’Alene—through Harrison and Wallace
They were blasting out the tunnels—making way for the light of learning
When Jesus comes a’calling she said he’s coming round the mountain on a train
It’s my home—last night I dreamt that I grew wings
I found a place where they could hear me when I sing
We floated on to Hanford on a lumber boat up river
Past the fisheries and the milltowns like a stretch of future graveyards
She was driven to distraction—said I wonder what will happen
When they find out they’re mistaken and the land is too changed to ever change
We waded through the marketplace—someone’s ship had come in
There was silver and begonias—dynamite and cattle
There were hearts as big as apples and apples in the shape of Mary’s heart
I said inside this gilded cage a songbird always looks so plain
It’s my home—last night I dreamt that I grew wings
I found a place where they could hear me when I sing.
And so they came with cameras—breaking through the morning mist
Press and businessmen—tycoons—Episcopal philanthropists
Lost in their appraisal of the body of a woman
But all we saw were lowlands—clouds clung to mountains without strings
And at last we saw some people huddled up against
The rain that was descending like railroad spikes and hammers
They were headed for the border—walking and then running
Then they were gone into the fog but Anne said underneath their jackets she saw wings
To the edge of the reservation—to Cataldo Mission
Where the saints and all the martyrs look down on dying converts
What makes the water holy she says is that that it’s the closest thing to rain
I stole a mule from Anthony—I helped Anne up upon it
And we rode to Coeur d’Alene—through Harrison and Wallace
They were blasting out the tunnels—making way for the light of learning
When Jesus comes a’calling she said he’s coming round the mountain on a train
It’s my home—last night I dreamt that I grew wings
I found a place where they could hear me when I sing
We floated on to Hanford on a lumber boat up river
Past the fisheries and the milltowns like a stretch of future graveyards
She was driven to distraction—said I wonder what will happen
When they find out they’re mistaken and the land is too changed to ever change
We waded through the marketplace—someone’s ship had come in
There was silver and begonias—dynamite and cattle
There were hearts as big as apples and apples in the shape of Mary’s heart
I said inside this gilded cage a songbird always looks so plain
It’s my home—last night I dreamt that I grew wings
I found a place where they could hear me when I sing.
And so they came with cameras—breaking through the morning mist
Press and businessmen—tycoons—Episcopal philanthropists
Lost in their appraisal of the body of a woman
But all we saw were lowlands—clouds clung to mountains without strings
And at last we saw some people huddled up against
The rain that was descending like railroad spikes and hammers
They were headed for the border—walking and then running
Then they were gone into the fog but Anne said underneath their jackets she saw wings
Lyrics submitted by geekusa
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Cajun Girl
Little Feat
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Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
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.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced 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.
It's about the historical exploitation of the West and the people who developed it. Set in Ritter's home state of Idaho (Anthony, Coeur d'Alene, Harrison, Wallace, and the Cataldo Mission are all in North Idaho) As the protagonist travels from East to West, he also travels in time (to Hanford, on the Columbia River, a nuclear waste site) In the end the "people" escape into obscurity - but with the saving grace of wings which they may use to ascend (or transcend) their history. Or not.
This is certainly a song of the American Northwest, and it has always evoked for me the period of the Klondike gold rush, 1897 - 99, when Seattle experienced a boom as the jumping off point for the would-be miners. The journey for Anne and the singer may start on one of the Montana reservations, takes them through the the- bustling silver mining town of Wallace, Idaho, down to Coeur d'Alene and Cataldo Mission, eventually to the Columbia River and Hanford (now a the site of severely polluted nuclear remains) and on the the "market" -- Seattle -- and eventually up to the main access to the gold fields over the Chilkoot/White Pass trail. There are iconic pictures of a line of people -- hundreds, thousands -- snaking up a steep, snow-covered trail, miles long, the further reaches obscured by fog and snow. Perhaps Anne could see, under their coats, wings. As for the song, it is to me a lyrical masterpiece. I suppose it works for me because it sees, even in the most desperate human situations, the opportunity for transcendence. Thank you Josh.
I believe this is one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard. The lyric is amazing and it has some of the rolling power of early Leonard Cohen songs. I can offer no higher accolade.
sadly, I've never been able to really understand this song.
What makes the water holy she says is that that it’s the closest thing to rain
I adore that.
Am I the only one who see's The Ghost of Tom Joad in this?
Great song. It's used as the opening quote in Dennis Lehane's new book, The Given Day. Free plug.
Is there a story behind the song?
I think this song is about the trail of tears. They leave the reservation and talk about 'this guided cage' and 'the land is to change forever change.' Not to mention the main chorus about wings. I'm not sure but someone mentioned this and I think it fits.
It's not about the trail of tears. All of the locations in the song are in North Idaho, Josh's home state. It's about environmental exploitation and historical abuse of the Native Americans and a lot of other things set in a very dreamy landscape.
This is ChatGPT's effort (getting both the artist and the name of the song wrong):
The lyrics are from the song "Coeur d'Alene" by singer-songwriter Peter Mayer. The song tells the story of a journey with Anne, who is searching for a place where she feels she belongs. The lyrics describe a journey through various locations, including a Native American reservation and a mission, where Anne questions the meaning of religion and spirituality. The song also describes the landscape and the people encountered along the way. The final line, "underneath their jackets she saw wings," suggests that Anne has found a sense of hope and belonging, even in the midst of hardship and uncertainty.