"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 bongo with my lingo and beat it like a wing yo
To congo to Colombo can't stereotype my thing yo
I salt and pepper my mango shoot spit out the window
Bingo I got them in the thing yo now what? I'm doing my thing yo
Quit bending all my fingo quit beating me like you're ringo
You wanna go? you wanna win the war?
Like P.L.O. I won't surrender
The sun showers that fall on my troubles
Are over you my baby
And some showers I'll be aiming at you
'Cause I'm watching you my baby
I bongo with my lingo and eat it like a wing yo
To congo to Colombo can't stereotype my thing yo
I checked that mouth on him fucking checked that gas on him
I had him, cornered him
Fucking shut that gate on him
Why would you listen to him?
He had his way I'm bored of him
I'm tired of him
I don't wanna be as bad as him
It's a bomb yo so run yo
Put away your stupid gun yo
'Cause we see through like a protocol call
That's why we blow it up' fore we go
The sun showers that fall on my troubles
Are over you my baby
And some showers I'll be aiming at you
'Cause I'm watching you my baby
The sun showers that fall on my troubles
Are over you my baby
And some showers I'll be aiming at you
'Cause I'm watching you my baby
Semi-9 and snipered him
On that wall they posted him
They cornered him
And then just murdered him
He told them he didn't know them
He wasn't there, they didn't know him
They showed him a picture then
Ain't that you with the Muslims?
He had Colgate on his teeth and Reebok classics on his feet
At the factory he does Nike and then helps the family
Beat heart beat he's made it to the news week
Sweetheart seen it
He's done it for the peeps. peace.
The sun showers that fall on my troubles
Are over you my baby
And some showers I'll be aiming at you
'Cause I'm watching you my baby
The sun showers that fall on my troubles
Are over you my baby
And some showers I'll be aiming at you
'Cause I'm watching you my baby
To congo to Colombo can't stereotype my thing yo
I salt and pepper my mango shoot spit out the window
Bingo I got them in the thing yo now what? I'm doing my thing yo
Quit bending all my fingo quit beating me like you're ringo
You wanna go? you wanna win the war?
Like P.L.O. I won't surrender
The sun showers that fall on my troubles
Are over you my baby
And some showers I'll be aiming at you
'Cause I'm watching you my baby
I bongo with my lingo and eat it like a wing yo
To congo to Colombo can't stereotype my thing yo
I checked that mouth on him fucking checked that gas on him
I had him, cornered him
Fucking shut that gate on him
Why would you listen to him?
He had his way I'm bored of him
I'm tired of him
I don't wanna be as bad as him
It's a bomb yo so run yo
Put away your stupid gun yo
'Cause we see through like a protocol call
That's why we blow it up' fore we go
The sun showers that fall on my troubles
Are over you my baby
And some showers I'll be aiming at you
'Cause I'm watching you my baby
The sun showers that fall on my troubles
Are over you my baby
And some showers I'll be aiming at you
'Cause I'm watching you my baby
Semi-9 and snipered him
On that wall they posted him
They cornered him
And then just murdered him
He told them he didn't know them
He wasn't there, they didn't know him
They showed him a picture then
Ain't that you with the Muslims?
He had Colgate on his teeth and Reebok classics on his feet
At the factory he does Nike and then helps the family
Beat heart beat he's made it to the news week
Sweetheart seen it
He's done it for the peeps. peace.
The sun showers that fall on my troubles
Are over you my baby
And some showers I'll be aiming at you
'Cause I'm watching you my baby
The sun showers that fall on my troubles
Are over you my baby
And some showers I'll be aiming at you
'Cause I'm watching you my baby
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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,
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
The P.L.O is the Palestine Liberation Organization........Mtv refuses to play this music video just because of her reference that they will never surrender.
How lame.
That's a pretty damn reason to ban a song don't you think?
its autobiographical deifnetely...i think it describes what her dad was involved in...she had a rough childhood
I have a feeling that this may be about her cousin that was a suicide bomber in Sri Lanka. She's mentioned him in alot of interviews and did a documentary on trying to find him where she went back to Sri Lanka only to find that he was already dead.
I fucking love this song. It makes me want to learn about Sri Lankan politics. I wish I knew more. M.I.A.= the only rap CD I've bought...basically ever.
Colombo is the Capital of Sri Lanka, where Maya's parents are from. Her father is/was invovled with the Tamil liberation effort in Sri Lanka. This song is somewhat terroristic, though the Tamils state they are looking for peaceful means to liberation and fair treatment.
love it! her voice is awesome. the lyrics don
t mean much to me, but its a good song to run to. hah.autobiographical i feel. my favorite m.i.a song. amazing sound. so unique .
This song is sort of heartbreaking at the end when he get's caught, 'he's doing it for the peeps...'
It's really great how she's able to combine this very serious stuff with outright party music, the only thing I can compare it to is classic period Public Enemy.
Check out the awesome Piracy Funds Terrorism version of this song, it uses the beat to Salt n Peppa's Push It.
a boy trying to help his family through the war-ish times i guess, man this song has a great beat,, its so different than anything else, when i first heard it i thought it was awful but its deffinitly grows on you.
It's not rap, fools!