In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Realising a form out of stone
Set hands moving
Roan shaped his heart
Through his working hands
Work to mold his passion into clay, like the sun
In his room, his lady
She would dance and sing so completely
So be still he now cries
I have time, oh let clay transform thee so
In the deep cold of night
Winter calls, he cries "Don't deny me!"
For his lady, deep her illness
Time has caught her
And will for all reasons take her
In the still light of dawn, she dies
Helpless hands soul revealing
Like leaves we touch we learn
We once knew the story
As winter calls he will starve
All but to see the stone be life
Now Roan, no more tears
Set to work his strength
So transformed him
Realising a form out of stone, his work
So absorbed him
Could she hear him?
Could she see him?
All aglow was his room dazed in this light
He would touch her
He would hold her
Laughing as they danced
Highest colors touching others
Did her eyes at the turn of the century
Tell me plainly
When we meet, how we'll love, oh let life so transform me
Like leaves we touched we danced
We once knew the story
As autumn called and we both
Remembered all those many years ago
I'm sure we know
Was the sign with a touch
As I kiss your fingers
We walk hands in the sun
Memories when we're young
Love lingers so
Was it sun through the haze
That made all your looks
As warm as moonlight?
As a pearl deep in your eyes
Tears have flown away
All the same light
Did her eyes at the turn of the century
Tell me plainly
When we meet how we'll look
As we smile time will leave me clearly
Like leaves we touch, we see
We will know the story
As autumn calls we'll both remember
All those many years ago
Set hands moving
Roan shaped his heart
Through his working hands
Work to mold his passion into clay, like the sun
In his room, his lady
She would dance and sing so completely
So be still he now cries
I have time, oh let clay transform thee so
In the deep cold of night
Winter calls, he cries "Don't deny me!"
For his lady, deep her illness
Time has caught her
And will for all reasons take her
In the still light of dawn, she dies
Helpless hands soul revealing
Like leaves we touch we learn
We once knew the story
As winter calls he will starve
All but to see the stone be life
Now Roan, no more tears
Set to work his strength
So transformed him
Realising a form out of stone, his work
So absorbed him
Could she hear him?
Could she see him?
All aglow was his room dazed in this light
He would touch her
He would hold her
Laughing as they danced
Highest colors touching others
Did her eyes at the turn of the century
Tell me plainly
When we meet, how we'll love, oh let life so transform me
Like leaves we touched we danced
We once knew the story
As autumn called and we both
Remembered all those many years ago
I'm sure we know
Was the sign with a touch
As I kiss your fingers
We walk hands in the sun
Memories when we're young
Love lingers so
Was it sun through the haze
That made all your looks
As warm as moonlight?
As a pearl deep in your eyes
Tears have flown away
All the same light
Did her eyes at the turn of the century
Tell me plainly
When we meet how we'll look
As we smile time will leave me clearly
Like leaves we touch, we see
We will know the story
As autumn calls we'll both remember
All those many years ago
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"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.
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In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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Yo La Tengo
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Great version of a great song,
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
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what a masterpiece just like preety much every other yes song I mean this band gives the best of the best a run for their money! highly underrated song well at least on this site it is. :( I know this is my new fav song by this legendary band!
@floydian18 Steve Howe said that this was his favorite Yes song.