"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.
If It Starts to Feel, Then we'll just shut it off again.
We won't convince the Jury, we're guilty till we die.
If It starts to sing,
Reach in remove the sirens,
This respirator keeps a countdown to our cancellation.
If It Starts to Bleed do not adjust the contrast.
Doctor, deliver us.
Heaven holds no truth for dreamers like you and I.
Remember the day they cut our throughts we learned to smile from our necks.
This is the breech of etiquette with wires jutting out from arms.
I'll never look at you again, if its only a mirror in the end
And if there's no one after us, we'll turn the lights out when we leave.
I'll never look at you again, if its only a mirror, we're guilty till we die
I'll never look
We're guilty till we die.
I'll never look at you, till we die.
Siphon the Ivory with the tusk, we're guilty till we die.
We only bleed when knives are drawn.
Vultures pick the meat from the bones. we're guilty till we die.
We only love when the camera's on.
If it starts to feel, then we'll just shut it off again.
We won't convince the Jury. we're guilty till we die.
If it starts to feel, then we'll just shut it off again.
We won't convince the Jury, we're guilty till we die.
Do not adjust the contrast, my love our days are numbered.
We'll remain guilty till our hearts give in and pull us under.
We left our corpses on the beach, untouched and slightly out of reach.
We paint the wall's with our dream's.
We'll turn the lights out when we leave
We won't convince the Jury, we're guilty till we die.
If It starts to sing,
Reach in remove the sirens,
This respirator keeps a countdown to our cancellation.
If It Starts to Bleed do not adjust the contrast.
Doctor, deliver us.
Heaven holds no truth for dreamers like you and I.
Remember the day they cut our throughts we learned to smile from our necks.
This is the breech of etiquette with wires jutting out from arms.
I'll never look at you again, if its only a mirror in the end
And if there's no one after us, we'll turn the lights out when we leave.
I'll never look at you again, if its only a mirror, we're guilty till we die
I'll never look
We're guilty till we die.
I'll never look at you, till we die.
Siphon the Ivory with the tusk, we're guilty till we die.
We only bleed when knives are drawn.
Vultures pick the meat from the bones. we're guilty till we die.
We only love when the camera's on.
If it starts to feel, then we'll just shut it off again.
We won't convince the Jury. we're guilty till we die.
If it starts to feel, then we'll just shut it off again.
We won't convince the Jury, we're guilty till we die.
Do not adjust the contrast, my love our days are numbered.
We'll remain guilty till our hearts give in and pull us under.
We left our corpses on the beach, untouched and slightly out of reach.
We paint the wall's with our dream's.
We'll turn the lights out when we leave
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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,
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.
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/
My favorite. It's absolutely beautiful.