"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.
Oh, ooh
The pig's spitting taxes and unwanted tasks
We say
Send me to the battle, please sir, ah ah
Send me to the battle, please sir, ah
Oh, ooh
Chicago is dancing in xylophone laughter
They say, burn this, burn this, burn this fucker down, down, down
Burn this motherfucker down
Would you please, please speak up?
I can't hear with these clouds in my ears
The system's down, doubt we'll get through
Send the money for
Oh, ooh
The horse has been taken
Runs clubs in the pasture
They say, burn this, burn this, burn this fucker down, down, down
Burn this motherfucker down
Would you please, please speak up?
I can't hear with these clouds in my ears, ooh
They're singing, ooh
They're singing, ooh
They're singing
The system's down, doubt we'll get through
Send the money for the caterpillars to entertain
System's down, doubt we'll get through
Send the money for the caterpillars to entertain
System's down, doubt we'll get through
Send the money for the caterpillars to entertain
System's down, I doubt we'll get through
Send the money for the caterpillars to entertain
System's down, doubt we'll get through
Send the money for the caterpillars to entertain
System's down, I doubt we'll get through
Send the money for the caterpillars to entertain
The pig's spitting taxes and unwanted tasks
We say
Send me to the battle, please sir, ah ah
Send me to the battle, please sir, ah
Oh, ooh
Chicago is dancing in xylophone laughter
They say, burn this, burn this, burn this fucker down, down, down
Burn this motherfucker down
Would you please, please speak up?
I can't hear with these clouds in my ears
The system's down, doubt we'll get through
Send the money for
Oh, ooh
The horse has been taken
Runs clubs in the pasture
They say, burn this, burn this, burn this fucker down, down, down
Burn this motherfucker down
Would you please, please speak up?
I can't hear with these clouds in my ears, ooh
They're singing, ooh
They're singing, ooh
They're singing
The system's down, doubt we'll get through
Send the money for the caterpillars to entertain
System's down, doubt we'll get through
Send the money for the caterpillars to entertain
System's down, doubt we'll get through
Send the money for the caterpillars to entertain
System's down, I doubt we'll get through
Send the money for the caterpillars to entertain
System's down, doubt we'll get through
Send the money for the caterpillars to entertain
System's down, I doubt we'll get through
Send the money for the caterpillars to entertain
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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,
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.
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/
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
A lengthier lyrical submission.... ~-~-~-~-~ Ohhhhhh, oh oh ohh ohh The pig's spitting taxes and unwanted tasks He says, "Send me to the battle place" ah ah "Send me to the battle place" ah ah
Ohhhhhh, oh oh ohh ohh
Chicago is dancing in xylophone laughter Burn this burn this burn this fucker down down down Burn this mother fucker down
Please, please, speak up I can't hear with these clouds in my ears Systems down, tied, we'll get through Send the money for...
Ohhhhhh, oh oh ohh ohh
The horse has been taken Runs clubs in the pasture Burn this burn this burn this fucker down down down Burn this mother fucker down
Please, please speak up I can't hear with these clouds in my ears Ooohh ooh ooh ooh ooh They're singing... ooohh ooh ooh ooh They're singing...
Systems are tied, we'll get through Send money for the catepillars to entertain
Systems are tied, we'll get through Send money for the catepillars to entertain
Systems are tied, we'll get through Send money for the catepillars to entertain (Systems are gonna tie, we'll get through it all So send your money oh oh, for the catepillars to entertain) X4 ~-~-~-~-~
Nice flame getfasterer. Anyway, yes, it could be drugs, though I like where sweater was going.
Besides, when did music need to have an absolute meaning? It's how we interpret it and choose to understand it (as outlandish as the meaning might seem).
Favorite song on the album. I'm yet to look into it, I will and post my out look when I get a chance.
hmm i'm thinking this song is about government corruption
is this not the most catchy sound u've ever heard
i think this song is just a statement on the war, or war in general. the line "send me to the battle please sir!" is a pretty obvious tip in that direction, but there are a few other such references.
"the pig's spitting taxes and unwanted tasks" i'm sure most of you are aware how frequently pigs are used as symbols for officials, especially corrupt ones. see Animal Farm, or the song Pigs by Pink Floyd, or the song War Pigs by Black Sabbath. and he's spitting taxes, which the people have to pay to finance the war.
the image of a city burning, not necessarily Chicago, is a pretty powerful piece of imagery associated with war.
"send your money for the caterpillars to entertain" this line sounds like nonsense at first, but.. the treads of tanks are commonly referred to as caterpillar treads. it could be a metaphor for "support the troops" donations and increased taxation going to finance tanks which then go out and "burn the motherfuckers down"
of course I could be completely wrong. but anybody care to add to this?
Well, living in Chicago, and with the references to Chicago and taxes, I'd agree with poweroff with the corruption in government.
to add to sweatersdotcom... -the pig=the government -We say, "send me to the battle please sir!" [people are still eager to risk their lives in war for their country] -everyone (including those in chicago?) celebrates the killing of foreign enemies. -the listener is asked to speak up [protest] because so many people have their heads in the clouds and cant see whats really going on. -the system's down i doubt we'll get through [the way the public thinks isnt right and its hard to change that] -people make donations to support the war as everyone celebrates -and im kinda stumped by the last two lines. help me out.
the pig could also be a more specific as to Bush.
i asked John Gourley the meaning of the song at a show and he said it was about the chicago fire.
thanks george orwell. animal farm anyone?? book is about government corruption, played out by animals. the pigs in the novel are the once righteous leaders who eventually become more and more humanlike and eventually morph into power-hungry dictators. the animals attempt to build a windmill, but it gets blown up, and consequently, burns down. ...maybe not a perfect match, but the parallels are somewhat undeniable.