"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 said howdy there lady
This sure is some party
I've never seen anything
Like this before
She said howdy there honey
It's just barely started
If you think this is something
Just stand here some more
Then she looked at me
Then she laughed at me
Then she lifted her glass to me
And the rest they say is history
I said that girl in the corner
She looks so pretty
Oh the girls all around her
She makes 'em look plain
Lady I need a drink
Can I bring you another
I'm hoping these bubbles
They might know her name
Well she looked at me
Then she laughed at me
Then she handed her glass to me
And the rest they say is history
But when I returned
Champagne in my hands
There stood two strangers
Where we both did stand
And the lady was gone
And the evening wore on
And the girl in the corner
Was never alone
But she looked at me
Then she smiled at me
Then she turned her eyes away from me
And the rest they say is history
Tim he was tall
And Susan was smart
And Francis she looked
Like a fine work of art
Melissa was sad
But that made her sweet
And Dan and Elaine
Had the world at their feet
Debra had Pliny
Lisa had Tony
And the girl in the corner
She could've had anybody
Richard was cool
And Tubb he was funny
And the tarot card lady
She had everyone's money
So I said my goodbyes
When it came time to leave
And as I walked out
Someone pulled at my sleeve
She said honey we never did officially meet
But I sure am happy you came
She said that girl in the corner
She's more than pre
This sure is some party
I've never seen anything
Like this before
She said howdy there honey
It's just barely started
If you think this is something
Just stand here some more
Then she looked at me
Then she laughed at me
Then she lifted her glass to me
And the rest they say is history
I said that girl in the corner
She looks so pretty
Oh the girls all around her
She makes 'em look plain
Lady I need a drink
Can I bring you another
I'm hoping these bubbles
They might know her name
Well she looked at me
Then she laughed at me
Then she handed her glass to me
And the rest they say is history
But when I returned
Champagne in my hands
There stood two strangers
Where we both did stand
And the lady was gone
And the evening wore on
And the girl in the corner
Was never alone
But she looked at me
Then she smiled at me
Then she turned her eyes away from me
And the rest they say is history
Tim he was tall
And Susan was smart
And Francis she looked
Like a fine work of art
Melissa was sad
But that made her sweet
And Dan and Elaine
Had the world at their feet
Debra had Pliny
Lisa had Tony
And the girl in the corner
She could've had anybody
Richard was cool
And Tubb he was funny
And the tarot card lady
She had everyone's money
So I said my goodbyes
When it came time to leave
And as I walked out
Someone pulled at my sleeve
She said honey we never did officially meet
But I sure am happy you came
She said that girl in the corner
She's more than pre
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
When We Were Young
Blink-182
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This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
I've always assumed that the girl in the corner was Julia Roberts, but would like to know who the woman was to whom he said "Howdy."