"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 bit my tongue
I never talked too much
I tried to be so strong
I did my best
I used the gentle touch
I've done it for so long
You put me down
But I can laugh it off
And act like nothing's wrong
But why pretend?
I think I've heard enough
Of your familiar song
I'll tell you what I'm gonna do
I'll try to take my mind off you
And now that you don't need my help
I'll use the time to think about myself
You're not aware
Of what you put me through
And now the feeling's gone
But I don't mind
Do what you have to do
You don't fool anyone
I'll tell you what I'm gonna do
I'll take a different point of view
And now that you don't need my help
I'll use the time to think about myself
The definition of friendship
Apparently you're to be
Showing support for the one that you love
And I was open to friendship
But you didn't seem to have any to spare
While you were riding to Vanity Fair
There was a time
When every day was young
The sun would always shine
I was alone
When all the songs were sung
Relieving every line
That's the trouble with friendship
Someone to feel and it has to be real
Or it wouldn't be right
I keep hoping for friendship
But I wouldn't dare to presume it was there
While you were riding to Vanity Fair
While you were riding to Vanity Fair
While you were riding to Vanity Fair
While you were riding to Vanity Fair
I never talked too much
I tried to be so strong
I did my best
I used the gentle touch
I've done it for so long
You put me down
But I can laugh it off
And act like nothing's wrong
But why pretend?
I think I've heard enough
Of your familiar song
I'll tell you what I'm gonna do
I'll try to take my mind off you
And now that you don't need my help
I'll use the time to think about myself
You're not aware
Of what you put me through
And now the feeling's gone
But I don't mind
Do what you have to do
You don't fool anyone
I'll tell you what I'm gonna do
I'll take a different point of view
And now that you don't need my help
I'll use the time to think about myself
The definition of friendship
Apparently you're to be
Showing support for the one that you love
And I was open to friendship
But you didn't seem to have any to spare
While you were riding to Vanity Fair
There was a time
When every day was young
The sun would always shine
I was alone
When all the songs were sung
Relieving every line
That's the trouble with friendship
Someone to feel and it has to be real
Or it wouldn't be right
I keep hoping for friendship
But I wouldn't dare to presume it was there
While you were riding to Vanity Fair
While you were riding to Vanity Fair
While you were riding to Vanity Fair
While you were riding to Vanity Fair
Lyrics submitted by Cherub Rock
Riding To Vanity Fair Lyrics as written by Paul James Mccartney
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
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.
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.
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.
I agree with Tweeze. Very unlikely that John's ghost popped up on this song, but since they were the Beatles, it's easy to go with that. Like Foo Fighters and the supposed Cobain references in their songs, with due respect to the obvious differences between those two.
I don't think that it might be Heather, though. Would he be speaking of "friendship" in such a case? And I think that they were still together by the time he wrote this.
Anyway, this song is just plain amazing, and proof positive of Paul's multiple talents as a musician. Godrich's production is haunting, I love the use of the string section here, subdued and dramatic, that great glockenspiel bit notwithstanding!
One of my favorites from him.