"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'm waiting for the train
Subway that only goes one way
Stupid thing that will come, pull us apart
Make everybody late
Well, you spent everything you had
Wanted everything to stop that bad
Now I'm a crushed credit card registered to Smith
Not the name that you call me with
You turned white like a saint
I'm tired of dancin' on this pot of gold flake paint
Oh, we're so very precious, you and I
And everything that you do makes me want to die
Oh, I just told the biggest lie
Oh, I just told the biggest lie
The biggest lie
Subway that only goes one way
Stupid thing that will come, pull us apart
Make everybody late
Well, you spent everything you had
Wanted everything to stop that bad
Now I'm a crushed credit card registered to Smith
Not the name that you call me with
You turned white like a saint
I'm tired of dancin' on this pot of gold flake paint
Oh, we're so very precious, you and I
And everything that you do makes me want to die
Oh, I just told the biggest lie
Oh, I just told the biggest lie
The biggest lie
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
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,
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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/
If you like bright eyes, you should definately be an elliott smith fan. He poors out even more emotion into his music than bright eyes yet still sings in the same dark/emotional style. Some good tunes would be Pitseleh, The Biggest Lie, 2:45 am, and Ballad of a Big Nothing. It's hard to rate songs by bands who put out an emotional ballad for pretty much every song but for bright eyes and elliott that seems to be the case. Have some easy listening and enjoy : )
absolutely. if you like bright eyes and don't like elliott smith, there's something wrong with you. as much as i love bright eyes, elliott smith totally kicks conor's ass.
I worship Elliott Smith and Love Conor Oberst. But Conor cant compare to elliott, Elliott is god.
I agree that the Elliott Smith original version of this song is far better than the cover but with all due respect to Conor this was a pretty informal cover.
Even though I think most Bright Eyes fans should at the very least have an appreciation for Elliott Smith's music even if he is not their favorite musician and visa versa I can't agree that Elliott far surpassed Conor as a song writer. Elliott had some very touching songs and perhaps his lyrics were more authentic and candid but Conor writes each of his songs like an intricate story or poem. You can find themes in albums and songs that bind them together like a puzzle. I think he's really a unique artist in that way. Elliott's lyrics are more simplistic and even though there is beauty in simplicity when it came to skills in craftmanship Conor has him beat!
Smith's lyrics are a lot more nuanced and more complex than Conor's.
I don't like that I posted that. It was childish to do so. whatevs
If the Motion Sickness album wasn't so good, Oberst butchering this cover would be unforgivable. It is hard to compare artists, but I feel that Elliott and Oberst are comparable. Both have have folk roots and dark lyrics with a sunny disposition. Bright Eyes puts up a good fight but Elliott is a god.
Bloody amazing. I love Bright Eyes and Elliott Smith, but I have to say I do prefer the Bright Eyes version.
The bit where Conor sings "Oh we're so very precious you and I, And everything that you do makes me wanna die," sends shivers up my spine :)
But yeah, Bright Eyes fans should definately look into Elliott Smith ...
ive not heard the bright eyes version yet, but elliott smith is probably my favourite artist. His songwriting abilities are one of a kind.
perfect.
no lies.
elliot smith-rose parade beautiful song
The Elliott Smith version really outclasses this one, but Conor doesn't do a bad job.