"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.
He was leading us through the dark
He was sayin' that "love goes on"
I was wanting some "ice cream"
He knew exactly what I meant
From the drivers seat in the dark
He popped a tape in the dash of his car
And when the singer started to scream
I knew exactly what he meant
I never knew for sure, what a wonderful man he was
What a sensuous man he was
What a marvelous man he was
Why do we love what is wrong?
Big devil told us to sing along
And like a loving flock we obey, except for him
He went his own way
I never knew for sure, what a wonderful man he was
'Til the day I found out his cause
Was to do it for all of us
He was sayin' that "love goes on"
I was wanting some "ice cream"
He knew exactly what I meant
From the drivers seat in the dark
He popped a tape in the dash of his car
And when the singer started to scream
I knew exactly what he meant
I never knew for sure, what a wonderful man he was
What a sensuous man he was
What a marvelous man he was
Why do we love what is wrong?
Big devil told us to sing along
And like a loving flock we obey, except for him
He went his own way
I never knew for sure, what a wonderful man he was
'Til the day I found out his cause
Was to do it for all of us
Lyrics submitted by positive_tension
What a Wonderful Man Lyrics as written by James Olliges Jr
Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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/
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
I read somewhere that Jimmy wrote this song for a deceased friend of his that had killed himself. He wrote it because he was sick of hearing sad songs about dead people especially since there are always good things to remember about them. He wanted to write a kinda tribute that celebrated his friend..
This was all in magazine I read which had an interview with MMJ's front man.. He said something that stuck with me: He said that depressed people are put on anti depressants too soon and that no-one should ever feel that life is so bad that they have to take they're own life. He said, if things get real low, move town, leave the country, start again, do anything but don't go kill yourself. Makes sense doesn't it!
I have a very rare, special & unique insight into this song. I know many people involved both personally & loosely as acquaintances. It is abt a friend who died. He had several clandestine, discreet, NSA homosexual relationships when straight men, curious, experimenting or just horny.<br /> First off, these lyrics are wrong in VERY bad ways! A closer look @ what is actually said tells a far more revealing picture about the relationship btwn Jimmy & his dead friend & possibly why he committed suicide. This together w/ other songs talks about Jimmy's homosexual exploration. Only in the lyrics, it is reminiscent of Morrissey's "Come Back to Camden" (also about gay exploration among straight working men) where he also says, "I knew, I just knew" & here Jimmy's saying, "I knew exactly what he meant" & "I wanted ice cream, he knew exactly what i meant" Even the scenario MMJ paints of two guys driving in a car listing to music & interpreting for deeper meaning...a little gay I say- which is ok & even cool! "he lead us through the dark (sexual exploration)...love goes on (evolves & can be more than man & woman- it can be man & man) "I was wanting some ice cream, he knew exactly what I meant" (Not only is Jimmy saying he needed to "cool dwn" cuz' he was getting "too hot" thus, wanting ice cream. As for the double entendre, I'll let u do the research about what this references. Check Urban Dictionary Gay Terms- but its GAY! Trust me!) The references to the devilishness & how they go along for a while, but then his friend goes his own way. By go his own way I think MMJ says he couldn't reconcile his perceived "Evil Urges" (the title of the following album) & committed suicide "I knew for sure" (that his frnd was gay; they had sex) The lyrics above INCORRECTLY say he says "NEVER knew..." That's just wrong & that changes the message in a MAJOR way "the day I found out his cause" (suicide resulting frm gay shame. MMJ endorses the Tyler Clemte Memorial the Trevor Project) Also, "he did it for all of us" is saying his suicide was to protect others from scandal & disgrace. MAJOR OMISSIONS in these lyrics include "What a sensuous Man!" @ 1:30 in the song. Also another MAJOR & VERY TELLING OMISSIONS are the last words of the song. Then the song's final words "A beast to suck him off! YEAH!!!" I encourage everybody to back & look @ much of MMJ's work. Its very progressive & discusses @ the very least flirting w/ homosexuality. And, not in a black & white sorta' way. Human emotions, attractions & sexuality is FAR more complex than gay/str8/bi. At different points in life those distinctions blur for a multitude of personal reasons. MMJ puts that to art & music & encourages us to explore through dialogue- IF you can interpret the lyrics & their intentions properly. Here are the corrected lyrics:<br /> <br /> He was leading us thru the dark. <br /> He was sayin' that "love goes on." <br /> I was wanting some "ice cream." <br /> He knew exactly what I meant. <br /> From the driver's seat in the dark. He popped a tape in the dash of his car. <br /> And when the singer started to scream. <br /> I knew exactly what he meant. <br /> I never knew for sure, what a wonderful man he was. <br /> What a sensible man he was. <br /> What a wonderful man he was.<br /> I knew for sure,<br /> what a wonderful man he was. <br /> What a sensuous man he was. <br /> What a wonderful man he was. <br /> Why do we love what is wrong? <br /> big devil told us to sing along. <br /> And like a loving flock we obey, <br /> except 4 him, he went his own way. <br /> I knew for sure, what a wonderful man he was. <br /> Till the day I found out his cause, was to do it for all of us<br /> a beast to suck him off