"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 still remember that night, It was the fourth of July.
It's still engraved in my mind and I'm not suprised.
Gang wars, no guns, hand to hand.
You're black. I'm white, he's purple.
But I still don't understand.
I'm going to be alright. I'm going to be okay
Everything is going to be fine
Back off. I want to be alone
I want to think it out and
I'm thinking that I want to go home.
Look who's laughing now. I'll pull it off somehow.
As I passed her by, I could see her cry.
And I'll never forget the look that was in her eye
And the music you know it played on and on and on
So won't somebody tap her on the shoulder tell her life goes on.
Three years, two months, one week, four days
I'm always counting down because there ain't no easier way.
Trust me you know that I tried
and if I said it was easy then you know that I told a lie.
I'm going to be alright. I'm going to be just fine.
One down, five billion to go. Am I the next in line,
And do I really want to know?
Look who's laughing now. I'll pull it off somehow.
As I passed her by, I could see her cry.
And I'll never forget the look that was in her eye
And the music you know it played on & and on & on
So won't somebody tap her on the shoulder tell her life goes on.
I still remember that night, It was the fourth of July.
It's still engraved in my mind and I'm not suprised.
Gang wars, no guns, hand to hand.
You're black. I'm white, he's purple.
But I still don't understand.
I'm going to be alright. I'm going to be okay
Everything is going to be fine
Back off. I want to be alone
I want to think it out and
I'm thinking that I want to go
Three years, two months, one week, four days
I'm always counting down because there ain't no easier way.
Trust me you know that I tried
and if I said it was easy then you know that I told a lie.
I'm going to be alright. I'm going to be just fine.
One down, five billion to go. Am I the next in line,
And do I really want to know?
Look who's laughing now. I'll pull it off somehow.
As I passed her by, I could see her cry.
And I'll never forget the look that was in her eye
And the music you know it played on & and on & on
So won't somebody tap her on the shoulder tell her life goes on.
It's still engraved in my mind and I'm not suprised.
Gang wars, no guns, hand to hand.
You're black. I'm white, he's purple.
But I still don't understand.
I'm going to be alright. I'm going to be okay
Everything is going to be fine
Back off. I want to be alone
I want to think it out and
I'm thinking that I want to go home.
Look who's laughing now. I'll pull it off somehow.
As I passed her by, I could see her cry.
And I'll never forget the look that was in her eye
And the music you know it played on and on and on
So won't somebody tap her on the shoulder tell her life goes on.
Three years, two months, one week, four days
I'm always counting down because there ain't no easier way.
Trust me you know that I tried
and if I said it was easy then you know that I told a lie.
I'm going to be alright. I'm going to be just fine.
One down, five billion to go. Am I the next in line,
And do I really want to know?
Look who's laughing now. I'll pull it off somehow.
As I passed her by, I could see her cry.
And I'll never forget the look that was in her eye
And the music you know it played on & and on & on
So won't somebody tap her on the shoulder tell her life goes on.
I still remember that night, It was the fourth of July.
It's still engraved in my mind and I'm not suprised.
Gang wars, no guns, hand to hand.
You're black. I'm white, he's purple.
But I still don't understand.
I'm going to be alright. I'm going to be okay
Everything is going to be fine
Back off. I want to be alone
I want to think it out and
I'm thinking that I want to go
Three years, two months, one week, four days
I'm always counting down because there ain't no easier way.
Trust me you know that I tried
and if I said it was easy then you know that I told a lie.
I'm going to be alright. I'm going to be just fine.
One down, five billion to go. Am I the next in line,
And do I really want to know?
Look who's laughing now. I'll pull it off somehow.
As I passed her by, I could see her cry.
And I'll never forget the look that was in her eye
And the music you know it played on & and on & on
So won't somebody tap her on the shoulder tell her life goes on.
Lyrics submitted by KeasbyKnights
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Fast Car
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I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Blue
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“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.
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.
this is my 3rd favorite song by streetlight manifesto but its my favorite to sing. its fun trying to keep up with the words and everytime the "you're black, im white, and he's purple but i still dont understand" part comes on i just mumble but some times i actually try to sing it but i think its impossible unless your tomas hahaha