"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.
Grandpa pissed his pants again
He don't give a damn
Brother Billy has both guns drawn
He ain't been right since Vietnam
"Sweet home Alabama"
Play that dead band's song
Turn those speakers up full blast
Play it all night long
Daddy's doing Sister Sally
Grandma's dying of cancer now
The cattle all have brucellosis
We'll get through somehow
"Sweet home Alabama"
Play that dead band's song
Turn those speakers up full blast
Play it all night long
I'm going down to the Dew Drop Inn
See if I can drink enough
There ain't much to country living
Sweat, piss, jizz and blood
"Sweet home Alabama"
Play that dead band's song
Turn those speakers up full blast
Play it all night long
He don't give a damn
Brother Billy has both guns drawn
He ain't been right since Vietnam
"Sweet home Alabama"
Play that dead band's song
Turn those speakers up full blast
Play it all night long
Daddy's doing Sister Sally
Grandma's dying of cancer now
The cattle all have brucellosis
We'll get through somehow
"Sweet home Alabama"
Play that dead band's song
Turn those speakers up full blast
Play it all night long
I'm going down to the Dew Drop Inn
See if I can drink enough
There ain't much to country living
Sweat, piss, jizz and blood
"Sweet home Alabama"
Play that dead band's song
Turn those speakers up full blast
Play it all night long
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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,
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.
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/
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.
They didn't take it personally, they thought it was funny, and so did Neil Young, they were all friends.
And I don't think Warren Was taking a Jab At Skynard. It seems like more of a jab at the radio stations who play Sweet Home Alabama over and over and over and over....
I think that the whole lot of you are wrong. This song is about taking comfort in escapism. I will agree that the family discussed in this song are a bunch of rednecks, but they are trying to make a honest life and are genuinely struggling. The narrator is trying to find a way out, and the only way he can is through identifying with the rock music he hears on the radio. Also, through my reading it seems as if Zevon has an admiration for Skynyrd for touching people who are at odds with such strife. This song was certainly not meant as a jab at rednecks or popular music, but an observation how low art and popular culture really do help in allowing people to withstand suffering.
While the last two posters' analysis is pretty, I think it misses the mark a lot - this song isn't pretty. It's pretty damn irreverent when you get down to it, the way a lot of Zevon's work is. He's contrasting this great image of the South with the terrible reality. Look at the gritty, vulgar language he uses in the verses, contrasted with the reverence of the chorus. Mixed with the way the music actually sounds, it comes off a lot more sarcastic and cutting. Rather than admiring popular culture for helping people make it through suffering, he's attacking them for saying that the South is a wonderful, great place when there's so much hardship everywhere.
While the song isn't anti-redneck, it's still pretty harsh. He's saying that popular music is stupid for ignoring the problem, but also saying that the people are stupid for letting the music lull them into the concept that everything is just a-ok because they're Southern. Play it all night long.
Also, Warren Zevon is awesome. AWESOME.
1) Neil Young records 'Southern Man', decrying the lingering racial attitudes of the American south.
2) Lynyrd Skynyrd proves that their name should be Thinnerd Skinnerd by taking it personally.
3) Warren Zevon not only laughs at LS, but kicks them when they're down.
MAN, do I ever love Warren Zevon!!!
And miss him terribly... :^(
@The Rat
@The Rat
Just listen to the main piano riff from Zevon's Werewolves of London. Does it sound familiar to ya'll? <br /> Skynard's Sweet Home Alabama is a direct rip off - note for note of Werewolves. They had Zevon's insult coming and are lucky that's all they received from Warren and not a lawsuit.<br /> As obvious as their rip-off was, <br /> I was shocked years hearing that exact same piano riff stolen and heavily used by Kid Croc on All Summer Long. I recently heard that pathetic piece of dung on the radio in the car the other day and felt like pulling over to puke. <br /> Again with even more blatant copyright infringement!<br /> Warren must be spinning in his grave.<br /> <br /> What are young pop stars going to do now without someone like Warren Zevon to plagiarize?<br /> How can they possibly come up with original material on their own?<br />
@A440tek You do realise Sweet Home Alabama was recorded in 1973.
@A440tek You do realise Sweet Home Alabama was recorded in 1973.
I totally agree. I love the line "play that dead band's song" As far as I'm concerned Skinnard sucks. Zevon is the man.
I like Skynyrd moe than Zevon but I don't think this song is really anti-skynyrd just anti redneck.
absolutely. i always consider the college bars near Hofstra University, where heavily makeuped, shit faced on watery beer young ladies belt out Sweet Home Alabama three times a night, and scream and yell when it comes on like they weren't expecting it.
i wish i had something intelligent to add about this song, but you guys pretty much covered it.
I tend to agree with the last posting. If imitation is the best form of flattery then witness the lead guitar fills and solos - they remind me of Skynyrd's powerful 3-pronged lead guitar attack.
To me it sounds like the moral of the song is something on the lines of “were in bad times, how are you gona go play the happy crap right now.” As to imply escapism doesn’t work for Zevon, which would explain the tone of most of his songs. Regardless of the band in the song.
This song is more relevant now than it has been for a long time.