"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.
she thought long and she thought hard
then thought to thank me with an irregular card
I buzzed out, I went low. I went down on her before she made me go
and I'm still burning at the core
selfish and angry and what for?
I do the work then I do more
want you to trust it but it only seems to hurt you more
but it's really not up to me to say
one woman's poison is another's perfect way
it's really not up to me to say
one woman's prison is another's wedding day, wedding day
I'd like to sing it through today
learn to spend our time in better better better better ways
and I know what I'm sorry for
don't wanna do it anymore
I want it back not like before
want you to trust it but it only seems to hurt you more
but it's really not up to me to say
to own your sadness or make you stay
it's really not up to me to say
one woman's prison is another's wedding day, wedding day
why do we hide from the sun when we know we don't have to?
why do we hide from the sun when we know we don't have to?
why do we hide from the sun when we know we don't have to?
then thought to thank me with an irregular card
I buzzed out, I went low. I went down on her before she made me go
and I'm still burning at the core
selfish and angry and what for?
I do the work then I do more
want you to trust it but it only seems to hurt you more
but it's really not up to me to say
one woman's poison is another's perfect way
it's really not up to me to say
one woman's prison is another's wedding day, wedding day
I'd like to sing it through today
learn to spend our time in better better better better ways
and I know what I'm sorry for
don't wanna do it anymore
I want it back not like before
want you to trust it but it only seems to hurt you more
but it's really not up to me to say
to own your sadness or make you stay
it's really not up to me to say
one woman's prison is another's wedding day, wedding day
why do we hide from the sun when we know we don't have to?
why do we hide from the sun when we know we don't have to?
why do we hide from the sun when we know we don't have to?
Lyrics submitted by three star salute
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
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.
Mountain Song
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"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."
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Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
American Town
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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.
"The Thermals were on tour in Omaha . We were staying with some of the Saddle-Creek Records crew. The morning after we played, I woke up to a conversation in the kitchen. The first thing I heard was, 'The next song I write is going to be called ‘The Luckiest Asshole I’ve Ever Met!’' From what I gathered, she was talking about the guy she was dating, who happens to be a very popular member of the Saddle-Creek roster. I thought it was a perfect line no matter who she was talking about. So I got up and went down to the basement with my manual typewriter and my tape recorder. I wrote out all the chords and the lyrics and I gave them to her before we left. I told her it was a gift for her band. She acted grateful, but from that point on she treated me like a freak with a crush on her. I found that pretty amusing. I haven’t heard from her since, so I recorded the song for Kind Of Like Spitting. Since it’s written from a woman’s perspective, my sister Sandy sings the main character’s vocals and I do the back-ups. There is no malice in the lyrics. None of the lines are based on fact. I tried to give the character a real love for the 'asshole.' In a way, I guess I took my own life and luck and went from there. Anyone who gets to sing for people is lucky. And when it comes to love, who hasn’t been labeled an asshole?"
I think there might be two KoLS songs called Grapes. I have a song called Grapes that has the above lyrics. But there is also another song I've heard called Grapes that match what charcolsketch is talking about. The lyrics to that one are:
despite what you recommend despite what you implement this just can't stand anymore 3 A.M. at my door with no one to tell you that it's wrong
drugged for some seasons sure we were pure like cancer's quick miracle or resin chalk spectacles party after party the laughs they just told you that you were on and the luckiest asshole I've ever met is playing music on my bed again sharing wings and boulders bringing me back in
those who all give advice those who all recommend those who know everything kitchen philosophy those who speak quietly words wide and sympathy they don't know of your eyes six inches from mine or the taste of your hips with the windows wide open
so here we hang loosely and dry on the vine I put my hair up and think of us marrying this garden's the same but these fruits have new names I have wanted you for so long and the luck of the lasso, for once I wept never seemed to get more than a glance and the feathers and boulders I once possessed they found a home in age and circumstance
the latter is called "line & sinker"