"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.
mutiny!
this is a full blown assault. a cannon blast to mark your fall.
take back your discipline now. this is a genuine revolt. superior, you are inferior. we've risen like we've never risen above before. conformity has no authority. i can agree to compromise. contemptible are your contracts. i will find the line and cross it everytime. contemptible are your labels.
this is a full blown assault.
take back your discipline now. this is a genuine revolt. i am so far from romanced. there's too much business in this. i'm going back to my garage. i have been completely disenchanted. turn my amp up to eleven. six nickel wound strings have saved me again. suits and ties are not to congregate in my sanctuary judged only by my hands.
down here is our time. it's innocent. it is so divine. our music: rewrite not a single line. down here is our time and we will shine. our music: making wishes on your dime this time.
heroes have betrayed. we sing for better days. don't sign our lives away to impure industries.
you're going under. we have come to take it over. so sound the thunder. we have come to take it over now.
sign our band and we'll write you a chorus. we will use your gimmicks if you think they will sell us 'cause we won't survive without your acceptance.
can we be friends?
can we be friends?
can
we
be
friends? mutiny!
in this vast network of sharks and minnows, where the minnows outnumber the sharks a million to one, why is it that we have yet to converge? to take on the upperhand? why have we been so scared?
well not today. not anymore. this is us growing up. still young, but no longer impressionable.
we have come to pillage.
we have come to burn.
we have come to incite the riot.
we have come to take it over!
heroes have betrayed. we sing for better days. don't sign our lives away to impure industries.
this is a full blown assault. a cannon blast to mark your fall.
take back your discipline now. this is a genuine revolt. superior, you are inferior. we've risen like we've never risen above before. conformity has no authority. i can agree to compromise. contemptible are your contracts. i will find the line and cross it everytime. contemptible are your labels.
this is a full blown assault.
take back your discipline now. this is a genuine revolt. i am so far from romanced. there's too much business in this. i'm going back to my garage. i have been completely disenchanted. turn my amp up to eleven. six nickel wound strings have saved me again. suits and ties are not to congregate in my sanctuary judged only by my hands.
down here is our time. it's innocent. it is so divine. our music: rewrite not a single line. down here is our time and we will shine. our music: making wishes on your dime this time.
heroes have betrayed. we sing for better days. don't sign our lives away to impure industries.
you're going under. we have come to take it over. so sound the thunder. we have come to take it over now.
sign our band and we'll write you a chorus. we will use your gimmicks if you think they will sell us 'cause we won't survive without your acceptance.
can we be friends?
can we be friends?
can
we
be
friends? mutiny!
in this vast network of sharks and minnows, where the minnows outnumber the sharks a million to one, why is it that we have yet to converge? to take on the upperhand? why have we been so scared?
well not today. not anymore. this is us growing up. still young, but no longer impressionable.
we have come to pillage.
we have come to burn.
we have come to incite the riot.
we have come to take it over!
heroes have betrayed. we sing for better days. don't sign our lives away to impure industries.
Lyrics submitted by thestateradio
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Bee Gees
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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.
Dreamwalker
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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.
my guess is that they got major label attention after the EP and the demo's and everything but they turned them down for eulogy.
its pretty ironic considering how much more pop-influenced thew new album is.