"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 went to about five funerals this year
And I felt so empty that I couldn't even shed a tear.
I felt so fucking selfish, all I thought about was me
And how I'd love to lay down on my back and just float out to sea.
How I'm constantly losing my shit while my friends are losing family.
I had something like a hundred bad days this year
Where at the end of each one I couldn't wait to just get out of here.
If you knew how many times I thought
"the dead must have it pretty sweet"
I'd get beat.
So when I go, please don't cry.
It's not like I deserve to die but I've been burning bridges, man.
Since day number one.
And when the pack keeps lapping me and I don't fit in anywhere and don't know what to do
I wish that they took me instead of you.
Do you have a good time?
Do you do you want or do you do what people want from you?
When you hit a certain age, does everyone stop having fun?
I seem to think it's true.
Is exuberance a deterrent for which we pay a fee?
Is a quiet nod the only way?
Can't we loudly disagree?
It seems like these things, they work out for everyone.
Everyone but me.
So when I go, please don't cry.
It's not like I deserve to die but
Baby, we ain't born to mourn and there's no hope in mope.
And when the pack keeps lapping me and I don't fit in anywhere and don't know what to do
I wish that they took me instead of you.
Don't treat it like a race
There's no winner at the finish line.
Just treat it like a bar 'cause we all gotta leave some time.
We can't fight the future so why do we even care?
We won't always have the luxury of sun-kissed summer air.
We won't fight the future.
We don't really care.
So for the worst I'll always stay prepared.
I went to about five.
It went funeral, funeral, funeral, funeral, funeral, ugh.
And I felt so empty that I couldn't even shed a tear.
I felt so fucking selfish, all I thought about was me
And how I'd love to lay down on my back and just float out to sea.
How I'm constantly losing my shit while my friends are losing family.
I had something like a hundred bad days this year
Where at the end of each one I couldn't wait to just get out of here.
If you knew how many times I thought
"the dead must have it pretty sweet"
I'd get beat.
So when I go, please don't cry.
It's not like I deserve to die but I've been burning bridges, man.
Since day number one.
And when the pack keeps lapping me and I don't fit in anywhere and don't know what to do
I wish that they took me instead of you.
Do you have a good time?
Do you do you want or do you do what people want from you?
When you hit a certain age, does everyone stop having fun?
I seem to think it's true.
Is exuberance a deterrent for which we pay a fee?
Is a quiet nod the only way?
Can't we loudly disagree?
It seems like these things, they work out for everyone.
Everyone but me.
So when I go, please don't cry.
It's not like I deserve to die but
Baby, we ain't born to mourn and there's no hope in mope.
And when the pack keeps lapping me and I don't fit in anywhere and don't know what to do
I wish that they took me instead of you.
Don't treat it like a race
There's no winner at the finish line.
Just treat it like a bar 'cause we all gotta leave some time.
We can't fight the future so why do we even care?
We won't always have the luxury of sun-kissed summer air.
We won't fight the future.
We don't really care.
So for the worst I'll always stay prepared.
I went to about five.
It went funeral, funeral, funeral, funeral, funeral, ugh.
Lyrics submitted by KeasbyKnights
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
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Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"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."
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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/