"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.
Let me introduce you to a pair that strikes crude oil, but I see pyrite.
It is the same old pattern - the goose that feeds the gander.
They choose to act but not I.
Let's go outside and it might restore us.
More for the fire that fights for the freeze now mechanical.
So the the pair proceeded
Another pulse defeated - can't say that I am surprised.
"It is the fly trap's color that caused the fall into her"
What is the shade that you saw?
Bound by the salt not your earth, the hat mocks the rabbit while the bee stings the shark.
Stop the start, these are my disguises.
Vinegar and water gave the end away.
Bought my stocks and lost 'em while the suitcase said:
"Let's go outside and it might restore us".
It is the same old pattern - the goose that feeds the gander.
They choose to act but not I.
Let's go outside and it might restore us.
More for the fire that fights for the freeze now mechanical.
So the the pair proceeded
Another pulse defeated - can't say that I am surprised.
"It is the fly trap's color that caused the fall into her"
What is the shade that you saw?
Bound by the salt not your earth, the hat mocks the rabbit while the bee stings the shark.
Stop the start, these are my disguises.
Vinegar and water gave the end away.
Bought my stocks and lost 'em while the suitcase said:
"Let's go outside and it might restore us".
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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,
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“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.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
everyone else seems to be thinking deeper than me, but am i really the only one who hears this and thinks abortion? I dont think Darroh is taking a stance on whether it is right or wrong, he is simply commenting on how hard of a decision it is for those who have to consider it. perhaps he knocked some girl up as a teenager...
Some lines are much more obvious than others... "let me introduce you to a pair that strikes crude oil, but I see pyrite."-a pair, a couple...who do the nasty and make a child(crude oil...a blessing to some) but I(being the speaker or parent of the child) sees pyrite(this miracle is seeming more like a problem)
"planting the seeds you've sewn, is easier than growing the rose"-this one is pretty obvious
"let's go outside and it might restore us"- we need to gather our heads and truly think about this situation) "more for the fire and less for the freeze"-in the demo version of this song the lyric is "more for the 2 and less for the 3", but either way this, to me, expresses the thoughts of the parents that they might not be ready to stop their young lives to raise a child. the fire being their ambitions and dreams, and the freeze being having to stop all this to devote full attention to a baby.
"so then the pair proceeded, another pulse defeated"-self-explanatory and kind of grim, the couple decides not to keep the child.
"bound by the salt, not your earth, the hat mocks the rabbit"- this line talks about abortion in general, how we, as intelligent humans, no longer work inside of "god's" framework. Whether you think it good or bad, we(human beings) have gotten smart enough to actually stop a life. the hat being the womb, the rabbit being the child...the hat mocks the rabbit...it is a disappearing act.
i cant really decipher the lines i left out...but these are just my thoughts.
I tend to agree with the abortion idea. I mean, i dont think every song that FTM writes has to have to millitary/political connoctation. This idea actually explains quite a few things about the song to me, one being the title. In my opinion, going along with the abortion idea, the tile is the the name of the girl involved, and this event/decision has caused her much greif making her cry. Colonge is representitive of attraction, sexual or otherwise, as it is something you put on to make people more attracted to you. The reason she got into this mess is beause she was young and beautiful, and seeing a beautiful girl sad or distressed, men automatically want to help her, which could lead to a relationship and start the whole thing over again. It would probably make more sense if the song was "Kyla Cries Perfume" but Darroh probably kept the word Cologne for the alliteration.<br /> Another line that jumps out at me when you look at the song this way is "Planting the seeds you sew is easier than growing the row." That's quite a powerful metaphor. He's saying having a one night stand is much, much easier than actually staying with the person and becoming the father to their children. <br /> I might do a line by line interpritation later, but i dont feel like it now, as AuntieEm&UncleSam explained it pretty well.
Think you've nailed this mate. This seems pretty clear and the chorus is quite obvious really.
I think its about a couple. The girl in the relationship gets treated like shit and cheated on and always takes the asshole boyfriend back.
Let me introduce you to a pair that strikes crude oil, but I see pyrite. (They try to work things out but fail) It is the same old pattern - the goose that feeds the gander. (he treats her like shit and they break up and she takes him back. ) They choose to act but not I. (The speaker bites his/her tongue and does'nt say anything because its getting old)
Planting the seeds you sow is easier than growing the row. (its easier to put the problems aside and forget about them and try to work things out) Let's go outside and it might restore us. (lets cool of for a bit) More for the fire that fights for the freeze now mechanical.
So then the pair proceeded, another pulse defeated - can't say that I am surprised. (they go back together and the speaker isnt suprised) "It is the fly trap's color that caused the fall into her" (she is unique and the guy doesnt wanna lose her for good) What is the shade that you saw? (the speaker is asking what the hell she saw in him)
Planting the seeds you sow is easier than growing the row. Let's go outside and it might restore us. More for the fire that fights for the freeze now mechanical.
Bound by the salt not your earth, the hat mocks the rabbit while the bee stings the shark. Stop the start, these are my disguises. (talking about how he got away with cheating on her)
Planting the seeds you sow is easier than growing the row. Let's go outside and it might restore us. More for the fire that fights for the freeze now mechanical.
This must be a old version. The CD release has more to it.
You're right bbrocker. I just now fixed it thanks to SongMeanings allowing editing.
eyehearts
anyway.
Let me introduce you to a pair that strikes crude oil, but I see pyrite.[i'm guessing that 'strike crude oil' means to 'be cruel and get rich??'. slang for pyrite: Fool's gold] It is the same old pattern - the goose that feeds the gander.[the weak feed the strong's power] They choose to act but not I.[the narrator has decided to stay neutral in this; while the 'pair' picks sides]
Planting the seeds you sow is easier than growing the row.[possibly about spreading ideals] Let's go outside and it might restore us.[a little fresh air does a lot of good, is possibly what that means] More for the fire that fights for the freeze now mechanical.[more fuel for the passion that fights for a permanent solution; possibly a technology-related solution]
So then the pair proceeded, another pulse defeated - can't say that I am surprised.[as this 'pair' of individuals go on, they kill another individual. the narrator isn't at all schocked by this, duh.] "It is the fly trap's color that caused the fall into her"[the person killed fell into a trap because of the lure] What is the shade that you saw?[what is the lure 'she' saw?]
Planting the seeds you sow is easier than growing the row. Let's go outside and it might restore us. More for the fire that fights for the freeze now mechanical.
Bound by the salt not your earth, the hat mocks the rabbit[not sure on the first part, but the second part I think is an allusion to Alice in Wonderland; the hatter in this line is making fun of the white rabbit for being late] while the bee stings the shark.[the minority is provoked by the majority, and attacks] Stop the start, these are my disguises.[no clue on this line]
Planting the seeds you sow is easier than growing the row. Let's go outside and it might restore us. More for the fire that fights for the freeze now mechanical.
I pretty much agree with you, valbino. Great analysis ^^
But the middle 8, where you're not so sure, I was thinking: Maybe it's about the minorities (as you were saying), the public, begin to rise up...
"That hat mocks the rabbit..." [Magicians hide rabbits inside hats, so maybe the hat (the majority which consumes the minority) mocks the rabbit subtly]
WHILE
"The bee stings the shark" [The minority tries to attack the majority, but as you can imagine, a bee isn't going to have much effect on a shark, so it's useless] I think the "Stop the start, these are my disguises" is to do with it being an endless cycle, and that simply, the preceding lines are his own metaphors for what they really mean...
Just a though :D
@mathcore: Thank-you.
GAH!!!
it took away my shiny new interpretation.... stream of curses
well, the basics of it were that it's about the military/propaganda. 8D
You see, this is what's so fucking amazing about ftm[yeah i know not quite relevent].
Andrew/Darroh never reveals anything about the lyrics[excpt when i think he supposedly mentioned that "eat it faggot" refers to himself].
So that way it could easily be interpreted like twenty different ways.
C:
but i'm still sticking with my propaganda idea. lol.
this is my interpretation. I did it line by line. Some parts I may not have explained very well, but I'm hoping you get the point. It is from my perception though, so lemme know if some parts are unclear.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Let me introduce you to a pair that strikes crude oil, but I see pyrite.<br /> <br /> I'm assuming the pair is Bush and Cheney(some people say we went over there for oil, also Cheney's company made serious dollars from the invasion of Iraq), but the narrator sees how there is no value in entering Iraq. (pyrite=fools gold)<br /> <br /> It is the same old pattern - the goose that feeds the gander.<br /> <br /> Referring to how the people(goose=weak) feed the powerful (gander) with the approval and resources (including human resources) to make their goals happen.<br /> <br /> They choose to act but not I.<br /> <br /> Self explanatory<br /> <br /> <br /> Planting the seeds you sow is easier than growing the row.<br /> <br /> My interpretation requires that the chorus be of the perspective of Bush/Cheney. They are trying to say that we started the Iraq war, it is hard, but we must stay and finish the job, to establish a working democracy in Iraq.<br /> <br /> Let's go outside and it might restore us.<br /> <br /> Try to reconnect with their environment (the people) so that their reputation can be restored.<br /> <br /> More for the fire that fights for the freeze now mechanical.<br /> <br /> To bring in more people for their cause (the fire), so that nothing changes the current military occupation in Iraq (freeze), which is a long term monotonous operation that nobody has their hearts into, its just something that we feel had to be done. (mechanical)<br /> <br /> So then the pair proceeded,<br /> another pulse defeated - can't say that I am surprised.<br /> <br /> They continued on with the occupation of Iraq, and kept their executive seats, defeating the passion of the people who wanted out of Iraq.<br /> <br /> "It is the fly trap's color that caused the fall into her"<br /> <br /> Using our fear of the people in the middle-east (they way the look, how me see them stereotypically) to convince us to stay in Iraq, could be one color . Also riches (gold), or oil (black), could also be colors.<br /> <br /> What is the shade that you saw?<br /> <br /> Self explanatory<br /> <br /> Planting the seeds you sow is easier than growing the row.<br /> Let's go outside and it might restore us.<br /> More for the fire that fights for the freeze now mechanical.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Bound by the salt not your earth,<br /> <br /> This part of my interpretation revolves around the people of the middle east who dislike us. We are bound by the salt (oceans; far away, vast differences in lifestyles and belief, cannot easily become like one) not your earth (not close to our place, a completely different people who do not see life the same way we do)<br /> <br /> the hat mocks the rabbit<br /> <br /> the hat is Iraq, or perhaps the middle-east, and the rabbit is the democracy that we are trying to create their. <br /> <br /> while the bee stings the shark.<br /> <br /> our forces (the bee, which also sacrifices itself in a sting attack) only sting (which also provokes) the great underground forces and spirit of the anti-Americans (the shark). we can do nothing but precise attacks, not kill the spirit of the Jihad.<br /> <br /> Stop the start, <br /> <br /> they want to stop the start of democracy (or Americanism) in their region<br /> <br /> these are my disguises.<br /> <br /> The attacks and violence from our military, pushing our ways on the Iraq people, help give the militant and radical Jihad members a reason to attack us. They look like liberators, fighters for the people now, disguising their hate as a good cause.<br /> <br /> Planting the seeds you sow is easier than growing the row.<br /> Let's go outside and it might restore us.<br /> More for the fire that fights for the freeze now mechanical.
CRAP, I meant to make this a comment and I first made it as a reply, F
this is my interpretation. I did it line by line. Some parts I may not have explained very well, but I'm hoping you get the point. It is from my perception though, so lemme know if some parts are unclear.
Let me introduce you to a pair that strikes crude oil, but I see pyrite.
I'm assuming the pair is Bush and Cheney(some people say we went over there for oil, also Cheney's company made serious dollars from the invasion of Iraq), but the narrator sees how there is no value in entering Iraq. (pyrite=fools gold)
It is the same old pattern - the goose that feeds the gander.
Referring to how the people(goose=weak) feed the powerful (gander) with the approval and resources (including human resources) to make their goals happen.
They choose to act but not I.
Self explanatory
Planting the seeds you sow is easier than growing the row.
My interpretation requires that the chorus be of the perspective of Bush/Cheney. They are trying to say that we started the Iraq war, it is hard, but we must stay and finish the job, to establish a working democracy in Iraq.
Let's go outside and it might restore us.
Try to reconnect with their environment (the people) so that their reputation can be restored.
More for the fire that fights for the freeze now mechanical.
To bring in more people for their cause (the fire), so that nothing changes the current military occupation in Iraq (freeze), which is a long term monotonous operation that nobody has their hearts into, its just something that we feel had to be done. (mechanical)
So then the pair proceeded, another pulse defeated - can't say that I am surprised.
They continued on with the occupation of Iraq, and kept their executive seats, defeating the passion of the people who wanted out of Iraq.
"It is the fly trap's color that caused the fall into her"
Using our fear of the people in the middle-east (they way the look, how me see them stereotypically) to convince us to stay in Iraq, could be one color . Also riches (gold), or oil (black), could also be colors.
What is the shade that you saw?
Self explanatory
Planting the seeds you sow is easier than growing the row. Let's go outside and it might restore us. More for the fire that fights for the freeze now mechanical.
Bound by the salt not your earth,
This part of my interpretation revolves around the people of the middle east who dislike us. We are bound by the salt (oceans; far away, vast differences in lifestyles and belief, cannot easily become like one) not your earth (not close to our place, a completely different people who do not see life the same way we do)
the hat mocks the rabbit
the hat is Iraq, or perhaps the middle-east, and the rabbit is the democracy that we are trying to create their.
while the bee stings the shark.
our forces (the bee, which also sacrifices itself in a sting attack) only sting (which also provokes) the great underground forces and spirit of the anti-Americans (the shark). we can do nothing but precise attacks, not kill the spirit of the Jihad.
Stop the start,
they want to stop the start of democracy (or Americanism) in their region
these are my disguises.
The attacks and violence from our military, pushing our ways on the Iraq people, help give the militant and radical Jihad members a reason to attack us. They look like liberators, fighters for the people now, disguising their hate as a good cause.
Planting the seeds you sow is easier than growing the row. Let's go outside and it might restore us. More for the fire that fights for the freeze now mechanical.