"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 know that you're a sucker for anything acoustic.
But when I say lets keep in touch,
I really only mean I wish that you'd grow up.
(You and me were kings over the parkway tonight.)
This is the first song for your mixtape,
And it's short just like your temper.
Somewhat golden like the afternoons,
We used to spend before you got too cool.
(And tonight will go on forever while we...)
(This is over.)
This is a lesson in procrasination,
I kill myself because I'm so frustrated.
(Call me a safe bet I'm betting I'm not.)
And every single second that I put it off,
Is another lonley night I gotta race the clock.
I won't see home to spring.
Oh, I would kill for the atlantic,
But I am paid to make girls panic while I sing.
(Everyone's caught onto everything you do.)
Please keep the reporters at bay.
(It's time for you to choose the bullet or the chapstick,
And you are far too cute or whatever he said.)
This a matter of life and death,
But I deal with things like this everyday.
Well I shot the pilot,
And I'm beggining for you to fly this for me.
And even if our plane crashes tonight,
She'll find some way to dissappoint me.
By burning in the wreckage or drowning at the bottom of the sea.
Our friends speak out in our defense.
They tend deaf ears for two months rent....
It's only you, beautiful.
(Consider this a letter that I never sent
Or ever even considered it seems...)
Or I don't anyone,
If I can choose,
It's only you.
Home on a saturday night,
With all my doors locked up tight.
I won't be thinking about you baby.
(Call 911 I'm already dead but,
Someone should be caught and held responsible for this bloody mess.)
Forget everything you think you know about me.
(This isn't highschool.)
So is this what you call a getaway,
Well tell my what you got away with.
Cause I've seen more spine in jellyfish,
I've seen more guts in 11 year old kids.
Have another drink and drive yourself home,
I hope there's ice on all the roads.
And you can think of me when you forget your seatbelt,
And again when your head goes through the windshield.
....We burn the gallows they erect,
And cut the nooses they tied for our necks.
I will lie awake and lie for fun,
And fake the way I hold you.
Let you fall for every empty word I say.
Girl come to me,
The only broken hearted loser you'll ever need.
Or I'll be left alone forever with my magazines.
(You're just jealous cause I'm young and in love.)
This is the end.
(Stomach filled up but you're starved for conversation.)
This is the calm.
(Spending all your nights growing old in your bed,)
We are the mountains.
(And you're tearing up your photos cause you wanna forget it's over.)
After the storm.
(You're just jealous cause I'm young and in love.)
Rest in the sea.
(Stomach's filled up but you're starved for conversation.)
Washed up on the beach.
(Spending all your nights growing old in your bed,)
This is the end.
(And you're tearing up your photos cause you wanna forget it's over.)
So keep the blood in your head,
And keep your feet on the ground.
Today's the day we got tied,
Today's the day the day we dropped out.
Give up my body in bed,
All for an empty hotel.
Wasted words on lower cases and capitals.
I'm sinking like a stone in the sea.
I'm burning like a bridge for your body.
But when I say lets keep in touch,
I really only mean I wish that you'd grow up.
(You and me were kings over the parkway tonight.)
This is the first song for your mixtape,
And it's short just like your temper.
Somewhat golden like the afternoons,
We used to spend before you got too cool.
(And tonight will go on forever while we...)
(This is over.)
This is a lesson in procrasination,
I kill myself because I'm so frustrated.
(Call me a safe bet I'm betting I'm not.)
And every single second that I put it off,
Is another lonley night I gotta race the clock.
I won't see home to spring.
Oh, I would kill for the atlantic,
But I am paid to make girls panic while I sing.
(Everyone's caught onto everything you do.)
Please keep the reporters at bay.
(It's time for you to choose the bullet or the chapstick,
And you are far too cute or whatever he said.)
This a matter of life and death,
But I deal with things like this everyday.
Well I shot the pilot,
And I'm beggining for you to fly this for me.
And even if our plane crashes tonight,
She'll find some way to dissappoint me.
By burning in the wreckage or drowning at the bottom of the sea.
Our friends speak out in our defense.
They tend deaf ears for two months rent....
It's only you, beautiful.
(Consider this a letter that I never sent
Or ever even considered it seems...)
Or I don't anyone,
If I can choose,
It's only you.
Home on a saturday night,
With all my doors locked up tight.
I won't be thinking about you baby.
(Call 911 I'm already dead but,
Someone should be caught and held responsible for this bloody mess.)
Forget everything you think you know about me.
(This isn't highschool.)
So is this what you call a getaway,
Well tell my what you got away with.
Cause I've seen more spine in jellyfish,
I've seen more guts in 11 year old kids.
Have another drink and drive yourself home,
I hope there's ice on all the roads.
And you can think of me when you forget your seatbelt,
And again when your head goes through the windshield.
....We burn the gallows they erect,
And cut the nooses they tied for our necks.
I will lie awake and lie for fun,
And fake the way I hold you.
Let you fall for every empty word I say.
Girl come to me,
The only broken hearted loser you'll ever need.
Or I'll be left alone forever with my magazines.
(You're just jealous cause I'm young and in love.)
This is the end.
(Stomach filled up but you're starved for conversation.)
This is the calm.
(Spending all your nights growing old in your bed,)
We are the mountains.
(And you're tearing up your photos cause you wanna forget it's over.)
After the storm.
(You're just jealous cause I'm young and in love.)
Rest in the sea.
(Stomach's filled up but you're starved for conversation.)
Washed up on the beach.
(Spending all your nights growing old in your bed,)
This is the end.
(And you're tearing up your photos cause you wanna forget it's over.)
So keep the blood in your head,
And keep your feet on the ground.
Today's the day we got tied,
Today's the day the day we dropped out.
Give up my body in bed,
All for an empty hotel.
Wasted words on lower cases and capitals.
I'm sinking like a stone in the sea.
I'm burning like a bridge for your body.
Lyrics submitted by shejustwantstorock
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
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Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.