"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.
Lose control
You find yourself pulling our eyes from the room
Attention, your addiction
It's destroying everything, this steadfast fixation
Still my satisfaction is found in your submissive hands
Beautiful, the life you drove through me
Through this wall of glass
Piercing rays fueled the radiance in your eyes
Pulling me closer, defying all reason
Until a night so disconnecting stole it away
And now these screams do nothing but fasten you to this prison I designed
Lose control, find yourself, lose control
To be destroyed is a choice you'll have to make
Violent, the life you drove through me
Through this wall of glass
Piercing rays fueled the radiance in your eyes
Pulling me closer, defying all reason
Let it out, shed this skin, break away
Denial is catching up, illusion is caving in
Exactly what did you expect?
The harm is in hiding
Knowing only your simplicity, knowing nothing
Upon the great divide
You see it your own way
No wisdom across the shallow glass
A captive god
You look over a deadened face
Features sink like a skulle
So familiar yet so far away
I see now
I see now there is a choice to make
We could be anyone, I see now
We turn over, we redefine this reflection
This is a need that we learn like a new limb
There is a choice to make
We will lie in our graves
A hall of mirrors opens up into a room full of me
I could be anyone, we could be anyone
There is a choice to make, I see now
We turn over, we redefine this reflection
There is a choice to make
We will lie in our graves
You find yourself pulling our eyes from the room
Attention, your addiction
It's destroying everything, this steadfast fixation
Still my satisfaction is found in your submissive hands
Beautiful, the life you drove through me
Through this wall of glass
Piercing rays fueled the radiance in your eyes
Pulling me closer, defying all reason
Until a night so disconnecting stole it away
And now these screams do nothing but fasten you to this prison I designed
Lose control, find yourself, lose control
To be destroyed is a choice you'll have to make
Violent, the life you drove through me
Through this wall of glass
Piercing rays fueled the radiance in your eyes
Pulling me closer, defying all reason
Let it out, shed this skin, break away
Denial is catching up, illusion is caving in
Exactly what did you expect?
The harm is in hiding
Knowing only your simplicity, knowing nothing
Upon the great divide
You see it your own way
No wisdom across the shallow glass
A captive god
You look over a deadened face
Features sink like a skulle
So familiar yet so far away
I see now
I see now there is a choice to make
We could be anyone, I see now
We turn over, we redefine this reflection
This is a need that we learn like a new limb
There is a choice to make
We will lie in our graves
A hall of mirrors opens up into a room full of me
I could be anyone, we could be anyone
There is a choice to make, I see now
We turn over, we redefine this reflection
There is a choice to make
We will lie in our graves
Lyrics submitted by Brant
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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“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.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
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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.
I think it's about being unique, and standing out. It's about someone learning to be themselves instead of the mold society puts on them.
It's about self discovery kinda.
I think it's about looking at yourself and who you are and making the sacrifices and commitments to become who you want to be. amazing song.
I believe you both are certainly on the right track. The beginning seems to be about some sort of muse, inspiration to write it. Perhaps through ups and downs, he found strength without her. Now he's offering that they change together, if she so chooses to make that choice with him. He is no longer the underdog, he is going to make the choices, and the changes, and it is up to her to accompany him or not. - This is just my interpretation!
This song is obviously about a person who changed him, who reached out to him, who let him see he can make the choices he wants for his life. This paragraphe explains it all: "Violent, the life you drove through me Through this wall of glass Piercing rays fueled the radiance in your eyes Pulling me closer, defying all reason"
MEANING: She forced him into his life,(because he doesn't let people into it that easy) through his protection shield to hide his insecurity (but it didn't need much to be broken) When she saw his inner self it made she love him The love she felt for him made him love her as well and now he thought impulsive to reach out to her, without the considered steps he previously took in his life (defying all reason)
I've always found that the song is about the speaker being mesmerized with someone, who then took advantage of the power they had over him, turning him into someone that they like, rather than who he is "Beautiful, this life you drove through me" He later realizes that the person who is changing him is just like him, "...Through this wall of glass" ( a mirror). He begins to hate the person that he's become, "violent, the life you drove through me," and he sees that he can be anyone he wants to, in the last stanza.
At least, that's what I've always taken from the song.