"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.
Well is it such a sin to linger with the magazines?
I want a chocolate bar, maybe something sweet
I want a stranger with your face
So I followed her to this place
It's been so long, I been around the world
I say hello to Howie, say hello to Spike
'Cuz the canals in Camden are filled with bottles tonight
(I put them there!)
To watch the ripples fade away
To feel the rain upon my head
So I could say I been around the world.
And how I wish I was in your apartment tonight
To hear the rain come down, down upon your roof
To see your clothes beside, clothes beside your bed
To lie and listen to your breath
Instead I been, I been around the world
And how I wish I was in your bed tonight
To taste the salt upon, the salt upon your neck
To feel your body press, pressing down on me
Instead I been, I been around the world
Yeah I been around, I been around the world
Yeah I been around, I been around the world
I want a chocolate bar, maybe something sweet
I want a stranger with your face
So I followed her to this place
It's been so long, I been around the world
I say hello to Howie, say hello to Spike
'Cuz the canals in Camden are filled with bottles tonight
(I put them there!)
To watch the ripples fade away
To feel the rain upon my head
So I could say I been around the world.
And how I wish I was in your apartment tonight
To hear the rain come down, down upon your roof
To see your clothes beside, clothes beside your bed
To lie and listen to your breath
Instead I been, I been around the world
And how I wish I was in your bed tonight
To taste the salt upon, the salt upon your neck
To feel your body press, pressing down on me
Instead I been, I been around the world
Yeah I been around, I been around the world
Yeah I been around, I been around the world
Lyrics submitted by descendent
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
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,
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/
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
"'Cuz the canals in Camden are filled with bottles tonight"
Never thought much about this line until i moved to south jersey. There's a pretty big chain of liquor stores down here called "Joe Canal's Liquor" or "Canal's" as the locals call it. It's kind of the de facto liquor store down here.
I don't think there's a Canal's actually in Camden but they are very close (so that if you're not from this area you might think they were in Camden.
Just wondering if that's where this line came from "'cuz the Canal's in Camden are filled with bottles tonight". Maybe a play on words as well (both meanings) as they're fond of doing.
if not, i'm guessing they're talking about Camden England, not NJ since there aren't any canals in Camden NJ