"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.
She visits the place that the tour groups must have
She's shocked to find somebody there
With a sun-beaten face, and a silver-grey head
He knelt on the floor unaware
He said "I'm sorry madam" as he lent her his hand
"I know I must be a strange sight
But I've been coming here for some thirty odd years
Ever since my sweet lady died
But I sure am glad you listened
Oh, I sure am glad you came
I've been waiting here in this mission
Ever since that day"
Oh, that summer we met, only fools could forget
Just how perfect a woman could be
By the time she was late, we had both set a date
In a place where she would marry me
But a gringo meant shame to their proud family name
And her father forbade it to be
So in less than a week, they found her by the creek
And the parents blamed it all on me
But I sure am glad you listened
And I sure am glad you came
I've been waiting here in this mission
Ever since that day
Well, her name was Marie
And the day she met me
Was the worst day of both of our lives
If it wasn't for me, I would truly believe
My sweetheart could still be alive
She said "Darling, believe. Don't you recognize me?
Though you waited here all of this time
They had shipped me away to my family in Spain
We can get on with our lives
Yeah, we still have plenty of time
'Cause I sure am glad I listened
Oh, I sure am glad I came
I made looking for you my mission
Ever since that day
Oh, I sure am glad you listened
Oh, I sure am glad you came
I've been waiting here in this mission
Ever since that day
And I sure am glad you listened
Oh, I sure am glad you came
I've been waiting here in this mission
Ever since that day
"May God bless you, have a good day"
She's shocked to find somebody there
With a sun-beaten face, and a silver-grey head
He knelt on the floor unaware
He said "I'm sorry madam" as he lent her his hand
"I know I must be a strange sight
But I've been coming here for some thirty odd years
Ever since my sweet lady died
But I sure am glad you listened
Oh, I sure am glad you came
I've been waiting here in this mission
Ever since that day"
Oh, that summer we met, only fools could forget
Just how perfect a woman could be
By the time she was late, we had both set a date
In a place where she would marry me
But a gringo meant shame to their proud family name
And her father forbade it to be
So in less than a week, they found her by the creek
And the parents blamed it all on me
But I sure am glad you listened
And I sure am glad you came
I've been waiting here in this mission
Ever since that day
Well, her name was Marie
And the day she met me
Was the worst day of both of our lives
If it wasn't for me, I would truly believe
My sweetheart could still be alive
She said "Darling, believe. Don't you recognize me?
Though you waited here all of this time
They had shipped me away to my family in Spain
We can get on with our lives
Yeah, we still have plenty of time
'Cause I sure am glad I listened
Oh, I sure am glad I came
I made looking for you my mission
Ever since that day
Oh, I sure am glad you listened
Oh, I sure am glad you came
I've been waiting here in this mission
Ever since that day
And I sure am glad you listened
Oh, I sure am glad you came
I've been waiting here in this mission
Ever since that day
"May God bless you, have a good day"
Lyrics submitted by foolish-hippie
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Bee Gees
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Dreamwalker
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I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
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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.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
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How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
little correction..
by the time she was late, we had both set a date in a place where she would marry me
I'm wondering what the meaning of "found her by the creek" is. Does it mean what first comes to mind, they found her body by a creek? Or does it mean something else, and the woman first referred to in the song is actually Marie, who came back to the mission and found him?