"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.
This ache that follows you down
From wherever you both came from
Well it won't leave
Quietly
It just waits here noisily with me
I turn to go but quite instead
It sinks its fangs into my head
And gnaws upon me like a greedy bone
The fragrant scent of parts unknown
I try my best but it gets worse
And fearful of this blessed curse
The moon is full, I feel my teeth
My instincts give no sympathy
For me
And all I want is to stay
Here with you
For at least a couple of minutes more
In your front seat
By any reason I can find
My right foot's still dangling out your door
This ache that followed you down
From wherever you both came from
Well it won't leave
Quietly
It just waits here noisily with me
The pots and pans and bareassed bones
Would have me feeling all alone
But never fear the ache is there
And calmly he pulls up a chair
And through the night we play some hands
While the ache he issues his demands
Yeah the ache he issues his demands
And I'm like Custer at his lemonade stand
And all I have is this ache
Just to see you again
Though I've got no pretext to
And hope
Won't quench my thirst this time
Can't you see that I'm aching for you?
I go to sleep; when I awake
In the kitchen is my ache
He cooks me breakfast, ties my shoes
Puts in the time, he pays my dues
He sticks a needle in my eye
And haunts me like some tragic lie
Reminds me 'till I bend to break
But I've been given the gift of
This ache, that followed you down
From wherever you both came from
Well it won't leave
Quietly
It just waits here noisily with me
This ache, that followed you down
From wherever you both came from
Well he won't leave
Quietly
He just waits here noisily with me
From wherever you both came from
Well it won't leave
Quietly
It just waits here noisily with me
I turn to go but quite instead
It sinks its fangs into my head
And gnaws upon me like a greedy bone
The fragrant scent of parts unknown
I try my best but it gets worse
And fearful of this blessed curse
The moon is full, I feel my teeth
My instincts give no sympathy
For me
And all I want is to stay
Here with you
For at least a couple of minutes more
In your front seat
By any reason I can find
My right foot's still dangling out your door
This ache that followed you down
From wherever you both came from
Well it won't leave
Quietly
It just waits here noisily with me
The pots and pans and bareassed bones
Would have me feeling all alone
But never fear the ache is there
And calmly he pulls up a chair
And through the night we play some hands
While the ache he issues his demands
Yeah the ache he issues his demands
And I'm like Custer at his lemonade stand
And all I have is this ache
Just to see you again
Though I've got no pretext to
And hope
Won't quench my thirst this time
Can't you see that I'm aching for you?
I go to sleep; when I awake
In the kitchen is my ache
He cooks me breakfast, ties my shoes
Puts in the time, he pays my dues
He sticks a needle in my eye
And haunts me like some tragic lie
Reminds me 'till I bend to break
But I've been given the gift of
This ache, that followed you down
From wherever you both came from
Well it won't leave
Quietly
It just waits here noisily with me
This ache, that followed you down
From wherever you both came from
Well he won't leave
Quietly
He just waits here noisily with me
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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Hayalperest
Hayalperest
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.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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.
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.