"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.
Pushed up against the ropes, you wouldn't last another round
I never wished for you to suffer like this
You would not listen
Pushed up against the ropes, you wouldn't last another round
I never wished for you to suffer like this
You would not listen
We will survive, the strong, the fortunate, the never ending
We will survive through thick and thin
We will survive, the strong, the fortunate, the never ending
We will survive through thick and thin
Looking in the mirror, seeing a trouble reflection (Reflection, reflection)
This is our darkest hour
This is our darkest hour
Darkest hour
Remember what you said when we waved our goodbyes
Remember what you said when we waved our goodbyes
We're all dead in the end, so live life while you can
So live life while you can
You've abandoned all of us
You've abandoned me
You've abandoned all of us
You've abandoned me
You've abandoned all of us
We've forgiven you, so forgive yourself
We've forgiven you, so forgive yourself
We've forgiven you, so forgive yourself
We will survive, the strong, the fortunate, the never ending
We will survive through thick and thin
Pushed up against the ropes, you wouldn't last another round
I never wished for you to suffer like this
You would not listen
I have little sympathy for this divorce story
Stand in front of the jury, with no happy ending
With no happy ending
With no happy ending
With no happy ending
With no happy ending
I never wished for you to suffer like this
You would not listen
Pushed up against the ropes, you wouldn't last another round
I never wished for you to suffer like this
You would not listen
We will survive, the strong, the fortunate, the never ending
We will survive through thick and thin
We will survive, the strong, the fortunate, the never ending
We will survive through thick and thin
Looking in the mirror, seeing a trouble reflection (Reflection, reflection)
This is our darkest hour
This is our darkest hour
Darkest hour
Remember what you said when we waved our goodbyes
Remember what you said when we waved our goodbyes
We're all dead in the end, so live life while you can
So live life while you can
You've abandoned all of us
You've abandoned me
You've abandoned all of us
You've abandoned me
You've abandoned all of us
We've forgiven you, so forgive yourself
We've forgiven you, so forgive yourself
We've forgiven you, so forgive yourself
We will survive, the strong, the fortunate, the never ending
We will survive through thick and thin
Pushed up against the ropes, you wouldn't last another round
I never wished for you to suffer like this
You would not listen
I have little sympathy for this divorce story
Stand in front of the jury, with no happy ending
With no happy ending
With no happy ending
With no happy ending
With no happy ending
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
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,
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
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.
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/
This song makes me think when there will be a persecution of Christians, and one of their friends turning their back on them and Christianity to save themselves. That's just what comes to mind for me, I don't really know the meaning.
Sounds like either a guy or a girl wants to leave their family and even though he/she is gone they "will survive through thick and thin." And though he/he left, they've forgiven. It doesn't really sound like something August Burns Red would sing about, but it's just a thought.
Sounds like either a guy or a girl wants to leave their family and even though he/she is gone they "will survive through thick and thin." And though he/he left, they've forgiven. It doesn't really sound like something August Burns Red would sing about, but it's just a thought.
I'm going with WrathofGod on this one. Almost a song about the people that have decided to persecute followers of Jesus in the end of times, and the singer reminding them that their actions will be taken into account after everything goes down.
I believe the comments that this song represents a betrayal of Jesus are absolutely naive and without a true reading of the lyrics. You miss the metaphor; he seems to be talking to himself. The comment referring to looking in the mirror signified to me his monologue. Also, you've clearly missed the nihilistic statements that we only have one life to live.
He seems to be attempting to accept himself with the person he's talking to in the mirror as his sanity. He is trying to communicate to himself that everybody has forgiven him, he has to now forgive himself.
You, sir, seem to have missed the "We's" and "You've's" throughout the whole song. Not to mention the "Stand in front of the jury, with no happy ending." Songs can be plain and straight forward too, ya know. It doesn't always have to be some long drawn secret message.
This song is obviously about a friend who chose to "live life while [he] can" instead of staying a strong christian and now he's "up against the ropes" about to suffer and Jake (singer) has no sympathy because he tried to tell his friend that with God, we can "survive through thick and thin" but his friend didn't listen and is now suffering, standing "in front of the jury, with no happy ending." - Could be referring to the judgment day and received a sentencing to hell.
it seemed pretty obvious to me that it was about a christian saying goodbye to a non-christian friend who he had tried to save but he wouldnt listen
i agree with adamburnsred
This song would go hand in hand with Jesus' parable of the Prodigal Son.