"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.
Once there was an old ocean
Where anyone who saw it grew old with the sea
We were terrified of water
And of all the sons and daughters no one dared to see
And on the banks of the coastline I tracked a bleeding loved one who’s blood was mingling
In the saltiest of waters, where apparently they faltered, never again to be seen
So I cry
I tried
I cried
I scry
This old war ship has wounds and it won’t sail for nothing an old sailor said to me
And I was foolish not to listen and pay such close conscription at all the lies I believed
"But if you lend me some more labor and you put your name on paper we just might catch a breeze"
I know now he was not a captain now because of all my action I grow alone with the sea
But I've strangely come immune to the thought of seeing you
And the smell of cheap perfume with all the liquor I've consumed.
Theres no more beauty in this world (x2)
Because I've strangely come immune to the thought of seeing you
And the smell of cheap perfume with all the liquor I consume.
Theres no more beauty in this... (x2)
Theres no more beauty in this world
I've strangely come immune to the thought of seeing you
And the smell of sweet perfume is just a ring around the moon
Theres no more beauty in this world
Theres no more beauty in this... (x2)
Theres no more beauty in this world
(repeat)
I try
I cry
I tried
As eyes cry
Theres no more beauty in this... (x2)
Theres no more beauty in this world
Where anyone who saw it grew old with the sea
We were terrified of water
And of all the sons and daughters no one dared to see
And on the banks of the coastline I tracked a bleeding loved one who’s blood was mingling
In the saltiest of waters, where apparently they faltered, never again to be seen
So I cry
I tried
I cried
I scry
This old war ship has wounds and it won’t sail for nothing an old sailor said to me
And I was foolish not to listen and pay such close conscription at all the lies I believed
"But if you lend me some more labor and you put your name on paper we just might catch a breeze"
I know now he was not a captain now because of all my action I grow alone with the sea
But I've strangely come immune to the thought of seeing you
And the smell of cheap perfume with all the liquor I've consumed.
Theres no more beauty in this world (x2)
Because I've strangely come immune to the thought of seeing you
And the smell of cheap perfume with all the liquor I consume.
Theres no more beauty in this... (x2)
Theres no more beauty in this world
I've strangely come immune to the thought of seeing you
And the smell of sweet perfume is just a ring around the moon
Theres no more beauty in this world
Theres no more beauty in this... (x2)
Theres no more beauty in this world
(repeat)
I try
I cry
I tried
As eyes cry
Theres no more beauty in this... (x2)
Theres no more beauty in this world
Lyrics submitted by Pentagrammaton
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
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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.
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.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
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.
beatiful song, reminds me alot of Danse Russe.