"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.
Lately, I don't think of you at all
Or wonder what you're up to, or how you're getting on
I never think of calling you, or how things could have been
Or wonder where you sleep at night, or whose arms you wake in
I'm living alone, living alone
I don't need you anymore
Living alone, living alone
I don't need you anymore
Lately
I don't get lost in daydreams
I never lay awake at night staring in my bed
And I don't think about your face or anything you've said
And I don't think twice when someone says your name
Or twist my mind in circles wondering which of us to blame
I'm living alone, living alone
I don't need you, anymore
Living alone, living alone
I don't need you anymore
I never walk alone and think of all the empty words
Or wonder when the day will break, or when the tides will turn
And I don't break down when someone says your name
Or twist my mind in circles wondering which of us to blame
I'm living alone, living alone
I don't need you anymore
Living alone living alone
I don't need you anymore
Lately I don't think of you at all
Lately
Oh, lately
Or wonder what you're up to, or how you're getting on
I never think of calling you, or how things could have been
Or wonder where you sleep at night, or whose arms you wake in
I'm living alone, living alone
I don't need you anymore
Living alone, living alone
I don't need you anymore
Lately
I don't get lost in daydreams
I never lay awake at night staring in my bed
And I don't think about your face or anything you've said
And I don't think twice when someone says your name
Or twist my mind in circles wondering which of us to blame
I'm living alone, living alone
I don't need you, anymore
Living alone, living alone
I don't need you anymore
I never walk alone and think of all the empty words
Or wonder when the day will break, or when the tides will turn
And I don't break down when someone says your name
Or twist my mind in circles wondering which of us to blame
I'm living alone, living alone
I don't need you anymore
Living alone living alone
I don't need you anymore
Lately I don't think of you at all
Lately
Oh, lately
Lyrics submitted by eatMUSIC87
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
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.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
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.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Midnight
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Midnight” is a song about finding a love that is so true that it provides a calming feeling through every storm. Ed Sheeran reflects on his good fortunes in landing someone with such peace and support and speaks of not fearing the dark days because he knows they’ll all end in the safety nets of her arms.
“Well, good morning there / What a way to start the day / With everything laid bare,” Ed Sheeran sings in the first verse, enthusiastic to be waking up beside his woman. He apologizes for missing her calls in the second verse and promises to return them because for him, speaking to her is the most important thing. “Well, I get lost inside my head / In this chaos, you’re my calm / And I will find my feet again / ‘Cause еven the worst days of my life will always еnd / At midnight in your arms,” sings Ed Sheeran in the chorus, revelling in his good luck.
Good God did I write this song
It's totally a lie. I love it so much.
@fishquawk What a lie it is - let me write a great song about how I could care less.
I can guarantee you Brandon Summers wrote this song knowing full well the irony of composing an entire piece of music claiming being over a love lost, and "articulating every gesture and motion" that he denies doing anymore.
These guys are brilliant, great universal truths.
Romantic Sarcasm.
This song could be very straightforward, but it seems to be about somebody trying to convince themself that they are over somebody when they clearly aren't.
In my opinion, this song hit the emotion it's trying to convey perfectly. Nothing hurts worse than convincing yourself that you are over that special person in your life, knowing fully that you aren't. Amazing song.
Such a sad song
love this song, to me this song is about a certain point when your ready to let go of someone.. and you have gone through everything.. this is why he "articulating every gesture" as sarabarra says
but i think that he has had an epiphany that he really doesnt need someone anymore
Agree w/Amazing Bob... kind of reminiscent of "Missing You" by John Waite, but you're all probly too young to remember it. Denial is a big part of losing someone you love...
I agree with all of the other posters here; I'll just add that the "irony" of this song reminds me of Jim Croce's "Operator", but much more subtle. Brilliant song-writing; great, unsung band.
There are comparisons to Croce, but it could even be a modernization of the old standard "I Get Along Without You Very Well."