"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.
world on your back racing your way to the middle
you try to make a smile, but lately it don't seem simple
you try to show your face and tell all the world that you're with 'em
when all you wanna know is where to find your soul?
tick tick tock the big ol' clock keeps tickin'
this tickin' in your sleep, beats with your heart can you feel it?
you try to stay awake and tell yourself that it isn't
when all you wanna know is where to find your soul?
under the bright lights, under a microscope
everybody sees the tiny little scars
the dirty little heart that is always gonna be there
but baby we've all been there
yeah, baby we've all been there
don't let another day go by, searchin' your heart
and don't let another day go by, searchin' your self
cause we've all been there baby
world on your back racing your way to the middle
you try to make a smile, but lately it don't seem easy
try to show your face and tell all the world that you're with them
and all you want to know is where to find your soul?
under the bright lights, under a microscope
everybody sees the tiny little scars
the dirty little heart that's always gonna be there
under the bright lights, under the microscope
everybody sees the tiny little scars
the dirty little heart that is always gonna be there
but baby we've all been there
yeah baby we've all been there
don't let another day go by thinking
don't let another day go by thinking
everybody sees the tiny little scars
the dirty little heart that is always gonna be there
you try to make a smile, but lately it don't seem simple
you try to show your face and tell all the world that you're with 'em
when all you wanna know is where to find your soul?
tick tick tock the big ol' clock keeps tickin'
this tickin' in your sleep, beats with your heart can you feel it?
you try to stay awake and tell yourself that it isn't
when all you wanna know is where to find your soul?
under the bright lights, under a microscope
everybody sees the tiny little scars
the dirty little heart that is always gonna be there
but baby we've all been there
yeah, baby we've all been there
don't let another day go by, searchin' your heart
and don't let another day go by, searchin' your self
cause we've all been there baby
world on your back racing your way to the middle
you try to make a smile, but lately it don't seem easy
try to show your face and tell all the world that you're with them
and all you want to know is where to find your soul?
under the bright lights, under a microscope
everybody sees the tiny little scars
the dirty little heart that's always gonna be there
under the bright lights, under the microscope
everybody sees the tiny little scars
the dirty little heart that is always gonna be there
but baby we've all been there
yeah baby we've all been there
don't let another day go by thinking
don't let another day go by thinking
everybody sees the tiny little scars
the dirty little heart that is always gonna be there
Lyrics submitted by vice
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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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.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
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“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
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