"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.
Lay there and hate me
Lay there and burn
One side to the other
You toss and turn
Never trust a woman, never trust a woman
Who loves the blues
Mistake number one, I made it three times today
We'd best talk over how there is nothing left to say
I feel like an underpaid concubine
Who has overstayed her welcome
You gave me an eight-page letter, front and back
Written in your favorite colors, blood and black
Choose your words as careful as you'd choose your own gravestone
You lay there and hate me, better than being alone
Had to fight your way in, you got to fight your way out
Ain't no fool like the fool you love
So let me hear you shout
Shake down, break down
Just can't sit still
You cut off your hair and sold it
For your pretty little pill
I've learned some things about myself I wish I didn't know
You gave me an eight-page letter, from front and back
Written in your favorite colors, blood and black
You choose your words as careful as you'd choose your own gravestone
You lay there and hate me, better than being alone
Had to fight your way in, you got to fight your way out
Ain't no fool like the one you love
Now let me hear you, hear you shout
Lay there and hate me
Cold as a stone
I just hope it's better than sitting alone
Never trust a woman who loves the blues
Gave me an eight-page letter, front and back
Written in your favorite colors, blood and black
You choose your words as careful as you'd choose your own gravestone
Lay there and hate me, better than being alone
Had to fight your way in, now you got to fight your way out
Ain't no fool like the fool you love
So let me hear you, let me hear you shout
I said let me her you, let me hear you
Let me hear you shout!
Yeah, yeah
You just lay there with a 8 page letter
With your favorite colors, blood and black
Lay there and burn
One side to the other
You toss and turn
Never trust a woman, never trust a woman
Who loves the blues
Mistake number one, I made it three times today
We'd best talk over how there is nothing left to say
I feel like an underpaid concubine
Who has overstayed her welcome
You gave me an eight-page letter, front and back
Written in your favorite colors, blood and black
Choose your words as careful as you'd choose your own gravestone
You lay there and hate me, better than being alone
Had to fight your way in, you got to fight your way out
Ain't no fool like the fool you love
So let me hear you shout
Shake down, break down
Just can't sit still
You cut off your hair and sold it
For your pretty little pill
I've learned some things about myself I wish I didn't know
You gave me an eight-page letter, from front and back
Written in your favorite colors, blood and black
You choose your words as careful as you'd choose your own gravestone
You lay there and hate me, better than being alone
Had to fight your way in, you got to fight your way out
Ain't no fool like the one you love
Now let me hear you, hear you shout
Lay there and hate me
Cold as a stone
I just hope it's better than sitting alone
Never trust a woman who loves the blues
Gave me an eight-page letter, front and back
Written in your favorite colors, blood and black
You choose your words as careful as you'd choose your own gravestone
Lay there and hate me, better than being alone
Had to fight your way in, now you got to fight your way out
Ain't no fool like the fool you love
So let me hear you, let me hear you shout
I said let me her you, let me hear you
Let me hear you shout!
Yeah, yeah
You just lay there with a 8 page letter
With your favorite colors, blood and black
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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,
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/
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.