"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.
Cocktail parties for the rich and influential
But walking on my hind legs feels unnatural
Talking to the man with a mouth like an asshole
The girl who fucks like a bucket was coming on like a snowball
They killed some kid last night on the night bus
Dropped him off between Euston and King's Cross
You know I despise violence
You know I can't make any sense of it
All the Jiminey Crickets were moaning in the stairwell
They shit themselves, they promise to faithful
You know I just wanna be famous
You know I just wanna serve a purpose
Follow the spiral staircase down into the station
Who is the source of all this misinformation
Sex and death chase through my brain
Till I wake up and c-c-come again
The train pulls out of the darkness
I dance out of the tunnel
Numbers which at first seemed random are consequential
They come together like the pieces of a puzzle
Synapse after synapse till the growth is exponential
Talk to the man with a mouth like an asshole
Talk to the man with a mouth like an asshole
Talk to the man with a mouth like an asshole
The girl who fucks like a bucket was coming on like a snowball
Ring the bell, Jim
Ring the bell, Jim
Jim, Jim, J-Jiminey, ring the bell
All is well, Jim
All is well, Jim
Jim, Jim, J-Jiminey, ring the bell
And when it's all said and done,
You'll find it's all just barely begun
And when it's all just barely begun,
You'll find it's all said and done
On nights like these
All the kisses and ooh la la
When you're down on your hands and your knees
Don't even know any more who you are
Ooh la la
Ooh ooh la la
I've been up for hours searching for answers
Messages hidden in the back pages of newspapers
They call you cunt, fat, homo, paki, nigger,
This city was built on the dreams of spies and sailors
Eastern Europe is calling for me
I wanna disappear behind the curtain completely
And every empire was founded on slaves
Rule Britannia, Britannia rules the waves
" "
" "
We crossed the ocean on a ship made out of slaves
Now be a good boy Jim
And run up and help Jim
Be sure to roll over and tuck your tail behind your legs and beg Jim
You're my best friend Jim
You are my servant Jim
You are not worth the shit that dribbles from my chin Jim
Talk to the man with a mouth like an asshole
"
"
The scenery seems to tremble like an interrupted signal
Ring the bell Jim
Ring the bell Jim
Jim Jim Jiminy, ring the bell
All is well Jim
All is well Jim
Jim Jim Jiminy, ring the bell
But walking on my hind legs feels unnatural
Talking to the man with a mouth like an asshole
The girl who fucks like a bucket was coming on like a snowball
They killed some kid last night on the night bus
Dropped him off between Euston and King's Cross
You know I despise violence
You know I can't make any sense of it
All the Jiminey Crickets were moaning in the stairwell
They shit themselves, they promise to faithful
You know I just wanna be famous
You know I just wanna serve a purpose
Follow the spiral staircase down into the station
Who is the source of all this misinformation
Sex and death chase through my brain
Till I wake up and c-c-come again
The train pulls out of the darkness
I dance out of the tunnel
Numbers which at first seemed random are consequential
They come together like the pieces of a puzzle
Synapse after synapse till the growth is exponential
Talk to the man with a mouth like an asshole
Talk to the man with a mouth like an asshole
Talk to the man with a mouth like an asshole
The girl who fucks like a bucket was coming on like a snowball
Ring the bell, Jim
Ring the bell, Jim
Jim, Jim, J-Jiminey, ring the bell
All is well, Jim
All is well, Jim
Jim, Jim, J-Jiminey, ring the bell
And when it's all said and done,
You'll find it's all just barely begun
And when it's all just barely begun,
You'll find it's all said and done
On nights like these
All the kisses and ooh la la
When you're down on your hands and your knees
Don't even know any more who you are
Ooh la la
Ooh ooh la la
I've been up for hours searching for answers
Messages hidden in the back pages of newspapers
They call you cunt, fat, homo, paki, nigger,
This city was built on the dreams of spies and sailors
Eastern Europe is calling for me
I wanna disappear behind the curtain completely
And every empire was founded on slaves
Rule Britannia, Britannia rules the waves
" "
" "
We crossed the ocean on a ship made out of slaves
Now be a good boy Jim
And run up and help Jim
Be sure to roll over and tuck your tail behind your legs and beg Jim
You're my best friend Jim
You are my servant Jim
You are not worth the shit that dribbles from my chin Jim
Talk to the man with a mouth like an asshole
"
"
The scenery seems to tremble like an interrupted signal
Ring the bell Jim
Ring the bell Jim
Jim Jim Jiminy, ring the bell
All is well Jim
All is well Jim
Jim Jim Jiminy, ring the bell
Lyrics submitted by electrictights
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Hayalperest
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This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
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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."
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When We Were Young
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This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.