"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.
Original version:
Hello again everybody, this is Wayne of the Flaming Lips category, and I'm talking into Clifford's computer, and he's going to add my voice to this wonderful compilation that he put together just for you. We let him pick and choose his favorites from our vast collection of live recordings that we've catalogued over this years. The recordings range from 1986 to 1996 and feature a little bit of all of the different lineups that we've had. Now this CD is meant as a bootleg giveaway that will be presented to all those who attend the first showings of Brad Beesley's spectacular documentary film The Fearless Freaks. This film follows the life and times of Steven, Michael, and myself, and has lots of embarrassing clips of us with weird haircuts and bad clothes. And though the CD is a very limited run of only a few hundred, all who can are urged to copy it and put it on the internet and do whatever you can do with it. Please, please, do not pay hard-earned money for it. So, I hope you enjoy the film, and I hope you enjoy this CD. We'll see you somewhere out there in the world. This is Wayne and the fellows. Goodbye.
Fearless Freaks version:
Check 1, 2. Hello again everybody, this is Wayne of the Flaming Lips category. This CD that you're listening to is a kind of revamped version of a compilation that we gave out at the South by Southwest film premier of Brad Beesley's documentary The Fearless Freaks. That CD was received with such delight that we felt a little embarrassed at having manufactured so few of them. So, like I said, this is a revised version of that previous CD with a couple of changes made. There is a track from our new record, At War With the Mystics, this song is called "Free Radicals." You'll find that on here. And we've also included a very hard to find, if not impossible to find, track called "Enthusiasm for Life Defeats Existential Fear." Of course, you know that's right. So anyway, we hope you enjoy it, and speaking on behalf of Michael and Steven, the Flaming Lips say once again thank you to all of you out there who have over the years supported us and continue to believe in us. You've given us a great, great life, and, really, everything we do is because of you. So anyway, we love you, and we'll see you somewhere out there in the world.
Hello again everybody, this is Wayne of the Flaming Lips category, and I'm talking into Clifford's computer, and he's going to add my voice to this wonderful compilation that he put together just for you. We let him pick and choose his favorites from our vast collection of live recordings that we've catalogued over this years. The recordings range from 1986 to 1996 and feature a little bit of all of the different lineups that we've had. Now this CD is meant as a bootleg giveaway that will be presented to all those who attend the first showings of Brad Beesley's spectacular documentary film The Fearless Freaks. This film follows the life and times of Steven, Michael, and myself, and has lots of embarrassing clips of us with weird haircuts and bad clothes. And though the CD is a very limited run of only a few hundred, all who can are urged to copy it and put it on the internet and do whatever you can do with it. Please, please, do not pay hard-earned money for it. So, I hope you enjoy the film, and I hope you enjoy this CD. We'll see you somewhere out there in the world. This is Wayne and the fellows. Goodbye.
Fearless Freaks version:
Check 1, 2. Hello again everybody, this is Wayne of the Flaming Lips category. This CD that you're listening to is a kind of revamped version of a compilation that we gave out at the South by Southwest film premier of Brad Beesley's documentary The Fearless Freaks. That CD was received with such delight that we felt a little embarrassed at having manufactured so few of them. So, like I said, this is a revised version of that previous CD with a couple of changes made. There is a track from our new record, At War With the Mystics, this song is called "Free Radicals." You'll find that on here. And we've also included a very hard to find, if not impossible to find, track called "Enthusiasm for Life Defeats Existential Fear." Of course, you know that's right. So anyway, we hope you enjoy it, and speaking on behalf of Michael and Steven, the Flaming Lips say once again thank you to all of you out there who have over the years supported us and continue to believe in us. You've given us a great, great life, and, really, everything we do is because of you. So anyway, we love you, and we'll see you somewhere out there in the world.
Lyrics submitted by Mellow_Harsher
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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Hayalperest
Hayalperest
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.
Cajun Girl
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Little Feat
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”
Holiday
Bee Gees
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“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.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
wayne is beautiful. i could listen to him talk all day.