"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.
Four in the morning. (What'll you have?) Well, I'm in the mood for a corned beef on rye.
With a tomato and some coleslaw on the side.
I'm really glad that you tripped on the curb or we might've never met.
It was a sight, you look all perturbed, helpless and sopping wet.
How do you feel?
I'm fine.
I'm not quite sure what you did.
(Uh, who gets the iced tea?) Over here please. What do you mean?
It's very strange. Being with you makes me feel like a kid.
How did you like the movie we saw?
The plot was kind of thin.
I'm so confused. There's so much to ask. I don't know where to begin.
I know we only met today. There's so much I want to...
Baby, you're wrong.
What do you mean?
Baby, it's four o'clock in the morning. We met yesterday.
Where are you from?
Madison, Wisconsin.
How long have you lived here?
Aww, about two or three months.
You almost done?
Just one more bite.
Let's hear some more about your career. Where'd that waitress disappear?
Are you prepared for cheesecake or not?
I'm feeling kind of full.
I know you probably hear it a lot, but you're very beautiful.
Baby, what's wrong? What's that look in your eyes?
Nothing. I'm just real happy.
Aw, c'mon. That's no reason to cry.
(Hey, Honey, if you don't like cheesecake, how's about some pie?)
I don't know how you'll feel about this. Maybe it's premature.
I got this peculiar feeling inside and right now I'm not really sure,
I'm either in love or it's something I ate, 'cause I never felt this way before.
With a tomato and some coleslaw on the side.
I'm really glad that you tripped on the curb or we might've never met.
It was a sight, you look all perturbed, helpless and sopping wet.
How do you feel?
I'm fine.
I'm not quite sure what you did.
(Uh, who gets the iced tea?) Over here please. What do you mean?
It's very strange. Being with you makes me feel like a kid.
How did you like the movie we saw?
The plot was kind of thin.
I'm so confused. There's so much to ask. I don't know where to begin.
I know we only met today. There's so much I want to...
Baby, you're wrong.
What do you mean?
Baby, it's four o'clock in the morning. We met yesterday.
Where are you from?
Madison, Wisconsin.
How long have you lived here?
Aww, about two or three months.
You almost done?
Just one more bite.
Let's hear some more about your career. Where'd that waitress disappear?
Are you prepared for cheesecake or not?
I'm feeling kind of full.
I know you probably hear it a lot, but you're very beautiful.
Baby, what's wrong? What's that look in your eyes?
Nothing. I'm just real happy.
Aw, c'mon. That's no reason to cry.
(Hey, Honey, if you don't like cheesecake, how's about some pie?)
I don't know how you'll feel about this. Maybe it's premature.
I got this peculiar feeling inside and right now I'm not really sure,
I'm either in love or it's something I ate, 'cause I never felt this way before.
Lyrics submitted by nagromnai
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Silent Planet
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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.
Just A Little Lovin'
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American Town
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Ed Sheeran
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