"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.
(Ready?)
One, two, three, four
This is it, here I stand
I'm the light of the world
I'll feel grand
Got this love, I can feel
And I know, yes for sure
It is real
And it feels as though I've seen your face a thousand times
And you said you really know me too yourself
And I know that you have got addicted with your eyes
But you say you're gonna leave it for yourself
Oh
I never heard a single word about you
Falling in love wasn't my plan (my plan)
I never thought that I would be your lover
Come on, babe, just understand
This is it
I can say
I'm the light of the world
Run away
We can feel
This is real
Every time I'm in love that I heal
And I feel as though I've known you since a thousand years
And you tell me that you've seen my face before
And you said to me you don't want me hanging around
Many times, wanna do it here before
Oh yeah
I never heard a single word about you
Falling in love wasn't my plan (my plan)
I never thought that I would be your lover
Come on, babe, just understand
This is it
I can feel
I'm the light of the world
This is real
Feel my song
We can say
And I tell you can lead that way
And I feel as though I've known you for a thousand years
And you said you saw my face yourself
And you said want to go with me all the while
And I know that it's really for myself
Oh yeah
I never heard a single word about you
Falling in love wasn't my plan (my plan)
I never thought that I would be your lover
Come on, please, dear understand (understand)
I never heard a single word about you
Falling in love wasn't my plan (my plan)
I never thought that I would be your lover
Come on, dear, please understand
One, two, three, four
This is it, here I stand
I'm the light of the world
I'll feel grand
Got this love, I can feel
And I know, yes for sure
It is real
And it feels as though I've seen your face a thousand times
And you said you really know me too yourself
And I know that you have got addicted with your eyes
But you say you're gonna leave it for yourself
Oh
I never heard a single word about you
Falling in love wasn't my plan (my plan)
I never thought that I would be your lover
Come on, babe, just understand
This is it
I can say
I'm the light of the world
Run away
We can feel
This is real
Every time I'm in love that I heal
And I feel as though I've known you since a thousand years
And you tell me that you've seen my face before
And you said to me you don't want me hanging around
Many times, wanna do it here before
Oh yeah
I never heard a single word about you
Falling in love wasn't my plan (my plan)
I never thought that I would be your lover
Come on, babe, just understand
This is it
I can feel
I'm the light of the world
This is real
Feel my song
We can say
And I tell you can lead that way
And I feel as though I've known you for a thousand years
And you said you saw my face yourself
And you said want to go with me all the while
And I know that it's really for myself
Oh yeah
I never heard a single word about you
Falling in love wasn't my plan (my plan)
I never thought that I would be your lover
Come on, please, dear understand (understand)
I never heard a single word about you
Falling in love wasn't my plan (my plan)
I never thought that I would be your lover
Come on, dear, please understand
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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,
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
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/
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
This song is simply beautiful. I'm just sad it's the song he will ever reocrd. Michael Jackson can do no wrong.
These lyrics were written some 20+ years ago so not the last song at all. And there's more to download which didn't make it on to his albums - Escape, If You Don't Love Me, Gangsta, Nite Line, Starlight Sun...go and check 'em out!!!
Yeah, it was written along time ago, but it's the last song he recorded before his death. That's what I meant. Unless he also recorded it in the 80s. Yeah, I actually don't know.
It was recorded in the 80's - you can definitely hear it in his voice.
Hasn't his voice always sounded the same? I'm sure it was recorded then though. I just meant it's one of the last songs that will be released of his.