"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.
On my way back from a wedding
I drove round some of the old streets
I got swept up by the memories
Of cold nights and warm sheets
I parked outside the house we'd lived in
I tried to think of all the pain
But all I remembered was the laughter
And the precious trust we can't reclaim
There are no second prizes
And there will be no consolation wreath
We may as well miss by a mile
As miss by the skin of our teeth
They all thought we were some sure thing
I had the bloody coat and wedding ring
But nothing's Written In Rock
I know I'm not the one
Was I just the great pretender
Written In Rock
There was no battle won
Only a mutual surrender
No guarantees, that's alright
If I was gonna stay,
I would have stayed all night
Bye bye love, you were so damn right
Nothing's Written In Rock
Nothing's Written In Rock
You finally learned the deep dark secret
That I knew you were waiting for
So I watched the death of innocence
Of the young dreamer at life's door
This world can tear your soul to pieces
If you give it half a chance
There are no rules to remember
There are no written steps to the dance
I don't believe in fate
I don't believe in blind luck of the draw
I don't believe in love
I mean I don't believe anymore
They all thought we were the real thing
I had the bloody coat and the wedding ring
But nothing's Written In Rock
I know I'm not the one
Was I just the great pretender
Written In Rock
There was no battle won
Only a mutual surrender
No guarantees, that's alright
If I was gonna stay,
I would have stayed all night
Bye bye love, you were so damn right
Nothing's Written In Rock
Nothing's Written In Rock
I remember you all dewy-eyed and breathless
Pointing the direction to the great promised land
I remember me all petrified and restless
Wondering what you were hiding in the other hand
Everybody keeps a lonely heart
And everybody gets that feeling
Everybody needs another heart
To give a little bit of healing to a battered soul
Oh, nothing's Written In Rockâ?¦
Nothing's Written In Rock
I know I'm not the one
Was I just the great pretender
Written In Rock
There was no battle won
Only a mutual surrender
No guarantees, that's alright
If I was gonna stay,
I would have stayed all night
Bye bye love, you were so damn right
Nothing's Written In Rock
Nothing's Written In Rock
Oh, nothing's Written In Rockâ?¦
I drove round some of the old streets
I got swept up by the memories
Of cold nights and warm sheets
I parked outside the house we'd lived in
I tried to think of all the pain
But all I remembered was the laughter
And the precious trust we can't reclaim
There are no second prizes
And there will be no consolation wreath
We may as well miss by a mile
As miss by the skin of our teeth
They all thought we were some sure thing
I had the bloody coat and wedding ring
But nothing's Written In Rock
I know I'm not the one
Was I just the great pretender
Written In Rock
There was no battle won
Only a mutual surrender
No guarantees, that's alright
If I was gonna stay,
I would have stayed all night
Bye bye love, you were so damn right
Nothing's Written In Rock
Nothing's Written In Rock
You finally learned the deep dark secret
That I knew you were waiting for
So I watched the death of innocence
Of the young dreamer at life's door
This world can tear your soul to pieces
If you give it half a chance
There are no rules to remember
There are no written steps to the dance
I don't believe in fate
I don't believe in blind luck of the draw
I don't believe in love
I mean I don't believe anymore
They all thought we were the real thing
I had the bloody coat and the wedding ring
But nothing's Written In Rock
I know I'm not the one
Was I just the great pretender
Written In Rock
There was no battle won
Only a mutual surrender
No guarantees, that's alright
If I was gonna stay,
I would have stayed all night
Bye bye love, you were so damn right
Nothing's Written In Rock
Nothing's Written In Rock
I remember you all dewy-eyed and breathless
Pointing the direction to the great promised land
I remember me all petrified and restless
Wondering what you were hiding in the other hand
Everybody keeps a lonely heart
And everybody gets that feeling
Everybody needs another heart
To give a little bit of healing to a battered soul
Oh, nothing's Written In Rockâ?¦
Nothing's Written In Rock
I know I'm not the one
Was I just the great pretender
Written In Rock
There was no battle won
Only a mutual surrender
No guarantees, that's alright
If I was gonna stay,
I would have stayed all night
Bye bye love, you were so damn right
Nothing's Written In Rock
Nothing's Written In Rock
Oh, nothing's Written In Rockâ?¦
Lyrics submitted by countrymusicfan
Written in Rock Lyrics as written by Tim Pierce Eric Maltby Mccusker
Lyrics © Spirit Music Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Yo La Tengo
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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
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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/