"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.
You're off by a long sight
You've got to find your reason right now
To put that eye up to the keyhole
To find the answers to the questions
What's it like or what's in fashion
This passion keeps us moving along
Could I be down to try to get up off the ground
To survive without you
Cause you'll still be living
While I'm busy singing to live
Give up, give in
Or get up on the roof of the big time
And try to pretend you knew better
I don't care about you
Cause you'll still be living
While I'm busy singing
Take one step
Have you got it in you
You'll have to take it if you want to
You'll have to face the consequences
That can bring you down
Don't try and play the game
Cause you could get knocked back underground
Take one step
Have you got it in you
You'll have to fake it like you always do
You'll have to face the consequences
That can bring you down
Don't try and play the game
Cause you could get knocked back underground
You're off by a long shot
You've got to find your reason right now
To keep your hands inside the game
To find your ride for the long haul
And let you shoulder all the blame
For this monster you can't tame
I try to pretend I knew better
I'm not scared
But I should be
Cause you'll still be living
While I'm busy singing
I will not let you live
Take one step
Have you got it in you
You'll have to take it if you want to
You'll have to face the consequences
That can bring you down
Don't try and play the game
Cause you could get knocked back underground
Take one step
Have you got it in you
You'll have to fake it like you always do
You'll have to face the consequences
That can bring you down
Don't try and play the game
Cause you could get knocked back under
Knocked back underground
So take your chances
Treading water in the fountain of youth
The truth will set you free
Well now you're drowning in the water
In the fountain of youth
The world will set you free
Well now you're floating in the water
In the fountain of youth
The truth will set you free
Well now you're poisoning the water
In the fountain of youth
The world will set you free
Take one step
Have you got it in you
You'll have to take it if you want to
You'll have to face the consequences
That can bring you down
Don't try and play the game
Cause you could get knocked back underground
Take one step
Have you got it in you
You'll have to fake it like you always do
You'll have to face the consequences
That can bring you down
Don't try and play the game
Cause you could get knocked back underground
You've got to find your reason right now
To put that eye up to the keyhole
To find the answers to the questions
What's it like or what's in fashion
This passion keeps us moving along
Could I be down to try to get up off the ground
To survive without you
Cause you'll still be living
While I'm busy singing to live
Give up, give in
Or get up on the roof of the big time
And try to pretend you knew better
I don't care about you
Cause you'll still be living
While I'm busy singing
Take one step
Have you got it in you
You'll have to take it if you want to
You'll have to face the consequences
That can bring you down
Don't try and play the game
Cause you could get knocked back underground
Take one step
Have you got it in you
You'll have to fake it like you always do
You'll have to face the consequences
That can bring you down
Don't try and play the game
Cause you could get knocked back underground
You're off by a long shot
You've got to find your reason right now
To keep your hands inside the game
To find your ride for the long haul
And let you shoulder all the blame
For this monster you can't tame
I try to pretend I knew better
I'm not scared
But I should be
Cause you'll still be living
While I'm busy singing
I will not let you live
Take one step
Have you got it in you
You'll have to take it if you want to
You'll have to face the consequences
That can bring you down
Don't try and play the game
Cause you could get knocked back underground
Take one step
Have you got it in you
You'll have to fake it like you always do
You'll have to face the consequences
That can bring you down
Don't try and play the game
Cause you could get knocked back under
Knocked back underground
So take your chances
Treading water in the fountain of youth
The truth will set you free
Well now you're drowning in the water
In the fountain of youth
The world will set you free
Well now you're floating in the water
In the fountain of youth
The truth will set you free
Well now you're poisoning the water
In the fountain of youth
The world will set you free
Take one step
Have you got it in you
You'll have to take it if you want to
You'll have to face the consequences
That can bring you down
Don't try and play the game
Cause you could get knocked back underground
Take one step
Have you got it in you
You'll have to fake it like you always do
You'll have to face the consequences
That can bring you down
Don't try and play the game
Cause you could get knocked back underground
Lyrics submitted by eltroyo11
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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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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,
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Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Nicole is a harlot and she'll just have to live her life while I'm on stage living mine.