"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.
I am a man, man, man, man
Up, up in the air
And I run around, round, round, round this down town and act like I don't care.
So when you see me flying by the planet's moon,
You don't need to explain if everything's changed
Just know I'm just like you.
Huh.
Ha, (x4)
So I pull the switch, the switch, the switch inside my head.
And I see black, black, green,and brown, brown, brown and blue, yellow, violets, red.
And suddenly a light appears inside my brain
And I think of my ways, I think of my days and know that I have changed.
It's the colors you have
No need to be sad.
It really ain't that bad.
It's the colors you have
No need to be sad.
You've still got your health.
So mistress, mistress have you been up to the roof?
He shot himself, self
There's blood on the wall
'cause he couldn't face the truth.
Oh, knock that down, leave the ground and find some space
And tell your friends, friends,
You'll be back again, gain
Before it's too late.
It's the colors you have
No need to be sad.
It really ain't that bad.
Oooooooooh, it's the colors you have
No need to be sad.
It really ain't that bad
It's the colors you have
No need to be sad.
You've still got your health.
So I am a man, man, man, man
Up, up in the air
And I float around, 'round, 'round this downtown
And know I shouldn't care.
So when you see us there out in the open road
You don't need to explain
If everything's changed
Just know that you don't know.
We call it life
Oh yeah, that's what we call it.
We can't call it at all.
We call it life
Oh yeah, that's what we call it.
When you can't call it at all.
Yeah, we call it
Oh yeah that's what we call it.
(oooooooooohhhhh)
We do it for love, sweet love.
Up, up in the air
And I run around, round, round, round this down town and act like I don't care.
So when you see me flying by the planet's moon,
You don't need to explain if everything's changed
Just know I'm just like you.
Huh.
Ha, (x4)
So I pull the switch, the switch, the switch inside my head.
And I see black, black, green,and brown, brown, brown and blue, yellow, violets, red.
And suddenly a light appears inside my brain
And I think of my ways, I think of my days and know that I have changed.
It's the colors you have
No need to be sad.
It really ain't that bad.
It's the colors you have
No need to be sad.
You've still got your health.
So mistress, mistress have you been up to the roof?
He shot himself, self
There's blood on the wall
'cause he couldn't face the truth.
Oh, knock that down, leave the ground and find some space
And tell your friends, friends,
You'll be back again, gain
Before it's too late.
It's the colors you have
No need to be sad.
It really ain't that bad.
Oooooooooh, it's the colors you have
No need to be sad.
It really ain't that bad
It's the colors you have
No need to be sad.
You've still got your health.
So I am a man, man, man, man
Up, up in the air
And I float around, 'round, 'round this downtown
And know I shouldn't care.
So when you see us there out in the open road
You don't need to explain
If everything's changed
Just know that you don't know.
We call it life
Oh yeah, that's what we call it.
We can't call it at all.
We call it life
Oh yeah, that's what we call it.
When you can't call it at all.
Yeah, we call it
Oh yeah that's what we call it.
(oooooooooohhhhh)
We do it for love, sweet love.
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Holiday
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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.
Mountain Song
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Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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.
I definitely think this song is about self-acceptance, like plenty of others have said, but I also think it goes a little deeper than that.
It's not just acceptance of who you are, but also who you used to be, and to accept the fact that you have changed and will probably continue to change for your entire life. I also get a feel that there's a bit of outward acceptance here (of other people, or that other people change), but that's probably just me because I can't really point to any specific lyrics.
"It's the Colours you have" not "if the colours bad"
I suppose he's saying not to be ashamed of who you are. He makes mistakes, causes trouble, maybe does drugs (nor sure how else he pulled the switch inside his head). No one should consume themselves with their faults, especially when looking back on what you've done. We all have regrets, he's just like you. You can always change going forward and what you've done in the past is just who you are, your colors.
I'm pretty sure that this song is about learning who you are and accepting it. I don't think the line about the switch in his head and the colors is a drug reference. I think it's just about self discovery and acceptance.
He pulls the switch, the switch inside his head, and he sees memories, memories, memories, memories, memories...
And suddenly a light appears inside his brain, And emits light upon all his memories
And knows that he has changed.
Plain and simple...
He's not doing LSD, silly gooses!
yeah, exactly... sounds like somebody has never done acid.<br /> <br /> if you'd done acid, you know that self-discovery, letting go, being comfortable with who you are and becoming a different, more evolved person (basically everything described in the lyrics) are part of the experience.<br /> <br /> oh, and there's lots of colors.<br /> <br /> you should try it sometime, it's awesome and not at all hazardous to your health, despite what the propaganda says.
Fairly certain they were probably doing LSD during this song.. not saying that's what the song is about, but most songs do have different meanings - Perception. Their song "shark attack" is about an acid trip that they go to the desert and see the devil.
@jazztobak - SWIM is experienced with LSD and mushrooms of the psilocybin variety (specifically British liberty caps). LSD produces much more of a mental trip, whereas psilocybin is more spiritual.<br /> <br /> I cannot say for certain that this song is about a psychoactive substance to begin with, but comparison of the two, but although LSD does involve a lot of laughing, I would say mushrooms are definitely a better advised trip all round (particularly fresh).<br />
"you've still got your health" should be "you've still got your hands."
I was so curious I tweeted at them and they answered!
Hmm, I actually really think its a Be Yourself with subtle gay themes. The chorus sounds pretty straightforward about being yourself and so is the first verse, but that last line hints at something:
So when you see me flyin' by the planet's moon You don't need to explain if everything's changed Just know I'm just like you
With all the hysteria about gays destroying the world he just wants you to know they're people just like everyone else. Different, sure, but the same nonetheless.
So I pull this switch The switch, the switch inside my head And I see black black, green and brown brown brown brown, And blue yellow violet's red
This could be sarcasm directed at the people who believe its a choice. Either way he sees his colors for what they are.
And suddenly a light appears inside my brain And I think of my ways, I think of my days And know that I have changed
The sudden epiphany where you realize you're a completely different person from a couple years ago, perhaps he didn't accept himself before but now he's no longer ashamed of being gay. Doesn't have to relate but thats how I see it.
So mistress, mistress Have you been up to the roof? He shot himself self, there's blood on the wall 'Cause he couldn't face the truth
This one just seemed weird until I realized it could be about the gay men who spend their whole lives denying who they are and trying to live a more acceptable charade, only to end up cheating on their wives (hence the use of the word mistress) and committing suicide.
Oh knock that down, leave the ground and find some space And tell your friends friends, you'll be back again gain Before it's too late
This is like a bit of friendly advice. Forget about your current troubles and try to think things through before you do anything drastic. The telling your friends part is pretty important when you feel suicidal. I think the "before its too late" speaks for itself.
Que chorus about accepting yourself, its not so bad at least you're healthy yadda yadda
So when you see us there, there out in the open road You don't need to explain if everything's changed Just know that you don't know
I think this is telling people who are afraid of acknowledging gay rights (or even gay people in general) and who think gay marriage is the beginning of the end of the moral fabric of society that you really don't know what's going to happen. No one does, but that's life, its unpredictable. Then at the outro he says "Yeah we call it... love". It's life, it's love. You may think it's hell on Earth but people are going to have to accept that this is real and its here to stay so deal with it.
I think this song is saying how life changes in bad ways yet you still have to go on and try to not let it bother you.
Wow, can you not just copy & paste half-assed lyrics from every other site? Here are the ACTUAL lyrics:
Yeah I am a man, man man man Up up in the air And I run around round round, round this town town And act like I don't care
So when you see me flyin' by the planet's moon You don't need to explain if everything's changed Just know I'm just like you
Huh, ha (x4) (ahhhh-ahhh-ahh)
So I pull this switch The switch, the switch inside my head And I see black black, green and brown brown brown brown, And blue yellow violet's red
And suddenly a light appears inside my brain And I think of my ways, I think of my days And know that I have changed
It's the colours you have No need to be sad It really ain't that bad
It's the colours you have No need to be sad You still got your health
So mistress, mistress Have you been up to the roof? He shot himself self, there's blood on the wall 'Cause he couldn't face the truth
Oh knock that down, leave the ground and find some space And tell your friends friends, you'll be back again gain Before it's too late
It's the colours you have No need to be sad It really ain't that bad
(woaaaah)
It's the colours you have No need to be sad It really ain't that bad
It's the colours you have No need to be sad You still got your health
So I am a man, man man man Up up in the air And I float around round round, round this town town And know I shouldn't care
So when you see us there, there out in the open road You don't need to explain if everything's changed Just know that you don't know
We call it... life Oh yeah that's what we call it We can't call it hell
Yeah we call it... life Ho yeah that's what we call it When you can't call it hell-ohhh
Yeah we call it... love That's right we call it... love We do it for love Sweet love
I kind of think it's about life, and the hand you are dealt. Like, you know when you were a kid and you would complain about the color of the crayon you get, I think there is a connection there. Like: "It's the colors you have, don't be sad, it really ain't that bad." Like this is the life you have, don't be sad. Anyhow, who knows? It's probably different for everyone.