"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 been livin for the weekend
But no not anymore
'Cause here comes that familiar feelin'
That Friday's famous for
Yeah I'm lookin' for some action
And it's out there somewhere
You can feel the electricity
All in the evening air
And it may just be more of the same
But sometimes you wanna go where everyone knows your name
So I guess I'll have to wait and see
But I'm just gonna let something brand new happen to me
And it's alright
It's alright
It's alright
It's alright
It's alright
It's alright
Bright lights and the big city
It belongs to us tonight
Now Friday's cool
But there's somethin' about Saturday night
You can't say what you won't do
'Cause you know that you just might
I'm alive this evening
It was love at first sight
This Saturday
And every Saturday for the rest of my life
And everyone's standin' in line
Yeah lookin' good and lookin' for a real good time
So I'll never have to wonder if
I'll have someone to share all of this with
And it's alright
It's alright
It's alright
It's alright
It's alright
It's alright
Bright lights and the big city
It belongs to us tonight
Yes I need it
Everybody does
Cocktails and conversation
Music and making love
And it's alright
It's alright
It's alright
It's alright
It's alright
It's alright
Bright lights and the big city
It belongs to us tonight
Bright lights, bright lights, bright lights
And the big city
It belongs to us tonight
But no not anymore
'Cause here comes that familiar feelin'
That Friday's famous for
Yeah I'm lookin' for some action
And it's out there somewhere
You can feel the electricity
All in the evening air
And it may just be more of the same
But sometimes you wanna go where everyone knows your name
So I guess I'll have to wait and see
But I'm just gonna let something brand new happen to me
And it's alright
It's alright
It's alright
It's alright
It's alright
It's alright
Bright lights and the big city
It belongs to us tonight
Now Friday's cool
But there's somethin' about Saturday night
You can't say what you won't do
'Cause you know that you just might
I'm alive this evening
It was love at first sight
This Saturday
And every Saturday for the rest of my life
And everyone's standin' in line
Yeah lookin' good and lookin' for a real good time
So I'll never have to wonder if
I'll have someone to share all of this with
And it's alright
It's alright
It's alright
It's alright
It's alright
It's alright
Bright lights and the big city
It belongs to us tonight
Yes I need it
Everybody does
Cocktails and conversation
Music and making love
And it's alright
It's alright
It's alright
It's alright
It's alright
It's alright
Bright lights and the big city
It belongs to us tonight
Bright lights, bright lights, bright lights
And the big city
It belongs to us tonight
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Fast Car
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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,
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
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Magical
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American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
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I can't believe there are no comments! Anywho, this song is all about having a good time on those long awaited weekends. Take it from me, savor every minute of those weekend hours.
I LOVE THIS song but soooo far i dnt like most of his songs
I've been living for the weekend but no not anymore Cuz here comes that familiar feeling that Friday is famous for Yeah I'm looking for some action and it's out there somewhere You can feel the electricity all in the evening air
And it may just be more of the same But sometimes you wanna go where everyone knows your name So I guess I'll have to wait and see But I'm just gonna let something brand new happen to me
And it's alright, it's alright It's alright, it's alright, it's alright, it's alright Bright lights and the big city It belongs to us tonight, tonight, tonight
Now Friday is cool but there's something about Saturday night You can't say what you won't do cuz you know that you just might I'm alive this evening, it was love at first sight Ah this Saturday and every Saturday for the rest of my life
And everyone's standing in line, huh Yeah looking good and looking for a real good time So I'll never have to wonder if I'll have someone to share all of this with
And it's alright, it's alright It's alright, it's alright, it's alright, it's alright Bright lights and the big city It belongs to us tonight, tonight, tonight, alright
Yes I need it, everybody does... Cocktails and conversation, music and making love..