"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 say you don't want to know where this road goes
as you follow its twist and its turns
if i'm gonna be someone equally free
there are things that i must unlearn
i'd say it's safe to surmise there'll be storms at times
cause you're a wind so blustery and cold
and down our cheeks the rain will fall in sheets
'til the sun warms us both
the pavement's the drum and we're waltzing in beat
the rhythm of the sound of our shoes on the street
i'll take care of you if you take care of me
if you take care of me
you say you don't want to know where this road goes
cause you don't want to spoil the surprise
we will see you're eventually
where our destination lies
where our destination lies
as you follow its twist and its turns
if i'm gonna be someone equally free
there are things that i must unlearn
i'd say it's safe to surmise there'll be storms at times
cause you're a wind so blustery and cold
and down our cheeks the rain will fall in sheets
'til the sun warms us both
the pavement's the drum and we're waltzing in beat
the rhythm of the sound of our shoes on the street
i'll take care of you if you take care of me
if you take care of me
you say you don't want to know where this road goes
cause you don't want to spoil the surprise
we will see you're eventually
where our destination lies
where our destination lies
Lyrics submitted by sethbrown
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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Silent Planet
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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,
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Ed Sheeran
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.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Only heard about 15 seconds, but it sounds sweet.
I'm seeing Arthur tomorrow, souly so I can listen to Ben Gibbard's two songs :)
Not a bad song, reminiscent of various folk songs and singers from ages past.
It seems like Gibbard is trying to sound a little like Willy at the beginning, I like it. Their other sound is sometimes just a little too clean, a little grit in the voice helps them and The Decemberists. Twee is nice at times but I prefer Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan's sound - even though sometimes they sound hideous.
I wish I could say this song is original, but I love it anyway. Reminds me of me and my wife, has been a hard road for us, but by God we're still on it together.
The funny thing is that when I first met my wife, I was a city boy, she a country girl. We took a 30 mile bike ride and purposefully got lost in the country - because she didn't want to know where we were going - that it would be an adventure to see where we'd end up. That was 19 years ago.