"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.
At the bottom of the deep, deep earth
Of the edge of the paradise of façades
My fate is to sing and compose
Songs of prayer all alone―
From the past when I lost my place to go
I connect to the voices that keep circulating
And repeat them, in the abyss of history
I sacrifice my body to fate
Without knowing anything
I lived
Only weaving songs
A sunny song
A rainy song
A tender requiem
I can’t even reach the warm hand
Extended
From ahead of the road that leads
To paradise
You may keep singing for eternity
At the bottom of the distortion of the perishing world
My ―fate― is to play songs of prayer
In a tender voice
That sleeps in the forgotten past
I’ll even turn despair into a smile
And sink to the bottom of my tears
At the edge of the paradise of despair
I’m seeking the voice I lost
And my fate is to simply wander far
On the pathless path―
In the shadows of the closed history
While I think of the stolen days
Your voice echoing deep in my heart
Sounds like it’s writhing in agony
Without my wish reaching
The paradise that continues for eternity
It simply distorts and vanishes
Just circulating with your voice
Now by my hands, I want to ascertain
The sound of your warmth
Without even minding getting hurt
I fight…
I sing…
Stealing the soul of the ragged voice
Composing and sleeping until the end of this world
If I can’t reach you
Even if I dissolve this light
Then I can only make the fake paradise
End by my hands
I pray
To protect you
For a world where smiles spill
And light shines…
The song of the hope of light
Connects to tomorrow
Giving you life
Putting the voice that breathes
On a new wind
Until my life is gone…
I fight
To destroy it
You cried
All alone…
The song of the despair of shadows
Buries the past
Stealing your life
Washing the voice of the end away
In the unstopping rain
Until my life is gone…
We’ll meet again…
All voices encounter the light
And connect to the shadows
Turning into history that repeats itself…
The sound of the pulse of the circulating world
Announces the end
It turns into a bell and resonates
All lives cease
And upon the paradise of light and shadows
Ahead of where a new sprout breathes
I wish…
Of the edge of the paradise of façades
My fate is to sing and compose
Songs of prayer all alone―
From the past when I lost my place to go
I connect to the voices that keep circulating
And repeat them, in the abyss of history
I sacrifice my body to fate
Without knowing anything
I lived
Only weaving songs
A sunny song
A rainy song
A tender requiem
I can’t even reach the warm hand
Extended
From ahead of the road that leads
To paradise
You may keep singing for eternity
At the bottom of the distortion of the perishing world
My ―fate― is to play songs of prayer
In a tender voice
That sleeps in the forgotten past
I’ll even turn despair into a smile
And sink to the bottom of my tears
At the edge of the paradise of despair
I’m seeking the voice I lost
And my fate is to simply wander far
On the pathless path―
In the shadows of the closed history
While I think of the stolen days
Your voice echoing deep in my heart
Sounds like it’s writhing in agony
Without my wish reaching
The paradise that continues for eternity
It simply distorts and vanishes
Just circulating with your voice
Now by my hands, I want to ascertain
The sound of your warmth
Without even minding getting hurt
I fight…
I sing…
Stealing the soul of the ragged voice
Composing and sleeping until the end of this world
If I can’t reach you
Even if I dissolve this light
Then I can only make the fake paradise
End by my hands
I pray
To protect you
For a world where smiles spill
And light shines…
The song of the hope of light
Connects to tomorrow
Giving you life
Putting the voice that breathes
On a new wind
Until my life is gone…
I fight
To destroy it
You cried
All alone…
The song of the despair of shadows
Buries the past
Stealing your life
Washing the voice of the end away
In the unstopping rain
Until my life is gone…
We’ll meet again…
All voices encounter the light
And connect to the shadows
Turning into history that repeats itself…
The sound of the pulse of the circulating world
Announces the end
It turns into a bell and resonates
All lives cease
And upon the paradise of light and shadows
Ahead of where a new sprout breathes
I wish…
Lyrics submitted by Lichery
Synchronicity 2 ～Paradise of Light and Shadow (En) song meanings
Add Your Thoughts
0 Comments
- No Comments
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
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.
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
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,