"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 just can't help thinking
What you've done to me
You built a wall of love and tore it right down
In front of me
And you think you know what's going on
You keep telling me that I am wrong
I don't care about what you do
'Cause if you mess with me I'll get rid of you
The picture you see is no portrait of me
It's too real to be shown to someone I don't know
And it's driving me wild
It makes me act like a child
You think I am crazy, but what can I do
You waste your time, like my money
It ain't so funny, but it's true
(Don't waste my money, baby)
Now you can't tell me what's going on
And that I am weak while you are strong
What is it you need, that makes your heart bleed
Do you really know? 'Cause it doesn't show
The picture you see is no portrait of me
It's too real to be shown to someone I don't know
And it's driving me wild
It makes me act like a child
The picture you see is no portrait of me
It's too real to be shown to someone I don't know
And it's driving me wild
It makes me act like a child
What you've done to me
You built a wall of love and tore it right down
In front of me
And you think you know what's going on
You keep telling me that I am wrong
I don't care about what you do
'Cause if you mess with me I'll get rid of you
The picture you see is no portrait of me
It's too real to be shown to someone I don't know
And it's driving me wild
It makes me act like a child
You think I am crazy, but what can I do
You waste your time, like my money
It ain't so funny, but it's true
(Don't waste my money, baby)
Now you can't tell me what's going on
And that I am weak while you are strong
What is it you need, that makes your heart bleed
Do you really know? 'Cause it doesn't show
The picture you see is no portrait of me
It's too real to be shown to someone I don't know
And it's driving me wild
It makes me act like a child
The picture you see is no portrait of me
It's too real to be shown to someone I don't know
And it's driving me wild
It makes me act like a child
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Round & Round Lyrics as written by Gillian Lesley Gilbert Bernard (gb 2) Sumner
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
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Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
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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.
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,
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.
I LOVE THIS SONG!! It's THE song to listen to post-breakup. It's about not being taken advantage of anymore and realizing you're more worth it than to stay in a relationship where the other person only hurts you.
The song is apparently about the deteriorating relationship between Bernard and manager Tony Wilson.
In 24 Hour Party People the Tony Wilson character claims that all the punters at the Hacienda were tripping on E so the bar basically made no money. Makes sense even if the film is a fictionalisation.
And yeah, even if Tony Wilson wasn't a great businessman, he was a great supporter of incredible art, Bless his soul.
Oh yeah, and it's a bloody good song. Reminds me of Bizarre Love Triangle somewhat in style.
Oldironside is right, apparentlyu but the Tony Wilson is the boss of Factory records, not New Order's manager. he was ploughing loads of money into the hacienda nightclub at the time and it was making no money back. he was always more interested in creating amazing things rathr than making money and didn't mind who's cash was going into the project. still, a hero that left a real legacy. RIP.
An unreferenced meaning given on the wikipedia page for this song says it is about the deteriorating relationship between the band and Anthony H Wilson, one of the owners, and key figure in Factory Records, New Order's long time label.
This was partly to do with the massive losses that The Hacienda -the club owned by the band and label, was making, which were mostly paid for by the income generated by the band.
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In New Order's "Round and Round"'s club frenzy edifys us about internal madness. Doubts, vexations and depression swirl round and round in a cerebral jungle. The innocent has been cruelly gaslighted and left to piece together how someone could be capable of such callousness. ["Now you can't tell me what's going on/And that I am weak while you are strong/ What is it you need, that makes your heart bleed/Do you really know? 'Cause it doesn't show."] "What is it you need?" predates the "How much do you need?" from Music Complete's soaring "Restless". The people who chase material wealth are curiosities and vexing to New Order. Technique's previous song "Loveless" has the longing wondering line about working a lifetime for someone and them not even caring. This treatment can rip the innards out of you and New Order's song captures the mental state that goes along with that. [The picture you see is no portrait of me. It's too real to be shown to someone I don't know. And it's driving me wild. It makes me act like a child] Some of the great lines ever highlighting the maddening effects of cruelty. Back to square one, back to being a "child" and acting out. You thought you were all grown up and mature. A cruel person/act slices and cuts you down just like that. "Round and Round"'s madness is similar to "Mr. Disco"'s search through the club as "Loveless" longing and plangency parallel "Run". The high-pitched left ear right ear back-n-forth go-gos, fluttering rimshots, synth stabs, booming bounce and compression all swirl to give "Round & Round" the image of a person's brain all-consumed with millions of pinballing criss-crossing questions and vexations. A masterpiece song!
This song was really popular when I was a teenager. Love this song & New Order. Everyone interprets lyrics differently, most of the time to fit their personal situations. IMO it sounds like a post ~ breakup song.