"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.
Johnny Mack lived near Maple Creek
He was long and lean and tough
A level head and a steady hand
And a wizard with the puck
And once across the blue line oh
He'd never let you down
You could tell by the look in his coal black eyes
That boy was glory bound
He could bring the home town to its feet
With a goal in overtime
The scouts had pegged him sure enough
It was just a matter of time
If there was any justice in this world
He'd be picked in the second round
Cause he had the goods there was no denying
That boy was glory bound
One afternoon before a game
I stopped by Johnny's place
With my father's car and a feeling in my heart
That night we'd take first place
But there was something that he'd left behind
He'd fetch it back in town
I never dreamt it at the time
That fate would strike him down
Oh, we phoned the Mounties when he didn't show
They found him in a ditch between here and Shaunavon
Roof caved in and it's fifty below
Sirens wail, blizzard blows
Johnny died young but I grew old
And since that time I've come to think
When I see his name engraved on trophies
Or his picture in a case in the Kinsmen's rink
He somehow slipped the bonds of time
He's gained himself renown
And I've started on that slow slide back
But he's forever glory bound
And I've started on that slow slide back
But he's forever glory bound
He was long and lean and tough
A level head and a steady hand
And a wizard with the puck
And once across the blue line oh
He'd never let you down
You could tell by the look in his coal black eyes
That boy was glory bound
He could bring the home town to its feet
With a goal in overtime
The scouts had pegged him sure enough
It was just a matter of time
If there was any justice in this world
He'd be picked in the second round
Cause he had the goods there was no denying
That boy was glory bound
One afternoon before a game
I stopped by Johnny's place
With my father's car and a feeling in my heart
That night we'd take first place
But there was something that he'd left behind
He'd fetch it back in town
I never dreamt it at the time
That fate would strike him down
Oh, we phoned the Mounties when he didn't show
They found him in a ditch between here and Shaunavon
Roof caved in and it's fifty below
Sirens wail, blizzard blows
Johnny died young but I grew old
And since that time I've come to think
When I see his name engraved on trophies
Or his picture in a case in the Kinsmen's rink
He somehow slipped the bonds of time
He's gained himself renown
And I've started on that slow slide back
But he's forever glory bound
And I've started on that slow slide back
But he's forever glory bound
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Glory Bound Lyrics as written by Keelaghan
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Punchline
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.