"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'm not the first you sucked down
I drank your pleasure slow
Then stumbled out from your veil
Still I've come for you tonight
Choke my faith and stab my pride
And tell myself that
[Chorus]
This is the last time
This is the last time
This is the last time now
I'll bleed for you
Preservation or predation
As I'm reeling I don't know
Crumbled I spill out of your hand
I want to fall
And you see it all
And you'll just laugh when I say
[Chorus]
And everything I feel I know you know
And everything that heals I know you know
And everything that steals I know you know
And everything that kills you know
And tell myself that
This is the last time
This is the last time
This is the last time now
I drank your pleasure slow
Then stumbled out from your veil
Still I've come for you tonight
Choke my faith and stab my pride
And tell myself that
[Chorus]
This is the last time
This is the last time
This is the last time now
I'll bleed for you
Preservation or predation
As I'm reeling I don't know
Crumbled I spill out of your hand
I want to fall
And you see it all
And you'll just laugh when I say
[Chorus]
And everything I feel I know you know
And everything that heals I know you know
And everything that steals I know you know
And everything that kills you know
And tell myself that
This is the last time
This is the last time
This is the last time now
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Last Time Lyrics as written by Carl William Bell
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Ebba Grön
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
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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
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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
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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.
It's most likely about someone being taken advantage of, and the victim knows he/she is being taken advantage of but still lets it happen over and over again. And the person keeps telling themselves that it's never going to happen again, but never follows through and just keeps coming back for more abuse.
I don't know if this song is autobiographical for Carl Bell (the lead guitarist and writer of the song), about someone he knew who had it happen to them, or just a fictional/hypothetical story, but I'm sure a lot of people can relate, including myself.
Great song, underrated band!