"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.
All rise for the black mass
We are gathered here today in the funeral of your faith
Angels set ablaze
Bask in the flames
God is dead!
Rid your mind of guilt my child
God is dead!
Let your sacrament wilt my child
In a godless universe with logic as the reigning scepter of power
Revel in the mysteries of our reality
Wisdom undefiled
In the shadows where secrets lie
Unrestricted wisdom grows in all directions
Evolutions grow forth from the grave of your faith
Bow your head in awe for our creation
Bring closer his withered throne to earth
Lowering paradise within reach
Burn heaven down!
Nailed to the cross
Drained of it's blood
Piety dies
Crucify this lie
Deus est mortuus!
Logica obtinet!
Evolved in fruition to deny the god of carnal opposition
There will be no judgement from above
Inherit the earth
Possess what is left
Behold a vision blinded by guilt ridden righteousness
Mortal entombment of the mind
False beliefs abandoned in the shadows of the light
We are gathered here today in the funeral of your faith
Angels set ablaze
Bask in the flames
God is dead!
Rid your mind of guilt my child
God is dead!
Let your sacrament wilt my child
In a godless universe with logic as the reigning scepter of power
Revel in the mysteries of our reality
Wisdom undefiled
In the shadows where secrets lie
Unrestricted wisdom grows in all directions
Evolutions grow forth from the grave of your faith
Bow your head in awe for our creation
Bring closer his withered throne to earth
Lowering paradise within reach
Burn heaven down!
Nailed to the cross
Drained of it's blood
Piety dies
Crucify this lie
Deus est mortuus!
Logica obtinet!
Evolved in fruition to deny the god of carnal opposition
There will be no judgement from above
Inherit the earth
Possess what is left
Behold a vision blinded by guilt ridden righteousness
Mortal entombment of the mind
False beliefs abandoned in the shadows of the light
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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
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,
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.
God is dead! Logic prevails!
It's pretty straight forward standard atheist (or autotheist) logic. They believe they are their own god, claiming our minds are blocked by illusions of religion and that we must transcend the illusion by forsaking our "made up" God. We share the same brain as everyone else so there's no real illusion at play. People saw Jesus rise from the dead, and perform miracles, so they wrote about it and we worship him for dying for our sins. I really like the Faceless musically, Michael Keene has a serious talent for making absolutely banger riffs. I'm guessing he grew up with Westboro Baptist christians his entire life (which dont really qualify as christian) so he probably hasn't given it much more thought than a few discussions and random dives into the bible. I can't listen to them anymore because some good ass music isn't worth betraying my beliefs, as well as eternal salvation.
One last thing, if we're talking LOGIC, is it logical to say the universe spawned from nothing? Existence came from two chemicals that just existed and made the big bang? Something, cannot come from nothing. There (logically) has to be a creator involved. Evolution also would not explain humans evolving shame, being capable of pure evil, the simple human construct of good and evil, and why the hell we wear clothes in Arizona, where its 100+ degrees. Why are we embarrassed to be naked? And don't try to say it was something taught over time, because something as complex as embarrassment for being naked, is an absolutely foreign notion to any species, save humans. I feel like typing this out is pretty pointless but if anyone wants to reply I'd love to talk about this stuff
There does not logically have to be a creator. That just creates a chicken-or-egg scenario. Who created the creator? If the creator can have existed forever, then why can't the universe itself? Maybe there have always been an infinite procession of bang/crunch cycles.<br /> <br /> But even if I grant that there was a creator, that is a far cry from lending credence to all the other specifics of Christi[n]anity. All those beliefs really are made up from nothing. In other words, even if there is a creator, who's to say it's YOUR specific creator?<br /> <br /> At the end of the day, not one of us knows where everything came from, and it's senseless to pretend we do. I embrace the fact that I have no idea, and I refuse to be cowed by religions like yours.
No vagueness in this song... self worship. And considering how perfect this song is along with the other 2 parts, I think self worship is justified. #1 song of 2012, hands down.