"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.
Climb out
Out to where you see
The curl of the world,
We're alone
Just like you said
Cold cold world,
Life lasts
Only one thing left to roll
Last year to learn,
You were the boat that bridged
In the tale of Conrad
We will never be the change
To the weather and the sea and you knew that,
You were the boat that bridged
In the tale of Conrad
Oh I loved you with the good
And the careless of me
But it all goes back,
Oh climb out
Out enough to see
The curl of the world,
Oh we're alone
Just like you said
Last year to learn,
You were the boat that bridged
In the tale of Conrad
We will never be the change
To the weather and the sea and you knew that,
You were the boat that bridged
In the tale of Conrad
Oh I loved you with the good
And the careless of me
But it all goes back,
You were the boat that bridged
In the tale of Conrad
We will never be the change
To the weather and the sea and you knew that,
You were the boat that bridged
In the tale of Conrad
Oh I loved you with the good
And the careless of me
But it all goes back,
Out to where you see
The curl of the world,
We're alone
Just like you said
Cold cold world,
Life lasts
Only one thing left to roll
Last year to learn,
You were the boat that bridged
In the tale of Conrad
We will never be the change
To the weather and the sea and you knew that,
You were the boat that bridged
In the tale of Conrad
Oh I loved you with the good
And the careless of me
But it all goes back,
Oh climb out
Out enough to see
The curl of the world,
Oh we're alone
Just like you said
Last year to learn,
You were the boat that bridged
In the tale of Conrad
We will never be the change
To the weather and the sea and you knew that,
You were the boat that bridged
In the tale of Conrad
Oh I loved you with the good
And the careless of me
But it all goes back,
You were the boat that bridged
In the tale of Conrad
We will never be the change
To the weather and the sea and you knew that,
You were the boat that bridged
In the tale of Conrad
Oh I loved you with the good
And the careless of me
But it all goes back,
Lyrics submitted by SukkaFish92, edited by M4TTY, Snowyjugs, joolzwright
Conrad Lyrics as written by Benjamin John Howard
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Little Feat
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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”
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/
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Lyrics should be modified from 'bridged' to 'breached' 'In the tale of Conrad('s)'
I also believe that "The Tale" by Joseph Conrad is referenced here.
There is a war at sea and the main character, the commander, comes upon a ship that is undeterminably friend or foe. The Commander feels that the captain of that ship is lying to him about his intentions. Not knowing where the heart of the captain of that ship truly lies, the Commander sends him to his death in the form of false directions that lead to impassable waters. The Commander struggles with the thought that he condemned innocent men to their deaths.
Ben Howard writes about specific people in his life, It is possible that he is talking about somebody he was conflicted with, he regrets sending them away because he wasn't sure who they really were at the point where he sent them out of his life. Seems to focus on unsurety and possibly regret.
"Oh I loved you with the good And the careless of me But it all goes back"
The title and line "In the tale of Conrad" (which sounds to me like "In that tale of Conrad's" but not sure) definitely seem to be allusions to the short story "The Tale" by Joseph Conrad.
It's a good read: online-literature.com/conrad/3127/
I think the lines: "We will never be the change To the weather and the sea..." resonate with the ending of the story.
Thanks for introducing this yank to Joseph Conrad and "The Tale". What a great writer and read.
I personally think that when he reference to the boat that bridged he means that the one he was in a relationship with had the choice to make it good or make it bad. He would go with her either way. Yet the both new that it would never work out between them."We will never be the change To the weather and the sea and you knew that" Even when he knows it doesn't any good to let it depend on the other they have to many memories to just let it go " And it all goes back"