"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.
well i knew you for a long time
that was a long long time ago
we lived in the apartment downstairs
but I was upstairs to
but I don't wanna go back there
and I'm sure neither do you
you know it's true
you get older and you get on
but friends or lovers
ex lovers or whatever
I hope you know I'll always care
oh and friends or lovers
ex lovers or whatever
just call my name and I'll be there
well i think it was December
but i really don't remember
it came to a head in February
I told you I don't want to go back there
id rather not
but I just forgot that i always do
oh but friends or lovers
ex lovers or whatever
I hope you know I'll always care
oh and friends or lovers
ex lovers or whatever
just call my name and I'll be there
yeah call my name and I'll be there
that was a long long time ago
we lived in the apartment downstairs
but I was upstairs to
but I don't wanna go back there
and I'm sure neither do you
you know it's true
you get older and you get on
but friends or lovers
ex lovers or whatever
I hope you know I'll always care
oh and friends or lovers
ex lovers or whatever
just call my name and I'll be there
well i think it was December
but i really don't remember
it came to a head in February
I told you I don't want to go back there
id rather not
but I just forgot that i always do
oh but friends or lovers
ex lovers or whatever
I hope you know I'll always care
oh and friends or lovers
ex lovers or whatever
just call my name and I'll be there
yeah call my name and I'll be there
Lyrics submitted by talihinathrees
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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.