"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.
Remember all those fights we had
Maybe they meant nothing to you
Or were you looking for some action
Those things I never understood
How many times did you lie to me
How many times did you say
It's gonna get better that's for sure my love I promise
Babe I'll be alright now any day
But it was without love
Non no, no without love
Without love
No, no, no without love
When you told me babe it's over now
I simply did not know what to do
For you it was an easy thing
But I just stood there like a fool
Soon you started calling in the evenings
Your voice was spilling over with regrets
You said you wanted us to be together
That all sad memories we should forget
But you said it without love
No, no, no without love
Without love
No, no, no without love
Without love
No, no, no without love
Without love
Oh no, no, oh without love
Oh, you said it without love
No, no, no without love
Oh, without love
No, no, no without love
You said it without love
No, no, no without love
Without love
No, no, no without love
Without love
No, no, no without love
Mmm mmm
No, no, no without love
Maybe they meant nothing to you
Or were you looking for some action
Those things I never understood
How many times did you lie to me
How many times did you say
It's gonna get better that's for sure my love I promise
Babe I'll be alright now any day
But it was without love
Non no, no without love
Without love
No, no, no without love
When you told me babe it's over now
I simply did not know what to do
For you it was an easy thing
But I just stood there like a fool
Soon you started calling in the evenings
Your voice was spilling over with regrets
You said you wanted us to be together
That all sad memories we should forget
But you said it without love
No, no, no without love
Without love
No, no, no without love
Without love
No, no, no without love
Without love
Oh no, no, oh without love
Oh, you said it without love
No, no, no without love
Oh, without love
No, no, no without love
You said it without love
No, no, no without love
Without love
No, no, no without love
Without love
No, no, no without love
Mmm mmm
No, no, no without love
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.