"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.
As I was climbing on the stairs
The stairs climbed me all unawares
When language stops dividing me
The horse I ride is riding me
And now my house is living in me
And now my food is eating me
Your language is mistaking me
But I'm so woke it's waking me
And now my confusion is a kind of clarity
I won't let your languaging get the better of me
There goes the fool on top of it all
Later he'll befall a fall
Clever people stay down low
Where there's no place lower to go
As I was climbing on the stairs
The stairs climbed me all unawares
The jokes you make keep laughing at me
The things you break keep breaking me
Structures all around us have their uses all implied
But I won't let that escalator take me for a ride
The things I own are owning me
And now this song is singing me
Why, when no-one's making me
Something is mistaking me
And now my confusion is a kind of clarity
But I won't let that escalator escalate me
Structures all around us have their uses all implied
But I won't let your languaging take me for a ride
The stairs climbed me all unawares
When language stops dividing me
The horse I ride is riding me
And now my house is living in me
And now my food is eating me
Your language is mistaking me
But I'm so woke it's waking me
And now my confusion is a kind of clarity
I won't let your languaging get the better of me
There goes the fool on top of it all
Later he'll befall a fall
Clever people stay down low
Where there's no place lower to go
As I was climbing on the stairs
The stairs climbed me all unawares
The jokes you make keep laughing at me
The things you break keep breaking me
Structures all around us have their uses all implied
But I won't let that escalator take me for a ride
The things I own are owning me
And now this song is singing me
Why, when no-one's making me
Something is mistaking me
And now my confusion is a kind of clarity
But I won't let that escalator escalate me
Structures all around us have their uses all implied
But I won't let your languaging take me for a ride
Lyrics submitted by middledistancerunner
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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,
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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/
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
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.