"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.
Stuck here in a cowtown looking for a way out
Drinking to a thing called change
My last bowl's cashed out, clogged up and won't draw
Looks like I gotta fly straight
And then the next thing I saw was a truckload of cannibals
Heading to the DIA, yeah
And now I'm in line with the suits like some animal
Rifling through my seeds and my change
I'm rifling through my seeds and my change
Overheard some blessed man underneath the white tents
Mixin' up bourbon and faith
The next round was my buy - sorry boys I gotta fly
Gotta make my way to the gate
And then the next thing I saw the bar filled up with cannibals
Right here at the DIA, yeah
I'm back in the line with the suits like some animal
Drinking to the end of the day
Yeah drinkin' to the end of days
And there goes some with a seam just like Oregon
Dressed so clean and pressed they don't look just like anyone
Walking arm-in-arm over everyone
It's the final boarding call for the chosen ones
Yeah!
Gangway here come the chosen ones
Whoa-oh-oh
Gangway eating flesh and drinking blood
Whoa-oh-oh
Walking arm-in-arm over everyone
Whoa-oh-oh
Gangway watch out for the chosen ones
Stuck in a cowtown looking for a way out
Drinking to a thing called change
My last bowl's cashed out, clogged up and won't draw
Looks like I gotta fly straight
And the thunder and the rain, the lightning and delays
The passengers comin' undone
I can't deny I got peace of mind
I stole it from the chosen ones
And the next thing I saw was a truckload of medical
Right here at the DIA, yeah
Doors closed, wheels up, flaps down, let's go
It looks like we gotta fly straight
It looks like we gotta fly straight
Drinking to a thing called change
My last bowl's cashed out, clogged up and won't draw
Looks like I gotta fly straight
And then the next thing I saw was a truckload of cannibals
Heading to the DIA, yeah
And now I'm in line with the suits like some animal
Rifling through my seeds and my change
I'm rifling through my seeds and my change
Overheard some blessed man underneath the white tents
Mixin' up bourbon and faith
The next round was my buy - sorry boys I gotta fly
Gotta make my way to the gate
And then the next thing I saw the bar filled up with cannibals
Right here at the DIA, yeah
I'm back in the line with the suits like some animal
Drinking to the end of the day
Yeah drinkin' to the end of days
And there goes some with a seam just like Oregon
Dressed so clean and pressed they don't look just like anyone
Walking arm-in-arm over everyone
It's the final boarding call for the chosen ones
Yeah!
Gangway here come the chosen ones
Whoa-oh-oh
Gangway eating flesh and drinking blood
Whoa-oh-oh
Walking arm-in-arm over everyone
Whoa-oh-oh
Gangway watch out for the chosen ones
Stuck in a cowtown looking for a way out
Drinking to a thing called change
My last bowl's cashed out, clogged up and won't draw
Looks like I gotta fly straight
And the thunder and the rain, the lightning and delays
The passengers comin' undone
I can't deny I got peace of mind
I stole it from the chosen ones
And the next thing I saw was a truckload of medical
Right here at the DIA, yeah
Doors closed, wheels up, flaps down, let's go
It looks like we gotta fly straight
It looks like we gotta fly straight
Lyrics submitted by nuthinbutacustomer
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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,
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
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.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.