"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.
I lay my head on her bosom
To cry myself to sleep
I see no greater wisdom
Than she has given me
La dolly vita
Sweet as true love
La dolly vita
Cool as ice cream
Cool as ice cream
You hear a lot of visions
You can't even stop
Can't see what you're missing
Spinning like a top
Fade away, I want to see her
Fade away, I want to see her
I only want to meet her
La dolly vita
True as blue sky
La dolly vita
Cool as ice cream
Cool as ice cream
Take it all the way down
Forsake what you have now
Take it all the way down
To cry myself to sleep
I see no greater wisdom
Than she has given me
La dolly vita
Sweet as true love
La dolly vita
Cool as ice cream
Cool as ice cream
You hear a lot of visions
You can't even stop
Can't see what you're missing
Spinning like a top
Fade away, I want to see her
Fade away, I want to see her
I only want to meet her
La dolly vita
True as blue sky
La dolly vita
Cool as ice cream
Cool as ice cream
Take it all the way down
Forsake what you have now
Take it all the way down
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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.
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,
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.
definitely my pumpkins fav....for a quick analysis picture this scenario while walking down a street: "I lay my head on her bosom To cry myself to sleep I see no greater wisdom Than she has given me"- the dreams that women give you
"La Dolly Vita Sweet as true love La Dolly Vita Cool as ice cream Cool as ice cream"- sweet life, just like a new love you have, that tastes good like a ice cream(ice cream because u see a ice cream cart on the sidewalk)
"You can ear a lot of visions You can't even stop Can't see what you're missing Spinning like a top"- those dreams again are haunting u, with every step you take, a new confusion rises from ur head, "you cant see what you're missing" -> ur missing the reality that sorrounds u
"Fade away I want to see her Fade away I want to see her I only want to meet her"- the girl that is poetically beautiful, u dont know her but shes dreamy, appears in front of u
"True as blue sky"- u look up at the blue sky, and think hes the only one who knows her
"Take it all the way down Forsake what you have now Take it all the way down"- u promised urself that if run into that girl, u would talk to her, ask her out...something...but u failed, and u just "remake" promise for the next time u see her.... Thats the Dolly Vita...and inspiration for every day... u can guess why I love it...
not sure what it's all about, but it's most awesome.
No...they fucked up the track listing. It's just a studio recording. My WinMX says the same thing...but trust me I know my shit.
I love this song!
It's about a girl and he's living the good life with her.
Even though it was originally on Tristessa 7'', you can find it on Pisces Iscariot.
According to AMG, this song was recorded live...?
Btw it's pretty good, but it's so plain! Not quite up to the standard of other Pumpkins b-sides like "Drown" and "Rotten Apples."
Such an amazing song...
The Pumpkins are like Pearl Jam...they have SO many rare songs and b-sides, that if you bought both band's albums, you'd be missing out on half of the great music!
I can't make out the meaning of it, or what's significant about La Dolly Vita, but I agree it's about inspiration...
One of my SP favs!
I think La Dolly Vita is taken off of the phrase "La Dolce Vita." La Dolce Vita translates from italian as "the sweet life." It was also the title of a movie in the 1960's which brought it into more common use in english.
Just a good song, I understand it's about having a good life with the girl of your dreams. But it can just settle you, calm you straight down.