"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.
Eyes betray the soul and bear it's thinking.
Beyond words they say so many things to me.
A stranger here reborn it seems
awaking wonders deep in me.
If nothing's ventured nothing's gained
so I must seize the day.
And fighting time so hard I pray
that this moment lasts forever.
And will the world stay standing still at least for me.
Through my eyes stare into me.
I bear my heart for all to see.
With my face turned to the sun there ever standing still.
It wasn't you it wasn't me it wasn't anyone.
It was a day so long awaited and a chance to be as me.
I let the wind run through my hands
as I turned to walk away.
In distant days I long to sense it all so clear.
And fighting time so hard I pray
that this moment lasts forever.
And will the world stay standing still at least for me.
Through my eyes stare into me.
I bear my heart for all to see.
With my face turned to the sun there ever standing still.
And fighting time so much I ask.
I will this morning last forever.
Though seasons change and things come to pass
remain inside of me.
And fighting time so hard I pray
that this moment lasts forever.
and will the world stay standing still at least for me.
I had no faith before that day in any vow or deed.
Days followed days and years were meaningless.
Despite the wisdom of defeat
I bore my heart for all to see the wonders I'd seen.
Beyond words they say so many things to me.
A stranger here reborn it seems
awaking wonders deep in me.
If nothing's ventured nothing's gained
so I must seize the day.
And fighting time so hard I pray
that this moment lasts forever.
And will the world stay standing still at least for me.
Through my eyes stare into me.
I bear my heart for all to see.
With my face turned to the sun there ever standing still.
It wasn't you it wasn't me it wasn't anyone.
It was a day so long awaited and a chance to be as me.
I let the wind run through my hands
as I turned to walk away.
In distant days I long to sense it all so clear.
And fighting time so hard I pray
that this moment lasts forever.
And will the world stay standing still at least for me.
Through my eyes stare into me.
I bear my heart for all to see.
With my face turned to the sun there ever standing still.
And fighting time so much I ask.
I will this morning last forever.
Though seasons change and things come to pass
remain inside of me.
And fighting time so hard I pray
that this moment lasts forever.
and will the world stay standing still at least for me.
I had no faith before that day in any vow or deed.
Days followed days and years were meaningless.
Despite the wisdom of defeat
I bore my heart for all to see the wonders I'd seen.
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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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.
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.
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.
This song brought me out of the worst time of my own life when I needed it most. This was only about 3 months ago, and I was on the very verge of suicide, contemplating how my days and years had blended into one another and left almost no trace upon me, when I suddenly realized that music was playing somewhere. Attracted by the words, 'Time' and 'Standing still', I stopped and listened closely. When it was over I thought hard on how I could, perhaps, break the monotony of my days. I started getting out more often and went to the Castle (a Goth club) in Ybor City in Tampa, FL, for the first time. Now I'm addicted to VNV and the Castle. I now have things to look forward to and friends to chill and make memories with. I owe my life to VNV and the Castle! This song truly is powerful in every way. I'm listening to it even now, and can barely see my monitor for tears welling up in my eyes from the strength of the emotions this song draws from me.
this is my favorite song- it has the most beautiful lyrics. It's just a song about living in the moment, and cherishing life, and never taking any moment for granted. He has an instant of realization - of how incredible life really is, and he is praying that he will be able to life for the rest of his life in that moment of realization - always knowing what a gift life truly is
I have to agree with rynlee on this one. It's a song of celebration. Thank God for the precious gift he's given you in life.
Your one perfect moment is just that: a moment.
Everything supposedly goes down from there, but is that any excuse at all to let go?
Everybody knows that living is pain, but everyone lives on anyways - does it ever make you wonder? Do you ever consider it when you're standing there on the edge of your own bridge?
Though nothing in the world will stand still for you, that doesn't mean you should just be washed away with the current. Reach with your legs, find the bottom and fight the current to the best of your ability.
One of my personal anthems, every one of which is by VNV Nation, conveniently. :)
This song is also one of 'my vnv anthems' :D. The lyrics to this song are so amazingly beautiful.
I love listening to this song in my car, with the windows down, as I drive through narrow backroads lined on both sides by towering green trees as the wind whips through my hair. Starting off this song sets a mood and suddenly draws you in as if in a whirlwind into a beautiful voyage, it's almost like a heartbeat pulsing through everything as the lyrics embrace you with their beauty.
I was totally taken back by this song. It is so amazingly clear, but the best thing is how inspirational it is. Every second of every minute is a possibility to make memories. Memories, after all, are based on experiences, good or bad. In other words it tells us to make the most of our limited time here. Go and live. Experience things. Things that you could tell you children about, or just look back on.
As I sit here listening to VNV on MP3 (Rubicon ;-) I am always drawn back to this song.
It was my first introduction to VNV Nation and remains a firm favourite.
"I had no faith before that time in any vow or deed. Days followed days and years were meaningless"
Sometimes there are defining moments in your life, moments that you want to capture and which change your life forever. These are surely different for everyone, but if you've had such a moment then you'll know what I mean and the song will have meaning for you ;-)
Also a question.... should the lyrics say "bare my heart for all to see" rather then "bear" ?? I think both meanings would be equally effective ..
This song, it calls to you. Even if you're not a fan of industrial music (how could you not be anyway?), it's the beauty and truth in the lyrics that draws you in, it hypnotizes you. I've listened to so many different songs, and I'll tell you what, Standing is one of if not the best song I've ever heard. Ronan is such a great song writer, and his work is cherished by so many. The greatest part of this song, is how inspirational it is. VNV has been there, they know how life is. They know that no matter how famous or rich or well-off you are, you had to start somewhere. They started out with nothing, and through their music, a group of people was born. These songs reached out to people on so many planes, they connected with the words and they became VNV's Empire. Even though VNV has not yet became a household name, I believe that someday, their Empire will be worldwide and they will finally get what they deserve. They have my respect, though it may not mean much, and I will always be grateful to have had the privilege to have heard their music.
I love totally love this song! (Plain and simple) you guys wrote everything I would've written about it. Arrgh! :) I love this song.