"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.
We'll correct collegiate mistakes, a shower of formal ideals, completely soused.
The hearts on our sleeves as they drowned we could hear them screaming.
Oh what a tragic way to see our final days.
I attempt to talk up the town: The answers are in the arches of the
20th Century Towers and in comfortable cars in motion.
And yet it still remains, this incessant refrain:
You're just like the rest. Your restlessness makes you lazy.
Keeping busy is just wasting time and I've wasted what little he gave me. (all around)
I know the conscious choice was crystal clear, to clean the slate of former years:
When I sang softly in your ear and tied these arms around you.
The hearts on our sleeves as they drowned we could hear them screaming.
Oh what a tragic way to see our final days.
I attempt to talk up the town: The answers are in the arches of the
20th Century Towers and in comfortable cars in motion.
And yet it still remains, this incessant refrain:
You're just like the rest. Your restlessness makes you lazy.
Keeping busy is just wasting time and I've wasted what little he gave me. (all around)
I know the conscious choice was crystal clear, to clean the slate of former years:
When I sang softly in your ear and tied these arms around you.
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
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.
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.
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/
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
U guys are idgits. This song isn't about God, its not about 9/11. This song is a very self conscious outlook on life, regrets, and why we do things. 20th century towers. What were the 20th century towers?? Well lets see, the ideals for the 1900's, that Ben's parents instilled in him were probably; Grow up and be a man, go to college and/or get a good job. Meet the girl of your dreams get married. Have kids, have good friends that you like to spend time with. Retire, get old with the one you love and spoil your grandkids.
So after college (the last gleam of youth and carelessness) we'll correct our mistakes and we try and live through formal ideals. But things rarely work out the way we planned and many people often feel empty that everything that they've worked for, everything that we were told would make us happy--doesn't make us happy. So he realizes this and wants to tell everyone (talk up the town)--the reason we do the things we do is because this is what we were taught and the comfortable cars in motion....this is a metaphor, for going through the motions of life. It provides comfort and its something to do with our life. So we all drive ourselves. And even tho many of us realize we don't know what we to do with our lives, we keep moving we keep busy....just to get by.
incessent refrain could mean two things. 1. always having to hold back or 2. a more metaphorical meaning....refrain is a chorus or a verse. so the unyeiling chorus--that he doesn't mention, could be "one day i'll be content with what i have".
Have you ever washed the dishes or cleaned your room just to keep your mind off something, or just to accomplish something in the day- I think thats what he means by "keeping busy is just wasting time", "your restlessness makes you lazy" This song is sad and slightly cynical. Everyone understands the lament at the end of the song. About the girl..One of his sweetest memories was singing softly with his voice communicating the way his heart feels through her ear and to her brain. It's similar to the first part of the song b/c you have to choose what is good for you and what will work. And sometimes, rather all too often we have to settle and accept the hand we've been dealt and cards we are playing.