"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.
Now I rock a house party at the drop of a hat (yeah)
I beat a biter down with an aluminum bat
(A lot of people they be jonesin' just to hear me rock the mic)
They'll be staring at the radio
(Staying up all night)
So like a pimp (I'm pimpin')
I got a boat to (eat shrimp in)
Nothing wrong with my leg just B-boy limpin'
(Got arrested at the Mardi Gras for jumping on a float)
(My man MCA's got a beard like a billy goat)
Oowah oowah is my disco call
(MCA) hu-huh, I'm gettin' rope y'all
Routines, (I bust) and the rhymes (that I write)
And I'll be busting routines and rhymes all night
Like eating burgers or chicken or you'll be picking your nose, man
I'm on time, homie, that's how it goes
You heard my style, I think you missed the point
It's the joint
Mike D (yeah?) With your bad self running things
(What's up?) with your bad breath onion rings
(Well I'm Mike D and I'm back from the dead)
(Chillin' at the beaches down at Club Med)
Make another record 'cause the people they want more of this
Suckers they be saying they can take out Adam Horovitz
Hurricane (you got clout)
(Other DJ's he'll take your head out)
A puppet on a string I'm paid to sing (or rhyme)
Or do my thing I'm
In a lava lamp inside my brain hotel
I might be peakin' or freakin' but I rock well
The Patty Duke Show, the Wrench (and then I bust the tango)
Got more rhymes than Jamaica got Mango
I got the peg leg at the end of my stump-a
Shake your rump
A full clout y'all
A full clout y'all
And when the mic is in my mouth I turn it out y'all
A full clout
Never been dumped ('cause I'm the most mackinest)
Never been jumped ('cause I'm known the most packinest)
Yeah, we've got beef, chief
We're knocking out teeth, chief
And if you don't believe us you should question your belief, Keith
I'm like Sam the butcher bringing Alice the meat
(Like Fred Flintstone driving around with bald feet)
Should I have another sip? (Nah, skip it)
In the back of the ride (and bust with the whippet)
Rope-a-dope dookies all around the neck
Woo-ha got them all in check
(Running from the law the press and the parents)
Is your name Michael Diamond?
(No mine's Clarence)
From downtown (Manhattan) the village
My style is wild and you know that it still is
Disco bag schlepping and you're doing the bump
Shake your rump-a
I beat a biter down with an aluminum bat
(A lot of people they be jonesin' just to hear me rock the mic)
They'll be staring at the radio
(Staying up all night)
So like a pimp (I'm pimpin')
I got a boat to (eat shrimp in)
Nothing wrong with my leg just B-boy limpin'
(Got arrested at the Mardi Gras for jumping on a float)
(My man MCA's got a beard like a billy goat)
Oowah oowah is my disco call
(MCA) hu-huh, I'm gettin' rope y'all
Routines, (I bust) and the rhymes (that I write)
And I'll be busting routines and rhymes all night
Like eating burgers or chicken or you'll be picking your nose, man
I'm on time, homie, that's how it goes
You heard my style, I think you missed the point
It's the joint
Mike D (yeah?) With your bad self running things
(What's up?) with your bad breath onion rings
(Well I'm Mike D and I'm back from the dead)
(Chillin' at the beaches down at Club Med)
Make another record 'cause the people they want more of this
Suckers they be saying they can take out Adam Horovitz
Hurricane (you got clout)
(Other DJ's he'll take your head out)
A puppet on a string I'm paid to sing (or rhyme)
Or do my thing I'm
In a lava lamp inside my brain hotel
I might be peakin' or freakin' but I rock well
The Patty Duke Show, the Wrench (and then I bust the tango)
Got more rhymes than Jamaica got Mango
I got the peg leg at the end of my stump-a
Shake your rump
A full clout y'all
A full clout y'all
And when the mic is in my mouth I turn it out y'all
A full clout
Never been dumped ('cause I'm the most mackinest)
Never been jumped ('cause I'm known the most packinest)
Yeah, we've got beef, chief
We're knocking out teeth, chief
And if you don't believe us you should question your belief, Keith
I'm like Sam the butcher bringing Alice the meat
(Like Fred Flintstone driving around with bald feet)
Should I have another sip? (Nah, skip it)
In the back of the ride (and bust with the whippet)
Rope-a-dope dookies all around the neck
Woo-ha got them all in check
(Running from the law the press and the parents)
Is your name Michael Diamond?
(No mine's Clarence)
From downtown (Manhattan) the village
My style is wild and you know that it still is
Disco bag schlepping and you're doing the bump
Shake your rump-a
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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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.
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
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.
Paul's Boutique is my favorite album. Shake Your Rump is one of the best songs on it. It was a failed single because in 1989 the Beasties went one way & the pop music industry went another. At that time, it was just too advanced for the novice Hip Hop fan. I'd say "ahead of it's time" but it's time never really came. I was 14 & didn't care for the album much. I liked Shake Your Rump & a couple other tracks but I felt that the Beasties were through. Something about it just kept me coming back. Back then, I listened to it via Sony Walkman. Little by little Paul's Boutique grew on me- track by track, line by line. By the time Grunge had gotten popular, I was in love with Paul's Boutique & every track on it. I owned it on cassette. I bought it on CD three times because it kept getting stolen. After losing it a third time on CD, I bought it from iTunes. Then, in 2009 it was re-released on the Beasties' website in Apple Lossless... so I bought that, too. Over the years, I got into a lot of different types of music, but I never stopped listening to the Beasties. 23 years later, I occasionally still hear things I never noticed before when I listen to songs like Shake Your Rump. Great album to hear in headphones. You can really hear the layering of the samples. Sampling is practically illegal today. It is believed by many that sampling is not an art form. I think those people just haven't heard it done right. It's cheaper, faster, & easier to play it yourself. It was a painstaking process to sample in 1989, so it should've been taken as the highest of compliments. But instead it was met with lawsuit after lawsuit. This album should be thought of as a collage of familiar artwork by various artists put together in brilliant, psychedelic, Hip Hop form. This is sampling the way it should be done. If you can't appreciate Paul's Boutique- you must be from the hypocritical Baby Boomer Generation. Their parents didn't like Elvis or The Beatles because it was "black" music. Then they grew up to say the same things to us about the Beasties. Shame on them!
This song is so tight, especailly with that bong hit expolding.
Overlooked in their genius.
i can't believe anyone has commented on this song yet. it's one of my favorite beastie boys songs, but then again, i only have like 9.
then get all their songs man! this song is the SHIT!
i know it says it in the pauls boutique lyrics, but where is the "randy" at the beginning? i just think it says "now i rock a house party."
such an overrated steaming pile of a 'song'
this whole album goes to show how much they stole from Prince Paul and 3 Feet High and Rising ---- yet failed in equalling AT ALL
abysmal
@exobscura You know, I actually love De La Soul... but, they have almost nothing in common with the Beasties or this track. If there's any track on this album that approaches De La's style, maybe it's "Sounds of Science" coming close to "Plug Tunin'." Were you touched inappropriately at a Beastie Boys concert or something? You seem to have a real grudge against them.