"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.
It's how the hustle goes
See what the jukebox knows
Put my last quarter on
I play "Authority Song"
Honesty or mystery?
Tell me I'm not scared anymore
I got no secret purpose
I don't seem obvious
Do I-I-I-I-I?
Do I-I-I-I-I?
I don't seem obvious
Do I-I-I-I-I?
Do I-I-I-I-I?
(I don't seem obvious do)
The DJ never has it
J-A-M-C, Automatic
(Do I-I-I-I-I?)
If those were Roy's headphones
You bet he'd play "What Goes On"
(Do I-I-I-I-I?)
Honesty or mystery?
Tell me I'm not scared anymore (I-I-I, I-I-I)
I got no secret purpose
I don't seem obvious
Do I-I-I-I-I?
Do I-I-I-I-I?
I don't seem obvious
Do I-I-I-I-I?
Do I-I-I-I-I?
I don't seem obvious, do I?
Do I-I-I?
Oh, well, I'm here
That means something doesn't it?
Uh-huh, won't you dance with me a little bit?
Ah-ah, you don't notice
'Cause the music's too loud
It's how the hustle goes
See what the jukebox knows (do I-I-I-I-I)
(Do I-I-I-I-I)
Put my last quarter on
I play "Authority Song" (do I-I-I-I-I)
Honesty or mystery?
Tell me I'm not scared anymore (I-I-I, I-I-I)
Say anything you want, I'm ready
I'm not scared anymore (I-I-I, I-I-I)
Honesty or mystery?
Won't something else just tell me
I'm not scared anymore (I-I-I, I-I-I)
I got no secret purpose
I don't seem obvious
Do I-I-I-I-I?
I don't seem obvious
Do I-I-I-I-I?
I don't seem obvious
Do I-I-I-I-I?
I don't seem obvious
Do I-I-I-I-I?
I don't seem obvious
Do I-I-I-I-I?
I don't seem obvious
Do I-I-I-I-I?
I don't seem obvious
Do I-I-I-I-I?
Don't seem obvious
Do I-I-I-I-I?
See what the jukebox knows
Put my last quarter on
I play "Authority Song"
Honesty or mystery?
Tell me I'm not scared anymore
I got no secret purpose
I don't seem obvious
Do I-I-I-I-I?
Do I-I-I-I-I?
I don't seem obvious
Do I-I-I-I-I?
Do I-I-I-I-I?
(I don't seem obvious do)
The DJ never has it
J-A-M-C, Automatic
(Do I-I-I-I-I?)
If those were Roy's headphones
You bet he'd play "What Goes On"
(Do I-I-I-I-I?)
Honesty or mystery?
Tell me I'm not scared anymore (I-I-I, I-I-I)
I got no secret purpose
I don't seem obvious
Do I-I-I-I-I?
Do I-I-I-I-I?
I don't seem obvious
Do I-I-I-I-I?
Do I-I-I-I-I?
I don't seem obvious, do I?
Do I-I-I?
Oh, well, I'm here
That means something doesn't it?
Uh-huh, won't you dance with me a little bit?
Ah-ah, you don't notice
'Cause the music's too loud
It's how the hustle goes
See what the jukebox knows (do I-I-I-I-I)
(Do I-I-I-I-I)
Put my last quarter on
I play "Authority Song" (do I-I-I-I-I)
Honesty or mystery?
Tell me I'm not scared anymore (I-I-I, I-I-I)
Say anything you want, I'm ready
I'm not scared anymore (I-I-I, I-I-I)
Honesty or mystery?
Won't something else just tell me
I'm not scared anymore (I-I-I, I-I-I)
I got no secret purpose
I don't seem obvious
Do I-I-I-I-I?
I don't seem obvious
Do I-I-I-I-I?
I don't seem obvious
Do I-I-I-I-I?
I don't seem obvious
Do I-I-I-I-I?
I don't seem obvious
Do I-I-I-I-I?
I don't seem obvious
Do I-I-I-I-I?
I don't seem obvious
Do I-I-I-I-I?
Don't seem obvious
Do I-I-I-I-I?
Lyrics submitted by emojimmy57
The Authority Song Lyrics as written by Richard E Burch James Christopher Adkins
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Fast Car
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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.
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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/
Page
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There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
Yeah, I'm definitely feeling these songs about being up in a club or a bar, either just for dancing, or for meeting someone, namely this, Splash Turn & Twist, Softer, Crush, A Praise Chorus. Such great themes.
I think Authority Song is about meeting a girl for the first time.
"I'm not scared anymore" is about getting the courage to do so. "I've got no secret purpose.." is meaning something along the lines of being absolutely legit in conversation with whoever he's meeting. Like you walk up to a girl to talk to her just cause you'd like to have a conversation with her.
"I don't seem obvious, do I?" Meaning "you don't see through me, do you? :)"
Every other lyric is music / jukebox related. Awesome, awesome song