"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.
Large fingers pushin' paint...
You're God and you got big hands...
The colors blend...
The challenges you give man...
Seek my part...devote myself...
My small self...like a book amongst the many on a shelf...
Sometimes I know sometimes I rise
Sometimes I fall sometimes I don't
Sometimes I cringe sometimes I live
Sometimes I walk sometimes I kneel
Sometimes I speak of nothing at all...
Sometimes I reach to myself, hear God...
You're God and you got big hands...
The colors blend...
The challenges you give man...
Seek my part...devote myself...
My small self...like a book amongst the many on a shelf...
Sometimes I know sometimes I rise
Sometimes I fall sometimes I don't
Sometimes I cringe sometimes I live
Sometimes I walk sometimes I kneel
Sometimes I speak of nothing at all...
Sometimes I reach to myself, hear God...
Lyrics submitted by Trent, edited by PaxRock
Sometimes Lyrics as written by Marit Elisabeth Larsen Marion Elise Ravn
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, O/B/O DistroKid, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
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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.
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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”
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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,
This song ties with "Oceans" and "State of Love and Trust" as my favorite PJ song. To date, the band's only played the three songs in one set once (on 10/28/96) in London at Wembley Arena. How I'd love to hear that show before I die, or at least have the group throw them back into a set again, but it's about as likely as lightining striking twice. "Oceans" and "Sometimes" are great openers, much preferred over "Release" or "Of the Girl", though "Long Road" is fine by me.
Amazing version on the Mansfield 7/11/03 official boot. "Sometimes" is not the opener, it's the third song in the opening acoustic set. Rivals the album in in value.
Another version I have in San Francisco 7/16/06, when Ed forgets the lyrics after the opening verse, and just tells the crowd "I forgot the f-cking song" (to mad applause), and later apologizes for forgetting the opener for the first time in the band's history.
What is this song about? I don't think it means much about anything, perhaps about how life encompasses triumphs and mistakes, and how Vedder is just another man (who even forgets the words... sometimes).
No, it doesn't mean much about anything, but it sure means a lot to me.