"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.
And the morning light was breaking
Slowly moving across the bed
He gets up without her waking
To the voices in his head
Through the shadows in the hallway
To the room they painted blue
And on the inside he is frightened
At a loss for what to do
Until he opens up his eyes
And the angels all look down
Even closer than this life
Closer than your faith
Closer than the things
That you hold dearly
And in vain
Closer than this life
Falling through again
Giving more than anything
That you could hope to win
And he knows his life is changing
It's never easy letting go
For the first time you are mortal
As the child before you grows
And he wonders at the sight
Of the joy that he has found
Even closer than this life
Closer than your faith
Closer than the things
That you hold dearly
And in vain
Closer than this life
Falling through again
Giving more than anything
That you could hope to win
And what would you intend to find?
Solitude? Your peace of mind?
Holding out for something less
Than touching the hand of God?
Even closer than this life
Closer than this faith
Closer than the things
That you hold dearly
And in vain
Closer than this life
Falling through again
Giving more than anything
That you could hope to win
Closer than this life
Closer finally
Living for the only thing
You ever made complete
Oh, for the one thing
That you both did perfectly
Slowly moving across the bed
He gets up without her waking
To the voices in his head
Through the shadows in the hallway
To the room they painted blue
And on the inside he is frightened
At a loss for what to do
Until he opens up his eyes
And the angels all look down
Even closer than this life
Closer than your faith
Closer than the things
That you hold dearly
And in vain
Closer than this life
Falling through again
Giving more than anything
That you could hope to win
And he knows his life is changing
It's never easy letting go
For the first time you are mortal
As the child before you grows
And he wonders at the sight
Of the joy that he has found
Even closer than this life
Closer than your faith
Closer than the things
That you hold dearly
And in vain
Closer than this life
Falling through again
Giving more than anything
That you could hope to win
And what would you intend to find?
Solitude? Your peace of mind?
Holding out for something less
Than touching the hand of God?
Even closer than this life
Closer than this faith
Closer than the things
That you hold dearly
And in vain
Closer than this life
Falling through again
Giving more than anything
That you could hope to win
Closer than this life
Closer finally
Living for the only thing
You ever made complete
Oh, for the one thing
That you both did perfectly
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Ebba Grön
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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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”
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
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,
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
I love BTE! They've got the best lyrics! It seems like there's a newly married guy who's just had a child with his wife, and he's scared/proud of this new child, who's closer than anything he's ever had or felt, the only thing that they've accomplished.
I think the reason he's scared is not for the child, but rather for himself. He's worried that he can't be a good father, or worse yet, that he won't be there to watch the child grow up.
You have to wonder if Kevin wrote this song?? And, if he did, is it abou his own life. He did just have a baby! Great Song!
this is quite possibly the most moving song I've ever heard. nothnig in this world is "closer" than the birth of a child. Not, religion ("closer than this faith", being atheist, I absolutely love this line), not your own vices ("the things you hold dearly and in vain"), not even your own life. No joke, quite possibly the best lyrics ever written, and the music isn't to shabby either :)
i first heard this song on roswell...and i downloaded this song and literally cried upon hearing it. then i went out and bought the whole closer cd. seriously, bte is awesome.
this song is beyond beautiful. i love it.
this is by far my favorite bte song. im suprised theres not more comments!
This song is definitely about the birth of child, and how the dad is scared of how is life is changing until he sees the little baby and nothing in his life has ever been closer to him.
WOW i can't believe i never picked up on the "baby is due" theme. I always thought it was about a kid going off to college, or possibly kicked out. Maybe they always wanted to paint his/her room blue and make it into a guestroom or something. And also the lyrics "it's never easy letting go" and "as the child before you grows" could go that way. But the baby thing really does make sense, now that i see it that way! Either way its a beautiful song
I've loved this song for a long time, but now that I am expecting my first child in a month and I can't even listen to it without bawling. It's just so sweet and really gets to the point of how our priorities change as we grow. So good!
It's clearly about a father's love for his son and the sense of awe and wonder that comes with having a child and watching them grow. I don't think there's a specific age that the child is supposed to be.