"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.
You squirt out red and turn so yellow
And then you made me kill my own
I'm not afraid
(Coming, coming)
But I'm afraid
Blood in your eyes again
Bravery, the face of man
Blood on your mind again
Chivalry, the face of man
Blood in your lies
Enemy, the face of man
Blood in your eyes, again
Is this the only path of glory? If so then I won't go alone
Follow the trail
(Running) follow the trail
I'm not afraid
But I'm afraid
And then you made me kill my own
I'm not afraid
(Coming, coming)
But I'm afraid
Blood in your eyes again
Bravery, the face of man
Blood on your mind again
Chivalry, the face of man
Blood in your lies
Enemy, the face of man
Blood in your eyes, again
Is this the only path of glory? If so then I won't go alone
Follow the trail
(Running) follow the trail
I'm not afraid
But I'm afraid
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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,
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
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.
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.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
This song is pretty screwed up.
About how violence has in human history been rewarded with glory...?
@GotMeNow agree, and the first line about "yellow" I think is in line with those sending others to war because they are cowards (yellow)
Its based on The movie by stanley cubrick, with the same name. i get the impression he was bored so he payed homage to a good film
@Skeeza definitely could be in reference to the movie ... given the themes
The film was actually based on a book of the same name by Humphrey Cobb. The story is loosely based on a true story about 4 French soldiers executed for mutiny during World War 1. I've read the book and it is actually quite good.
Not sure on the book, but in the movie at least the soldier who runs away in the reconnaissance mission before the attack and 'mutiny' as you put it is put in charge of the firing squad. Thats where I think the line comes from you make me kill my own kind. The song takes a similar stance to one of the songs by The Books in my opinion, which mentions a phrase said by Muhatma Ghandi about non-participation in anything you don't belive is right, going back to these men squirting out red and turning yellow, a color often in the period of the filming of the movie referring to cowardice. More so Mike Patton saying cynically people are so stubborn when they can't solve a problem or come to a compromise with someone they kill them to make their time on earth easier.
Come on, this song is so obviously about George W! (sarcasm)
This is a pretty kick ass song.
I haven't read the book but understand that this is an homage to it.