"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.
I was born in the jungle
With the sickening smell of cinnamon in the air
Born in a white hole
And I can't believe the colors here today
Stalk on a circle
I've never been blessed with an elephant memory and
I'm riding a red line nowhere
If it takes 40 years for the gun to be paid for
If it takes 40 years I'll put the money away
If it takes 40 years to get the things that I need sir
If it takes 40 years I want the thunder and the rain
I wanna buy me a good home
Where the rising cost of raising children
Is not a factor
And you can't believe the things it does to me
I'm filled with the white noise
Well I never did much of anything anyway
Jump on a big train nowhere
If it takes 40 years for the gun to be paid for
If it takes 40 years I'll put the money away
If it takes 40 years to get the things that I need sir
If it takes 40 years I want the thunder and the rain
I wanna buy me a good heart
And a conscience
And maybe raise some children
I wanna get me a good wife
And a God and God and God and God and
I'll start me a new life
With a six foot color television
I'll start me a new life somewhere
I was born on a warm night
On the right coast
Southeastern America
Dead on arrival
But you can't believe the things you hear today
I'll fly me a white plane over water
Over blue and green and
Land in the ocean somewhere
With the sickening smell of cinnamon in the air
Born in a white hole
And I can't believe the colors here today
Stalk on a circle
I've never been blessed with an elephant memory and
I'm riding a red line nowhere
If it takes 40 years for the gun to be paid for
If it takes 40 years I'll put the money away
If it takes 40 years to get the things that I need sir
If it takes 40 years I want the thunder and the rain
I wanna buy me a good home
Where the rising cost of raising children
Is not a factor
And you can't believe the things it does to me
I'm filled with the white noise
Well I never did much of anything anyway
Jump on a big train nowhere
If it takes 40 years for the gun to be paid for
If it takes 40 years I'll put the money away
If it takes 40 years to get the things that I need sir
If it takes 40 years I want the thunder and the rain
I wanna buy me a good heart
And a conscience
And maybe raise some children
I wanna get me a good wife
And a God and God and God and God and
I'll start me a new life
With a six foot color television
I'll start me a new life somewhere
I was born on a warm night
On the right coast
Southeastern America
Dead on arrival
But you can't believe the things you hear today
I'll fly me a white plane over water
Over blue and green and
Land in the ocean somewhere
Lyrics submitted by ang, edited by am_distracted
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
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.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
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/
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Says Adam of this song:
"If you can't figure out the lyrics to '40 Years', it's probably because they suck, which is what I've been trying to tell all of you forever. I hadn't seen them in years until someone kindly posted them. Blecch! What a colossal steaming pile of shit. There are so pretentious, and they are trying so hard to sound like deeply meaningful lyrics that I wanted to punch the guy who wrote them. I decided instead to be understanding and chalk it up to youthful indiscretion and inexperience. I'm very magnanimous when dealing with small children and myself. Everyone, let's settle this once and for all. Go read the lyrics. Some nice person typed them out for you. Let's say this all together now. Everyone repeat after me: THEY SUCK! THE SONG SUCKS! SUCK! SUCK! SUCK! SUCK! SUCK! Don't you feel better now? I do. It's okay. I'm cool with it. I've gotten better and I can accept the level of suckage. I've turned it way down since then. I'd rather you showed good taste. I can accept that I suck when I suck, and I respect your right to say so. It's only when I don't suck that I object to anyone saying that I do. If this seems confusing, it is. But don't worry. I'm thinking of printing up a list of all the times and places I've sucked so as to avoid confusion. I thought this might make it easier for everyone as there were some times some of you seemed to be saying I sucked when I clearly didn't, and then I was forced to correct you and I felt bad because I didn't want to embarrass anyone unduly."
Those are Adam's words, not mine.
how you see life after living for 40 years....and how worthless it all is. i wudnt know since im just turning 18 next week, so it doesnt really mean that much to me. good song tho.
This inspires me to write a story about a man who thinks he can be reborn.
This is actually one of my favorite counting crows songs- I can't believe there are only two comments. I'm 18 years old, but for some reason this song stirs up a lot of emotion for me. It is exactly what i don't want to be saying when I'm 40. He still does not have it figured out, he's still wanting to change things about himself.
He still wants all these things, "I wanna buy me a good heart, and a conscience, maybe raise some children I wanna get me a good wife, and God and God and God and God."
And after 40 years, he still hasn't made himself into this person that he wants to be. So it takes 40 years... to get where, to have accomplished what?
where can i find this song?
To me, this is really about materialism. How for the 1st 40 yrs or so, were so set on starting our lived, getting a good job, getting money in the bank so we can by a big house and a nice car, but once you hit 40 or so you realise jusveow petty those thingse re, and that youve eessentially wasted your life. As the general meaning any wsy, i love this song, especially the corus's. There i think its more in reference that all these different people are living different lives and going through different things but there all dealing with what there gonna do gor the future then regretting their past.
Eamon, sure this song isn't very deep, but by no means do the lyrics suck. A song doesn't always have to be a search for the meaning, sometimes its simple and straight forward like this one- still a great song,