"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'm on the chopping block
Chopping off my stopping thought
Self doubt and selfism
Were the cheapest things I ever bought
When you say it's love
D'you mean the back of love
When you say it's love
D'you mean the back of love?
We're taking advantage of
Breaking the back of love
We're taking advantage of
Breaking the back of love
Easier said than done you said
But it's more difficult to say
With eyes bigger than our bellies
We want to but we can't look away
What were you thinking of
When you dreamt that up?
What were you thinking of
When you dreamt that up?
Taking advantage of
Breaking the back of love
When you're surrounded
by a simple chain of events
(Behind my eyes, behind my eyes)
(Your eyes don't lie)
Eventually you'll shack those shackles off
(Dreams above those eyes)
(Those eyes)
We can't tell our left from right
But we know we love extremes
Getting to grips with the ups and downs
Because there's nothing in between
When you say that's love
D'you mean the back of love
When you say that's love
D'you mean the back of love?
Taking advantage of
Breaking the back of love
What were you thinking of
When you dreamt that up?
We're taking advantage of
We're breaking the back of love
Breaking the back of love
Chopping off my stopping thought
Self doubt and selfism
Were the cheapest things I ever bought
When you say it's love
D'you mean the back of love
When you say it's love
D'you mean the back of love?
We're taking advantage of
Breaking the back of love
We're taking advantage of
Breaking the back of love
Easier said than done you said
But it's more difficult to say
With eyes bigger than our bellies
We want to but we can't look away
What were you thinking of
When you dreamt that up?
What were you thinking of
When you dreamt that up?
Taking advantage of
Breaking the back of love
When you're surrounded
by a simple chain of events
(Behind my eyes, behind my eyes)
(Your eyes don't lie)
Eventually you'll shack those shackles off
(Dreams above those eyes)
(Those eyes)
We can't tell our left from right
But we know we love extremes
Getting to grips with the ups and downs
Because there's nothing in between
When you say that's love
D'you mean the back of love
When you say that's love
D'you mean the back of love?
Taking advantage of
Breaking the back of love
What were you thinking of
When you dreamt that up?
We're taking advantage of
We're breaking the back of love
Breaking the back of love
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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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.
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,
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
I'm sorry....what is OCD?