"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 were one, one of the three
One in three must find some peace
You were one
One of the three
I need proof before belief
Oh well, you just knew they'd come for you
So it was suicide, suicide
Oh well, you got just what you wanted
I hope your satisfied
One of the three
One of the three
One of the three
One of the three
You were one
One of the three
One in three must find some peace
Oh well I guess your not to blame for what they've done in your name
In your name
Oh well, it's a shame you got so famous just for a sacrifice
One of the three
One of the three
One of the three
One of the three
One of the three
One of the three
One of the three
One of the three
You were one
One of the three
One in three must find some peace
Send forth your lamb to the slaughter
Send forth your lamb to the slaughter
You send forth your lamb to the slaughter
You send forth your lamb to the slaughter
One in three must find some peace
You were one
One of the three
I need proof before belief
Oh well, you just knew they'd come for you
So it was suicide, suicide
Oh well, you got just what you wanted
I hope your satisfied
One of the three
One of the three
One of the three
One of the three
You were one
One of the three
One in three must find some peace
Oh well I guess your not to blame for what they've done in your name
In your name
Oh well, it's a shame you got so famous just for a sacrifice
One of the three
One of the three
One of the three
One of the three
One of the three
One of the three
One of the three
One of the three
You were one
One of the three
One in three must find some peace
Send forth your lamb to the slaughter
Send forth your lamb to the slaughter
You send forth your lamb to the slaughter
You send forth your lamb to the slaughter
Lyrics submitted by typo, edited by lily102070, speedbunny
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
Yeah : i too think that they're the 2 best songs on the album.But i really looove this album entirely, it's a really great ensemble of emotions, intelligence, and authenticity, which i think it's rare these modern days in the music business.
For me, it's one of the most underestimated band of the 90's. Just like Pavement, they passed under the radar while everybody was watching Kurt Cobain destroy himself. I don't know why it seems like people considered James like a guilty pleasure, ( or that.s the idea i got from people around me when i listen to the album). Like there no real musical or melodic quality about them, like you have to be ashamed to listen to them, cuz it's not cool enough for the masses. sometimes, it kills me when people didnt listen more than one song ( Laid) and say things like " ah yeah, it's the catchy song in american pie...I thought it was played by Better than Ezra"... True story. What the fuck with your ears, stupid people ?? Anyway, Just wanted to speak out to a crowd i felt would understand.
(p.s : sorry if my english is so-so...I'm a french speaker from Montreal, Canada and my english is, well, incapacitated in many ways!!)
There were three people put on crosses when Jesus was sentenced to death so the singer is saying Jesus was only one of three people killed in the same way - should we attach special significance to just one? Also the bit about "it was suicide" and they will come from you - well if you claim to be son of God then it was suicidal in those days. I'm not religious but to me this is clearly about struggling with the belief in Jesus as the son of God.
Brilliant song. This and P.S. - best on album?
It's about the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.
Pretty sure this one's about Jesus or the story of Jesus.
Nice to compare this one with "Live a Love of Life"
This is a great song, questioning Jesus. Maybe that makes me appreciate it more as I'm an atheist...
I agree with both commenters above. And like cmj_ab, I'm no believer myself -- I, too, "need proof before belief."
One thing I've wondered about regarding the song is whether the "three" are to refer to Christianity's Holy Trinity, or to Jesus and the two thieves crucified with him. It certainly could allude to both -- and of course it might be neither, but these are the two interpretations that have occurred to me thus far.
I always assumed this song is about a gay man trying to reconcile the religion he was brought up under with his lifestyle.
"Oh, well, I guess you're not to blame for what they Done in your name, in your name"
He empathizes with Jesus because he feels persecuted in his own life, but at the same time, his persecution is done by the followers of Jesus.
But then, some reason, I also always just assumed the members of the band James were gay for...
LOL SergeantP. I give you an A for effort. This song is clearly about questioning Christianity. The best line is "Send forth your lamb to the slaughter..."
The whole notion of the trinity is ludicrous just like Christianity is. I never understood how one can have blind faith in something with no historical context.
@CoronaKid and others<br /> <br /> I am truly incredulous at your understanding of the song's symbolism, it's light shining amidst darker things.<br /> <br /> CoronaKid, the notion of the Trinity does seem ludicrous, doesn't it? -- one God represented by three distinct persons. Question, though, wouldn't it stand to reason that the unique and infinite Creator of the universe might be just a little difficult to understand from our fairly limited perspective?<br /> <br /> As for "blind faith"? Rather than slam this forum with stuff representing clear and positive reinforcement of scriptural knowledge and teachings, have a look at websites containing accredited apologetic information regarding the claims of Christianity, if you truly desire to seek the things of God. If your desire is to remain, I say to you in love of your person, your distinctiveness placed in you by God Himself, walk circumspectly. The Light is everywhere. God loves you and cares about you exactly where you are, with current beliefs intact.<br /> <br /> God bless you and all others here.<br /> <br /> RR
@RR: I am an English major and I am not impressed with your vain attempt at logic. I could tear apart your reply line by line but I am rather bored with your insipid reply.
As others have written, seems to be a song to Christ, lamenting what has happened in His name, acknowledging his good intentions, but that he let fate envelope him.