"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.
Hey there, tiny wench
My perpetual serf
Put stew in a pot
Bring water for the guest
Before we part
Before your neck is broken
You strike first
Son of the north
My perpetual serf
Put stew in a pot
Bring water for the guest
Before we part
Before your neck is broken
You strike first
Son of the north
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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.
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.
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/
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.
Iron Butterfly - Inna Gadda Da Vida
Sick song
I absolutely love this album. And this song in particular. Hadn't listened to it for years though.
But I got to admit that it wasn't until now that I realised it was about Kalevala. This gets even more interesting :P ! Got to figure out what part of it each song is about..
Btw, is the opening tune taken from another song? Sounds damn familiar. Ja sama suomeksi, oliko toi alun intro tms otettu jostain vanhasta biisistä?
@Durang0: intro on Soittajapaimenesta: youtube.com/watch<br /> (for the non-Finnish: the intro is taken from an old Finnish folk song that can be heard in the link above)
Amorphis's site has a discography section, where they say which part of the Kalevala each song is from. Apparently, this one's from the part (chapter XXVII) where Lemminkainen crashes a party, and the people there aren't too happy about it. He gets into a conjuring duel (the "Magic" part of the title) with the hostess, and chops off the host's head in a swordfight ("Mayhem").