"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.
Left out in the sun to dry again, washed up on a shore line south of spain
Gazing up with telescopic eyes, planetary life above the skies
Oh my god, she's my obsession, my obsession (my obsession)
Here she comes, she's a picture of perfect youth
Here she comes, lifting me up to the moon
Drifting on a boat in emerald seas, pulling on the strings inside of me
Tasting salt as waves dive over me, twisting on a rope of memories
Oh my god, she's my obsession, my obsession
Here she comes, she's a picture of perfect youth
Here she comes, lifting me up to the moon
Here she comes, she's a picture of perfect youth
Here she comes
If you could only see, that I'm sinking like a stone
The sea is getting colder, every second as I go
It's like breathing underwater, but I just can't let you go
My obsession, she's my obsession, my obsession
Oh my god, she's my obsession, my obsession (my obsession)
Here she comes, she's a picture of perfect youth
Here she comes, lifting me up to the moonoh my god, she's my obsession, my obsession (my obsession)
Here she comes, she's a picture of perfect youth
Here she comes, lifting me up to the moon
Here she comes
Gazing up with telescopic eyes, planetary life above the skies
Oh my god, she's my obsession, my obsession (my obsession)
Here she comes, she's a picture of perfect youth
Here she comes, lifting me up to the moon
Drifting on a boat in emerald seas, pulling on the strings inside of me
Tasting salt as waves dive over me, twisting on a rope of memories
Oh my god, she's my obsession, my obsession
Here she comes, she's a picture of perfect youth
Here she comes, lifting me up to the moon
Here she comes, she's a picture of perfect youth
Here she comes
If you could only see, that I'm sinking like a stone
The sea is getting colder, every second as I go
It's like breathing underwater, but I just can't let you go
My obsession, she's my obsession, my obsession
Oh my god, she's my obsession, my obsession (my obsession)
Here she comes, she's a picture of perfect youth
Here she comes, lifting me up to the moonoh my god, she's my obsession, my obsession (my obsession)
Here she comes, she's a picture of perfect youth
Here she comes, lifting me up to the moon
Here she comes
Lyrics submitted by black_cow_of_death
Picture Of Perfect Youth Lyrics as written by Jon Lee Grant Nicholas
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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.
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,
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/
Seems to me that this is about how much he admires this person and looks up to her (Gazing up with telescopic eyes) but it kills him that he can't have her (If you could only see, that im sinking like a stone, the sea is getting colder, every second that I go) or maybe that he used to have her, but can't get over their relationship.