"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 not used coming through
More accustomed to a-fallin' out
Trying hard now as I can for you
Not to trip up on some stupid doubt
You got your hopes set way up high
Way on up there where the air is thin
Limit's supposed to be the sky
Trying not to let you down again
It's starting to come to me
I didn't know about, I hadn't figured it out
But it's starting to come to me now
A little bit too late
I can't see anything you've done
Any reason for the trouble you've got
You haven't hurt anyone
Compared to most, I'd say that's sayin' quite a lot
I can't help you when you're sad
That's a constant source of pain to me
Because I want to really bad
Even though you make it seem like nothing
It's starting to come to me
Didn't know about, I hadn't figured it out
But it's starting to come to me now
A little bit too late
More accustomed to a-fallin' out
Trying hard now as I can for you
Not to trip up on some stupid doubt
You got your hopes set way up high
Way on up there where the air is thin
Limit's supposed to be the sky
Trying not to let you down again
It's starting to come to me
I didn't know about, I hadn't figured it out
But it's starting to come to me now
A little bit too late
I can't see anything you've done
Any reason for the trouble you've got
You haven't hurt anyone
Compared to most, I'd say that's sayin' quite a lot
I can't help you when you're sad
That's a constant source of pain to me
Because I want to really bad
Even though you make it seem like nothing
It's starting to come to me
Didn't know about, I hadn't figured it out
But it's starting to come to me now
A little bit too late
Lyrics submitted by dragonflower44, edited by Jate
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Holiday
Bee Gees
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
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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.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
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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.
I let my girl slip away from me. I told myself that we were mutually splitting up, but I knew somewhere inside that I was letting it happen to save here from my toxic nature. I thought that I was unhappy with her and myself at the time, and that I couldn't or wouldn't give her what she needed and deserved. Enough time has passed since then that I came to realize that she was my entire life's meaning and that I haven't known happiness at all since we split. I know now what I'm willing and capable of doing to make it work, just a little too late. I've always loved Elliott's writings, but the pain shines too hard when you begin to relate.