"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.
ATTENTION. Fuck American power. Fuck Russian power. Fuck British power.
Fuck all power.
ATTENTION. These ignorant shits arm themselves for annihilation and call it world peace.
Bollocks.
Pacified. Classified.
Keep in line. You're doing fine.
Lost your voice? There ain't no choice.
Play the game. Silent and tame.
Be the passive observer, sit back and look
At the world they destroyed and the peace that they took.
Ask no questions, hear no lies
And you'll be living in the comfort of a fool's paradise.
You're already dead, you're already dead,
You're already dead, you're already dead.
If you're the passive observer, here's a message for you...
You're already dead, You're already dead.
Afraid to do what you know you should do...
You're already dead, You're already dead.
The world's at the edge of nuclear destruction,
But your too afraid to make the connection.
You still believe the system's there for your protection...
You're already dead, You're already dead.
You're already dead, you're already dead,
You're already dead, you're already dead.
By letting it happen without a fight...
You're already dead, You're already dead.
With your endless debates about wrong and right...
You're already dead, You're already dead.
Nothing's going to change if you're not prepared to act,
There's no point complaining after the fact,
Content to be a number, branded X and neatly packed...
You're already dead, You're already dead.
You're already dead, You're already dead,
You're already dead, You're already dead.
Four hundred thousand people marched for CND...
They're already dead, They're already dead,
Unless they're willing to act on what they can see...
They're already dead, They're already dead.
If each and every one of us was prepared to fight for more,
To stand against the system that creates the need for war,
The elite would have to run like it's never run before...
They're already dead, They're already dead.
They're already dead, They're already dead,
They're already dead, They're already dead.
We don't need organising
Or politicians being patronising.
We don't need their leadership,
Trendy lefties being hip.
Don't need their condescension
Or their back to root pretension.
We've heard it all before,
Politicians saying "No more war",
Pulling wool across our eyes.
We don't need their dangerous lies.
We won't accept capitulation,
It's just manipulation.
They want the smooth without the rough,
But words and gestures aren't enough.
We've got to learn to reject all leaders
And the passive shit they feed us...
They're already dead, They're already dead,
They're already dead, They're already dead.
If you think moderation's going to pave the way to peace...
You're already dead, You're already dead.
What good is moderation 'gainst the army and police?
You're already dead, You're already dead.
We're not promoting mindless violence, keep that for the fools,
We're simply saying be prepared to break their laws and rules,
Let them know the bigger they come, the harder they will fall...
They're already dead, They're already dead.
They're already dead, They're already dead,
They're already dead, They're already dead.
If they're going to play it dirty, so are we...
They're already dead, They're already dead.
They can keep their lies about the land of the free...
They're already dead, They're already dead.
We've allowed them too often to use their iron fist,
But there's one little detail they appear to have missed...
You don't have to be PASSIVE just because you're a PACIFIST...
They're already dead, They're already dead.
They're already dead, They're already dead,
They're already dead, They're already dead.
They'll try to sell their system
Like it's some kind od age-old wisdom,
But we've been had like that before,
It's just the rich exploiting the poor.
Well here's an honest confession,
We think it's time they learnt a lesson.
They've tried to hold the people down,
But we've simply gone underground,
Moving in the darkness looking for the light,
Looking for a future and ready to fight.
Looking for the freedom that's been denied,
Fast to attack and fast to hide.
In a world where the people can't make it,
They've simply got to learn to break it,
And if the wealthy aren't prepared to shake it...
O.K., we'll simply have to take it...
You're already dead, You're already dead,
You're already dead, You're already dead,
You're already dead, You're already dead,
You're already dead, You're already dead.
Fuck all power.
ATTENTION. These ignorant shits arm themselves for annihilation and call it world peace.
Bollocks.
Pacified. Classified.
Keep in line. You're doing fine.
Lost your voice? There ain't no choice.
Play the game. Silent and tame.
Be the passive observer, sit back and look
At the world they destroyed and the peace that they took.
Ask no questions, hear no lies
And you'll be living in the comfort of a fool's paradise.
You're already dead, you're already dead,
You're already dead, you're already dead.
If you're the passive observer, here's a message for you...
You're already dead, You're already dead.
Afraid to do what you know you should do...
You're already dead, You're already dead.
The world's at the edge of nuclear destruction,
But your too afraid to make the connection.
You still believe the system's there for your protection...
You're already dead, You're already dead.
You're already dead, you're already dead,
You're already dead, you're already dead.
By letting it happen without a fight...
You're already dead, You're already dead.
With your endless debates about wrong and right...
You're already dead, You're already dead.
Nothing's going to change if you're not prepared to act,
There's no point complaining after the fact,
Content to be a number, branded X and neatly packed...
You're already dead, You're already dead.
You're already dead, You're already dead,
You're already dead, You're already dead.
Four hundred thousand people marched for CND...
They're already dead, They're already dead,
Unless they're willing to act on what they can see...
They're already dead, They're already dead.
If each and every one of us was prepared to fight for more,
To stand against the system that creates the need for war,
The elite would have to run like it's never run before...
They're already dead, They're already dead.
They're already dead, They're already dead,
They're already dead, They're already dead.
We don't need organising
Or politicians being patronising.
We don't need their leadership,
Trendy lefties being hip.
Don't need their condescension
Or their back to root pretension.
We've heard it all before,
Politicians saying "No more war",
Pulling wool across our eyes.
We don't need their dangerous lies.
We won't accept capitulation,
It's just manipulation.
They want the smooth without the rough,
But words and gestures aren't enough.
We've got to learn to reject all leaders
And the passive shit they feed us...
They're already dead, They're already dead,
They're already dead, They're already dead.
If you think moderation's going to pave the way to peace...
You're already dead, You're already dead.
What good is moderation 'gainst the army and police?
You're already dead, You're already dead.
We're not promoting mindless violence, keep that for the fools,
We're simply saying be prepared to break their laws and rules,
Let them know the bigger they come, the harder they will fall...
They're already dead, They're already dead.
They're already dead, They're already dead,
They're already dead, They're already dead.
If they're going to play it dirty, so are we...
They're already dead, They're already dead.
They can keep their lies about the land of the free...
They're already dead, They're already dead.
We've allowed them too often to use their iron fist,
But there's one little detail they appear to have missed...
You don't have to be PASSIVE just because you're a PACIFIST...
They're already dead, They're already dead.
They're already dead, They're already dead,
They're already dead, They're already dead.
They'll try to sell their system
Like it's some kind od age-old wisdom,
But we've been had like that before,
It's just the rich exploiting the poor.
Well here's an honest confession,
We think it's time they learnt a lesson.
They've tried to hold the people down,
But we've simply gone underground,
Moving in the darkness looking for the light,
Looking for a future and ready to fight.
Looking for the freedom that's been denied,
Fast to attack and fast to hide.
In a world where the people can't make it,
They've simply got to learn to break it,
And if the wealthy aren't prepared to shake it...
O.K., we'll simply have to take it...
You're already dead, You're already dead,
You're already dead, You're already dead,
You're already dead, You're already dead,
You're already dead, You're already dead.
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental 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.
This song represents a shift in the Crass ideaology from one of somewhat romantic idealism (not that there's a whole lot wrong with that) towards a somewhat more confrontational, agressive stance against government and oppression. Where before the group's members had previously utterly rejected violence, maintaining that it was merely a tool of the state, this song seems to argue for more of a direct action approach. Steve Ignorant later completely rejected pacifism, stating that there are circumstances in which violence is the only choice.
The band recognized this shift in their ideas, and interpreted this as becoming bitter from the process of activism. They decided to split up, though the Crass Collective still remains today, and the band remembers still remain in close contact and occasionally play together.
They should listen to their song "bloody revolutions". but mabye im just a young idealist.
I wouldn't say they are abandoning pacifism with this song. The line "You don't have to be PASSIVE just because you're a PACIFIST" says it all. There are ways of fighting back that aren't physically violent. But it does show a shift from a kind of "we'll do our thing, they'll do theirs and eventually we'll win" thinking to a more proactive approach.