"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.
Couldn't ask for a better day, two by two
To the ring to the right point of view
Each retreat to the corner that's defined by you
To the ring to the right point of
Lonely reign
She is the boxer, she knows
When and where to strike
He is the boxer, he knows
No peaceful sleep tonight
Caught the downfall of Pete and May, Ryan too
He did not approve of Kayleigh's mood
Doctor Mike was fight or flight at Dundrum School
To the ring to the right point of
No return, no passion left to burn
The boxers grow weary
Their eyesight blurry view
Lonely reign
She is the boxer, she knows
When and where to strike
He is the boxer, he knows
No peaceful sleep tonight
All's quiet on the front
Smokey room
Boxer standing tall, peering through
Finding no one left to fight
What to do?
To the ring to the right point of view
Lonely reign
She is the boxer, she knows
When and where to strike
He is the boxer, he knows
No peaceful sleep tonight
Lonely reign
Lonely reign
Lonely reign
To the ring to the right point of view
Each retreat to the corner that's defined by you
To the ring to the right point of
Lonely reign
She is the boxer, she knows
When and where to strike
He is the boxer, he knows
No peaceful sleep tonight
Caught the downfall of Pete and May, Ryan too
He did not approve of Kayleigh's mood
Doctor Mike was fight or flight at Dundrum School
To the ring to the right point of
No return, no passion left to burn
The boxers grow weary
Their eyesight blurry view
Lonely reign
She is the boxer, she knows
When and where to strike
He is the boxer, he knows
No peaceful sleep tonight
All's quiet on the front
Smokey room
Boxer standing tall, peering through
Finding no one left to fight
What to do?
To the ring to the right point of view
Lonely reign
She is the boxer, she knows
When and where to strike
He is the boxer, he knows
No peaceful sleep tonight
Lonely reign
Lonely reign
Lonely reign
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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"
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."
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,
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/
Carbon Leaf rocks. I saw them for the first time at a school dance that I went to. They really got everyone moving, and now everyone from my school who went to the concert is totally obsessed with them. I can't wait to get a chance to see them again.
Carbon Leaf definitely rocks and they're really nice guys, too. I just wish that people actually listened to some of their other songs and not just The Boxer. Don't get me wrong...it's a great song, but they have so many other great songs.
Definitely one of the coolest bands around today. Last year, the drama department at my school got invited to a competition in Scotland, and we were having trouble raising money, so Carbonleaf agreed to play a benefit show in our gym. Not only did they play the show, but they announced on stage that they would be using half of the money they made that night from ticket sales and CD sales and whatnot to press a special CD of the performance to be sold only at my school, and that all profits from the CDs would be donated back to the drama department.
How amazingly cool is that? They raised an incredible amount of extra money for us, and I have one of a very small number of special release albums autographed by Barry... So fucking cool....
He did not approve of Callie's mood
It's actually spelled Kailey. I would change it, but I can't seem to find out how.
According to the band, this song is about what happens when girls and boys don't get along. I think the boxing metaphor is great for so many people i know...
I was this band at Musikfest in Bethlehem, PA. They are pretty good and I bought one of their cds with this song on it. It rules!
They were at the Musikfest in Bethlehem? My god, what have I done. I never go to that Musikfest. I live in Northampton, so damned close. I wish I'd known. sigh
hehe... I used to live in slatington, but now i live in collegeville near philadelphia. I still go every year. It rules, and so does celtic fest! occasionally they get some big acts; last year they had fuel, this year they have lifehouse, hootie and the blow fish, live, etc.
Carbon leaf rocks! I love this song.
I've got every album.. as far as I knew, I didn't think this was their "hit" song. This song is great. This album is great. This band is amazing.