"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.
Pressed the seven sequenced silver panic buttons,
The distress calls that fall on a distracted short-wave signal.
A metronome timed to my panic stricken breathing
And a pulse conducted by our dying lines.
You said my heart sounded like a payphone in the rain.
Distorted, distant, scrambled and desperate.
Baby, I swear to god tonight I am sober.
It's the reception between us that's failing.
Everything's coming out all frenzied and confused.
She's got what it takes to make collapsing a habit
And a dance out of a tantrum fit (it's tragic but I am sobering up).
Pick up the phone.
Tonight I feel like the hero of a rusting war.
My touch has the timing and precision of a car wreck.
No use translating the trembles.
They're symptoms of repetitive testing for fluctuation.
If I come back home, I am bringing back the bends.
So give me a kiss. let me taste the reptilian appeal.
Say it again baby. does it turn you on? does it get you hot?
I get a little hysterical sometimes.
The panic you shouldn't have been so sentimental.
All that kicking and screaming.
Everything I touch starts peeling.
We malfunction like machines.
Get up off the floor and answer the phone.
I want to be a big star.
Didn't want to touch so hard.
Open the door.
I am your deviant satellite, an orbit defected by the ballast of words.
You're the reason for collisions.
I am face down like a sailor washed up under your window.
Tonight is a shipwreck.
Navigating through disorder.
Now every electric star hums like a telecaster.
How punk rock is that?
You're so oblivious.
Baby, you're my oblivion.
The distress calls that fall on a distracted short-wave signal.
A metronome timed to my panic stricken breathing
And a pulse conducted by our dying lines.
You said my heart sounded like a payphone in the rain.
Distorted, distant, scrambled and desperate.
Baby, I swear to god tonight I am sober.
It's the reception between us that's failing.
Everything's coming out all frenzied and confused.
She's got what it takes to make collapsing a habit
And a dance out of a tantrum fit (it's tragic but I am sobering up).
Pick up the phone.
Tonight I feel like the hero of a rusting war.
My touch has the timing and precision of a car wreck.
No use translating the trembles.
They're symptoms of repetitive testing for fluctuation.
If I come back home, I am bringing back the bends.
So give me a kiss. let me taste the reptilian appeal.
Say it again baby. does it turn you on? does it get you hot?
I get a little hysterical sometimes.
The panic you shouldn't have been so sentimental.
All that kicking and screaming.
Everything I touch starts peeling.
We malfunction like machines.
Get up off the floor and answer the phone.
I want to be a big star.
Didn't want to touch so hard.
Open the door.
I am your deviant satellite, an orbit defected by the ballast of words.
You're the reason for collisions.
I am face down like a sailor washed up under your window.
Tonight is a shipwreck.
Navigating through disorder.
Now every electric star hums like a telecaster.
How punk rock is that?
You're so oblivious.
Baby, you're my oblivion.
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This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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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.
ahhh... i love this song!! holy shit.. haha..
agreed! "HOW PUNK ROCK IS THAT!?"
if i come back home i'm bringing back the bends...so give me a kiss, let me taste the reptilian appeal...
that line has special meaning to me..hehe
say it again baby.
rockin song. they are amusing live. the lead singer looks like john travolta. has anyone else seen this? whats with those hips? haha. they still rock.
you're so oblivious, baby you're my oblivion i love that line...such an amazing song
i was thinking he looked like Elvis on crack.
oh, wait, Elvis WAS on crack. hm
so, he just reminds me of Elvis while performing. yeah.
however, they are an amazing band, and play good shows. yes. this is one of my favorite songs.
kills me.soo heavy
fucking awesome song
"how punk rock is that!?"
one of the greatest quotes in hardcore music
i love this song. it's so intense and just fucking awesome. rock!
"It's tragic...but I am sobering up". The singers from ETID, the Icarus Line, Converge, and, although they're awful, Glassjaw might as well just start up their own jazz/hardcore band. I love that jazzy singing that a lot of hardcore singers slip into. This song is fucking incredible.