"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 took my girl to go bowling
Downtown at the red door
After an argument I started
'Cause I thought she didn't like me anymore
I can't help it sometimes I feel pitiful
And of course she's so young and beautiful
I bought us two glasses of coke
That's her favorite
And I wanted to make up for earlier
But I dropped her glass and it broke
So I just gave my glass to her
She laughed and so did I in our lane
And then she went to the vending machine
To buy a candy cane
But right next to that was a boy I knew
With a spring in his hand
Playing a country pinball machine
Called "Stand By Your Man"
I saw him talk to her
But I stayed in my lane
And played my game steady
And was thinking of a day
When I'd be too old to throw a ball this heavy
But I guess I'm young now
So it's easier to knock 'em all down
Then I looked and saw her say to him
"You're really hittin' that ball around"
And so he's lookin' at her the way I did
When I first met her
I could see in his face
White flowers
And cups of coffee
And love letters
I was sorry to interrupt their game
But I went and did it anyway
I dropped my red bowling ball
Through the glass of his machine
I said "Are you quick enough to hit
This ball, Mr. Clean?"
I was scared to lose her
So I couldn't help bein' mean
And that ended both of our games
I said I was sorry
But my girl left with him just the same
I thought how much I hate
When love makes me act this way
I was bent over a broken pinball machine
In a blowling alley and I threw it all away
Well it's it all just a big game?
Downtown at the red door
After an argument I started
'Cause I thought she didn't like me anymore
I can't help it sometimes I feel pitiful
And of course she's so young and beautiful
I bought us two glasses of coke
That's her favorite
And I wanted to make up for earlier
But I dropped her glass and it broke
So I just gave my glass to her
She laughed and so did I in our lane
And then she went to the vending machine
To buy a candy cane
But right next to that was a boy I knew
With a spring in his hand
Playing a country pinball machine
Called "Stand By Your Man"
I saw him talk to her
But I stayed in my lane
And played my game steady
And was thinking of a day
When I'd be too old to throw a ball this heavy
But I guess I'm young now
So it's easier to knock 'em all down
Then I looked and saw her say to him
"You're really hittin' that ball around"
And so he's lookin' at her the way I did
When I first met her
I could see in his face
White flowers
And cups of coffee
And love letters
I was sorry to interrupt their game
But I went and did it anyway
I dropped my red bowling ball
Through the glass of his machine
I said "Are you quick enough to hit
This ball, Mr. Clean?"
I was scared to lose her
So I couldn't help bein' mean
And that ended both of our games
I said I was sorry
But my girl left with him just the same
I thought how much I hate
When love makes me act this way
I was bent over a broken pinball machine
In a blowling alley and I threw it all away
Well it's it all just a big game?
Lyrics submitted by JulianCasablancas
Hand Springs Lyrics as written by John Anthony White
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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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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Blue
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Page
Ed Sheeran
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There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
i've got this song on 7" vinyl. it's excellent. i'm sure there'd be mp3 versions of it everywhere if you looked.