"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.
a temple corroded
eviction pending
embrace me, cold night
gray sky, streetlight
lyrical descension
attention fading
breathless, i'm a mess
kissless, i'm in distress
i'm barely breathing
this crowning anguish
locked up nervous reflex
i've got to build up from the inside
a relapse, reflection
distorted, repression
smiling spitefully
longing for you to sew up my seams
i'm barely breathing
i've abandoned old identities
skin i couldn't fit into
songs i couldn't write
my voice will fade into this starless night
can i get much blinder
can i kick myself much harder
have i accepted this
to torture myself
you can't see me
have i invented you
i'm barely breathing
and you're so easy to beleive in
and it's so depressing
that i'm always second guessing myself
eviction pending
embrace me, cold night
gray sky, streetlight
lyrical descension
attention fading
breathless, i'm a mess
kissless, i'm in distress
i'm barely breathing
this crowning anguish
locked up nervous reflex
i've got to build up from the inside
a relapse, reflection
distorted, repression
smiling spitefully
longing for you to sew up my seams
i'm barely breathing
i've abandoned old identities
skin i couldn't fit into
songs i couldn't write
my voice will fade into this starless night
can i get much blinder
can i kick myself much harder
have i accepted this
to torture myself
you can't see me
have i invented you
i'm barely breathing
and you're so easy to beleive in
and it's so depressing
that i'm always second guessing myself
Lyrics submitted by AllStarMe
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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,
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.
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/
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.
"can i get much blinder? can i kick myself much harder? have i accepted this, to torture myself?" - this has to be the best part of the song.
My favorite of Chris's songs on Apathy and Exhaustion. I like the "I'm barely breathings" because they setup the best part of the song.
...You can't see me, Have I invented you? I'm barely breathing, you're so easy to believe in....
i absolutely love this song "i've abandoned old identities, skin i couldn't fit into, songs i couldn't write, my voice will fade into this starless night. "--my favorite lyrics from this song
my favorite song on Apathy & Exhaustion. I love the "I'm barely breathing" at the end of each verse.
the intro is so great especailly this line - "old nights, gray sky, streetlight. lyrical descension. attention fading."
larry arms owns you
Good song overall, especially when you consider thos through the state of mind of someone who has hit rock bottom.
To me it seems like this song is about someone questioning their faith in religion