"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.
well she wakes up every morning
to the sound of sarah records
on a compilation tape
her friend had sent to her from paris
well it's not to say she didn't like
the college station
but her days left in this town
were counting down to graduation
she said hey hey hey
with less than three weeks to go
she tried to justify the goth scene
but the relevance was low
and she said hey hey hey
won't you listen to me
well you can keep the punk rock
ska rap beats and house
fuck me i'm twee
she packed her little teddy totebag
saved some tickets for herself
picked out her favorite lucksmiths single
took the Cher Doll off the shelf
she grabbed her slumberland guitar case
and her 14 iced bears ring
took down her IFOJ poster
and 'the band who would be king'
and she said hey hey hey
I'm taking 2nd to steal
you know you won't meet barker's beauties
unless you learn to spin the wheel
and she said hey hey hey
won't you listen to me
well you can keep the punk rock
ska rap beats and house
fuck me i'm twee
she said i may not beat my sister
at this stupid game of uno
but at least i know the difference
between a boscoe and a bruno
sick of stickin' around just like those magnets on the fridge
but when i finally leave this town
please don't throw aggi from the bridge
she said hey hey hey
there's just one thing i know
you'll find more posies in the used bin
than there are people at the show
and she said hey hey hey
won't you listen to me
well you can keep the punk rock
ska rap beats and house
fuck me i'm twee
to the sound of sarah records
on a compilation tape
her friend had sent to her from paris
well it's not to say she didn't like
the college station
but her days left in this town
were counting down to graduation
she said hey hey hey
with less than three weeks to go
she tried to justify the goth scene
but the relevance was low
and she said hey hey hey
won't you listen to me
well you can keep the punk rock
ska rap beats and house
fuck me i'm twee
she packed her little teddy totebag
saved some tickets for herself
picked out her favorite lucksmiths single
took the Cher Doll off the shelf
she grabbed her slumberland guitar case
and her 14 iced bears ring
took down her IFOJ poster
and 'the band who would be king'
and she said hey hey hey
I'm taking 2nd to steal
you know you won't meet barker's beauties
unless you learn to spin the wheel
and she said hey hey hey
won't you listen to me
well you can keep the punk rock
ska rap beats and house
fuck me i'm twee
she said i may not beat my sister
at this stupid game of uno
but at least i know the difference
between a boscoe and a bruno
sick of stickin' around just like those magnets on the fridge
but when i finally leave this town
please don't throw aggi from the bridge
she said hey hey hey
there's just one thing i know
you'll find more posies in the used bin
than there are people at the show
and she said hey hey hey
won't you listen to me
well you can keep the punk rock
ska rap beats and house
fuck me i'm twee
Lyrics submitted by BIGFONTSAVANT
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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,
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
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.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
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.
Sarah Records: Indipendent record label from 87 to 95 Little Teddy: Indiependent record label from 91 to present. The Lucksmiths: Australian indiepop/twee band. Slumberland: Indiependent record label from 89 to present. 14 Iced Bears:British indiepop band IFOJ: Incredible Force Of Junior: American indiepop band The Band That Would Be King: Documentary on the band Half Japanese. and she said hey hey hey Barker's beauties: A term used to describe American models 1972-present "boscoe and a bruno": Frank Boscoe: Lead member of indie band Vehical Flips, Franklin Bruno: Lead member of indie band Nothing Painted Blue Don't throw aggi off the bridge: Reference to Black Tamborine song; Throw Aggi Off The Bridge
I think that's it. All the ones I know anyway.
"Barker's beauties: A term used to describe American models 1972-present"<br /> <br /> "Barker's Beauties" was what Bob Barker, former long time host of the day time game show "Price Is Right" called the models on the show who stood by washers, refigerators, and cars. The line "You won't meet Barker's Beauties unless you learn to spin the wheel" probably references the wheel contestants spin during the "Showcase Showdown" on the show.
"dont throw aggi from the bridge" is a ref to Black Tambourine's song "throw aggi off the bridge"
i want a t shirt written Fuck Me I'm Twee on it (:
This song is a love song to sub-genre of "Twee" music (the type of music Tullycraft plays) and most of the lines refrence either a band, a record company somehow connected with Twee music. Refrences I know: Sarah Records, Cher Doll, Little Teddy, Slumberland, and 14 Iced Bears are all record companies. Lucksmiths and Posies are bands "Don't throw Aggi off from bridge" is a refrence, I belive to The Pixies.
..Uh, I thought 14 Iced Bears was a band. Not a record company.
Anyways, this is a -great- song. Way to tribute! :D
Oh, Tullycraft is just good times. I love really jangly pop-culture infused pop music, and that's exactly what they are. Hell if I know what any of their songs mean, except maybe...yeah, I don't know. It's just sweet music.
twee?
you're right; 14 Iced Bears is definitely a band.
this song is pretty straightforwardly about the 'twee' lifestyle and it namedrops popular twee record labels, bands and songs.
good call on the black tambourine song, fantastic band.
'The Band That Would Be King' is the name of a documentary on the band Half Japanese. Boscoe is an Irish children's show about a puppet. Bruno, I think, is either a reference to the Sesame Street character or to the character from Lewis Carrol's book Sylvie and Bruno. IFOJ - The Incredible Force Of Junior, a Seattle indie band.