"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.
She falls through the doorway,
Rolls down the hall.
She bounces off the sofa,
And walks into the wall.
It's easy to see that she buckles and bends.
She's doin' quaaludes again.
Quaaludes again.
Quaaludes again.
If you've got aurora,
You know for shorra
She's your friend.
She's doin' quaaludes again.
She fumbles and stumbles
And falls down the stairs,
Makes love to the leg of the diningroom chair.
She's ready for animals, women or men.
She's doin' quaaludes again.
Quaaludes again.
Again.
Again.
Quaaludes again.
If you've got a lemon, a dog and three women,
Then she's your friend.
She's doing quaaludes again.
Quaaludes again.
[Dialogue between man and woman with riff in the background:]
He: Baby, you've been doing quaaludes again. Well, then who?
She: No. Not me. I don't have any quaaludes.
He: You don't have 'em 'cause you took em all already.
She: No.
He: You had six.
She: Nooo...
He: You had six yesterday, right? In your purse?
She: No...
He: How many you got now? Where'd they go?
She: No. I don't have ANY.
He: That's what I mean.
She: No...
He: Where'd they go? What'd you take?
She: I didn't take anything. I just had a small... a small headache.
He: So what did you take? What did you take for a headache?
She: No... Maybe an aspirin.
He: That's the biggest damned aspirin I've ever seen! You did... You keep... Don't keep pullin at me! Don't do that! Don't do that! c'mon... you're bumpin' into the furniture.
She: It hurts!
He: What?! I didn't mooove ANYTHING around!
She: [moaning]
He: You had FIVE quaaludes in your purse yesterday. You have none today!
She: I gave them away.
He: You gave away what? You gave EVERYTHING away!
She: I gave it to all my friends.
He: Yeah. How much time did you see your friends?
She: Wellll...
He: You were supposed to see them for five minutes?
She: Well... Don't you know how it is?
He: I DON'T know how it is.
She: Nooo...
He: I know you're doin 'ludes, and you said... you said that the next time you get them I should take them away and flush them down the toilet.
She: Noooo...
He: Didn't you say that?
She: NO....noooooo...
He: DON'T keep pullin' me to the damn bed! I don't want an old... I'm tellin you... You are turnin' me OFF!
[fading away]
He: Now let me tell you... Will you keep your eyes open! Get up!
Rolls down the hall.
She bounces off the sofa,
And walks into the wall.
It's easy to see that she buckles and bends.
She's doin' quaaludes again.
Quaaludes again.
Quaaludes again.
If you've got aurora,
You know for shorra
She's your friend.
She's doin' quaaludes again.
She fumbles and stumbles
And falls down the stairs,
Makes love to the leg of the diningroom chair.
She's ready for animals, women or men.
She's doin' quaaludes again.
Quaaludes again.
Again.
Again.
Quaaludes again.
If you've got a lemon, a dog and three women,
Then she's your friend.
She's doing quaaludes again.
Quaaludes again.
[Dialogue between man and woman with riff in the background:]
He: Baby, you've been doing quaaludes again. Well, then who?
She: No. Not me. I don't have any quaaludes.
He: You don't have 'em 'cause you took em all already.
She: No.
He: You had six.
She: Nooo...
He: You had six yesterday, right? In your purse?
She: No...
He: How many you got now? Where'd they go?
She: No. I don't have ANY.
He: That's what I mean.
She: No...
He: Where'd they go? What'd you take?
She: I didn't take anything. I just had a small... a small headache.
He: So what did you take? What did you take for a headache?
She: No... Maybe an aspirin.
He: That's the biggest damned aspirin I've ever seen! You did... You keep... Don't keep pullin at me! Don't do that! Don't do that! c'mon... you're bumpin' into the furniture.
She: It hurts!
He: What?! I didn't mooove ANYTHING around!
She: [moaning]
He: You had FIVE quaaludes in your purse yesterday. You have none today!
She: I gave them away.
He: You gave away what? You gave EVERYTHING away!
She: I gave it to all my friends.
He: Yeah. How much time did you see your friends?
She: Wellll...
He: You were supposed to see them for five minutes?
She: Well... Don't you know how it is?
He: I DON'T know how it is.
She: Nooo...
He: I know you're doin 'ludes, and you said... you said that the next time you get them I should take them away and flush them down the toilet.
She: Noooo...
He: Didn't you say that?
She: NO....noooooo...
He: DON'T keep pullin' me to the damn bed! I don't want an old... I'm tellin you... You are turnin' me OFF!
[fading away]
He: Now let me tell you... Will you keep your eyes open! Get up!
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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.
This song is part of the genius of Silverstien, God rest his soul, RIP. I taped this on Dr. Dimento when I was in 9th grade- I couldn't believe how funny it was, also, how this genious wrote Where the Sidewalk Ends, and A Light in the Attic! Been a long time since I was in a band, but I always wanted to cover this song. Blees you Shel, whereever you are!