"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.
If you take a life do you know what you'll give?
Odds are you won't like what it is
When the storm arrives would you be seen with me
By the merciless eyes I've deceived?
I've seen angels fall from blinding heights
But you yourself are nothing so divine
Just next in line
Arm yourself because no one else here will save you
The odds will betray you
And I will replace you
You can't deny the prize it may never fulfill you
It longs to kill you, are you willing to die?
The coldest blood runs through my veins
You know my name
If you come inside things will not be the same
When you return to the night
And if you think you've won you never saw me change
The game that we've all been playing
I've seen this diamond cut through harder men
Than you yourself but if you must pretend
You may meet your end
Arm yourself because no one else here will save you
The odds will betray you
And I will replace you
You can't deny the prize it may never fulfill you
It longs to kill you, are you willing to die?
The coldest blood runs through my veins
Try to hide your hand
Forget how to feel (forget how to feel)
Life is gone with just a spin of the wheel (spin of the wheel)
Arm yourself because no one else here will save you
The odds will betray you
And I will replace you
You can't deny the prize it may never fulfill you
It longs to kill you, are you ready to die?
The coldest blood runs through my veins
You know my name
You know my name
You know my name
You know my name
You know my name
You know my name
You know my name
Odds are you won't like what it is
When the storm arrives would you be seen with me
By the merciless eyes I've deceived?
I've seen angels fall from blinding heights
But you yourself are nothing so divine
Just next in line
Arm yourself because no one else here will save you
The odds will betray you
And I will replace you
You can't deny the prize it may never fulfill you
It longs to kill you, are you willing to die?
The coldest blood runs through my veins
You know my name
If you come inside things will not be the same
When you return to the night
And if you think you've won you never saw me change
The game that we've all been playing
I've seen this diamond cut through harder men
Than you yourself but if you must pretend
You may meet your end
Arm yourself because no one else here will save you
The odds will betray you
And I will replace you
You can't deny the prize it may never fulfill you
It longs to kill you, are you willing to die?
The coldest blood runs through my veins
Try to hide your hand
Forget how to feel (forget how to feel)
Life is gone with just a spin of the wheel (spin of the wheel)
Arm yourself because no one else here will save you
The odds will betray you
And I will replace you
You can't deny the prize it may never fulfill you
It longs to kill you, are you ready to die?
The coldest blood runs through my veins
You know my name
You know my name
You know my name
You know my name
You know my name
You know my name
You know my name
Lyrics submitted by omgwut, edited by markydissod
You Know My Name Lyrics as written by David Arnold Chris Cornell
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Hipgnosis Songs Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Fast Car
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Dreamwalker
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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.
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Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
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This song either makes me want to be Chris Cornell or be James Bond, I really can't decide. Either way this song and this movie are both fucking incredible!! Best Bond movie I've ever seen for sure, or at least since Connery, and goes on my list for best action movies of all time.
I feel the song is actually a dig at Pierce Brosnan, the previous James Bond before Daniel Craig.
"Arm yourself because no one else here will save you The odds will betray you And I will replace you"
The song goes about the endless fights between EON Productions, MGM/UA and Brosnan about coming to terms for a new BOND movie, but the part finally goes to Daniel Craig. It's pure Martin Campbell input.
Martin Campbell is the director of both GoldenEye and Casino Royale, the first being the initial movie of Brosnan and the latter being the kick starter movie of Craig.
In the GoldenEye title song performed by Tina Turner, it was exactly the same thing with the lines like "you don't know how it feel to come so close and be denied" (ie 1986), "I watched you in the shadows as a child" (Brosnan watching Goldfinger with his dad).
I'd go further - I've always read this as being sung by James Bond, the character and icon, to the next actor due to play him.<br /> <br /> 'Take a life' is taking on the life of Bond, the 'merciless eyes' are the viewers waiting to judge, and at the end of the day Daniel Craig is 'just next in line'. It actually all fits pretty well.
@valentin I don't know, Cornell wrote the lyrics and I don't see him as that much of a Bond fanatic to write it like that, but I could be wrong, maybe he is the biggest James bond fan (or Bond himself),<br /> Rest in Piece and POWER Chris Cornell
I think it ties in with what we know about Casino Royale; it's about Bond's first assignments as a double-oh agent, about how he needs to start being the man he has to be in order to get the job done:
"If you take a life, do you know what you'll give Odds are you won't like what it is" He's got a Licence to Kill, but when he exercises it, he's going to have to live with it.
"When the storm arrives Would you be seen with me By the merciless eyes of deceit" When push comes to shove, you have to be able to face it.
"I've seen angels fall from blinding heights But you yourself are nothing so divine Just next in line" Even the best - the angels - are not infallible, and Bond is nothing special, simply a man with a number attached to his name.
"Arm yourself because no one else here will save you The odds will betray you And I will replace you" You're on your own and you're going to have to deal with everything that comes your way because there's no-one else to help you, but there is someone who will take over from you if you fail.
"You can't deny the prize, it may never fulfill you It longs to kill you Are you willing to die" You might never achieve your goal; you're willing to kill for it, but are you willing to die for it?
"If you come inside Things will not be the same When you return to my eyes " Once you start, you can never go back.
"And if you think you've won You never saw me change The game that we have been playing" The game never ends, it simply keeps going with new players.
"I've seen diamonds cut through harder men Than you yourself, but if you must pretend You may meet your end" Stronger and harder men have fallen in the face of a danger stronger and harder than themselves, but if you think you're invincible, it will chew you up and spit you back out.
"Try to hide your hand Forget how to feel (forget how to feel)" If you do nothing else, don't give anything away: what you're planning, what you're feeling.
"Life is gone, with just a spin of the wheel (Spin of the wheel)" One small slip and it's game over
Correct Lyrics:
If you take a life do you know what you'll give? Odds are, you won't like what it is When the storm arrives, would you be seen with me? By the merciless eyes of deceit?
I've seen angels fall from blinding heights But you yourself are nothing so divine Just next in line
Arm yourself because no-one else here will save you The odds will betray you And I will replace you You can't deny the prize it may never fulfill you It longs to kill you Are you willing to die?
The coldest blood runs through my veins You know my name
If you come inside things will not be the same When you return to the night And if you think you've won You never saw me change The game that we all been playing
I've seen diamonds cut through harder men Than you yourself But if you must pretend You may meet your end
Arm yourself because no-one else here will save you The odds will betray you And I will replace you You can't deny the prize it may never fulfill you It longs to kill you Are you willing to die?
The coldest blood runs through my veins
Try to hide your hand Forget how to feel Forget how to feel
Life is gone with just a spin of the wheel Spin of the wheel
Arm yourself because no-one else here will save you The odds will betray you And I will replace you You can't deny the prize it may never fulfill you It longs to kill you Are you willing to die?
The coldest blood runs through my veins You know my name
I entirely agree with arthurjay1974. I think this song provides an excellent start to a narrative arc as we watch Bond "become" the classic hero. The chords for the intro and chorus even suggest the chromatic rising motif from the classic Bond theme. Re-orchestrations of parts of the song are used throughout the film before David Arnold begins to hint at the classic theme until it is played in full at the end.
Nicely firsh comment. Not really sure what this means althought its a great tune, Probally one of the best bond tune in a long long time. Brilliant to get Chris Cornell to do it.
fucking fantastic song
"Probally one of the best bond tune in a long long time"
Defaintely better than Madonna's efforts with 'Die Another Day' ... but Garbage's 'The World Is Not Enough' is almost as good as this, if only for the 100-piece orchestra accompanying them.
Isn't it "the merciless eyes I've deceived"?
No
Actually I think it is. To me, there's a very distinct "-ved" sound at the end of that phrase. It doesn't really sound like "deceiT", and more like "deceiVED". Doesn't really help either that I've and of sound similar in the right context.
@Twelvie <br /> <br /> It 100% is. Every site has the same two mistakes in it, and it's driving me nuts. You can hear it really obviously if you listen closely, plus the song makes way more sense this way.<br /> <br /> First line is "If you take a life, do you know what YOU'LL GAIN? Odds are you won't like what it is."<br /> <br /> As in, having the courage to kill is only the start, you have to live with the guilt for the rest of your life, a burden that most don't handle well. What is 'you give' supposed to mean here?<br /> <br /> "When the storm arrives, would you be seen with me by the merciless eyes I'VE DECEIVED?"<br /> <br /> Of deceit makes absolutely no sense here. He's a spy whose job it is to trick very dangerous people. And if caught, he and everyone he knows will be subjected to brutal retribution. So because of his line of work, just being someone who knows bond is incredibly risky. You don't want his enemies to know who you are.<br /> . <br /> <br />
@Twelvie <br /> <br /> It 100% is. Every site has the same two mistakes in it, and it's driving me nuts. You can hear it really obviously if you listen closely, plus the song makes way more sense this way.<br /> <br /> First line is "If you take a life, do you know what YOU'LL GAIN? Odds are you won't like what it is."<br /> <br /> As in, having the courage to kill is only the start, you have to live with the guilt for the rest of your life, a burden that most don't handle well. Plus, this way there's subtle word play between the verbs 'take' and 'gain', i like the idea that what you take and what you gain are two different things, like it somehow transforms once the act is complete.<br /> <br /> What is 'you give' supposed to mean here?<br /> <br /> "When the storm arrives, would you be seen with me by the merciless eyes I'VE DECEIVED?"<br /> <br /> Of deceit makes absolutely no sense here. He's a spy whose job it is to trick very dangerous people. And if caught, he and everyone he knows will be subjected to brutal retribution. So because of his line of work, just being someone who knows bond is incredibly risky. You don't want his enemies to know who you are.<br /> . <br /> <br />
personally, i think this song perfectly fits the anime death note. "If you take a life, do you know what you'll give Odds are you won't like what it is" when light starts to kill criminals and eventually L, he doesnt realize the consequences.
"When the storm arrives Would you be seen with me By the merciless eyes of deceit?" L is asking that when the time to confront kira comes, will you openly support me?
"I've seen angels fall from blinding heights But you yourself are nothing so divine Just next in line" L is talking about how hes seen everything, and kira isnt so great as he thinks, just another madman
"Arm yourself because no one else here will save you. The odds will betray you And I will replace you" light is saying how hes planned everything out, that L has no chance of catching him, and light will replace him as the force of justice
"You can't deny the prize, it may never fulfill you It longs to kill you Are you willing to die?" light is talking about how L is going after a hollow prize. everything is against him, and is he willing to forfiet his life in the attempt?
"The coldness burns through my veins You know my name"
light now knows L's name, and he feels death closing in on him.
"If you come inside Things will not be the same When you return to my eyes"
light is saying that anyone who apposes him will be brought down
"And if you think you've won You never saw me change The game that we have been playing" near is saying that light thinks hes won, but the game has changed, and near knows how to play
"I've seen this diamond cut through harder men Than you yourself, but if you must pretend You may meet your end" near is talking about how light isnt as great as he thouught he was (just like L) and that his end is near
"Try to hide your hand Forget how to feel (forget how to feel) Life is gone, with just a spin of the wheel (Spin of the wheel)"
Near is talking about how light has always played his hand in secrecy and collusion, and that he has been able to make it this far because of his lack of compassion. but now because of one slip up(mikami's fault) his whole operation has been blown open, and so he has lost
Wow I have thought the exact same thing. I could have written this post in July of 2008