"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.
There ain't no reason things are this way
It's how they've always been and they intend to stay
I can't explain why we live this way
We do it every day
Preachers on the podiums speaking of saints
Prophets on the sidewalk begging for change
Old ladies laughing from the fire escape
Cursing my name
I got a basket full of lemons and they all taste the same
A window and a pigeon with a broken wing
You could spend your whole life working for something
Just to have it taken away
People walk around pushing back their debts
Wearing paychecks like necklaces and bracelets
Talking about nothing, not thinking 'bout death
Every little heartbeat, every little breath
People walk a tight rope on a razor's edge
Carrying their hurt and hatred and weapons
It could be a bomb, or a bullet or a pen
Or thought, or a word or a sentence
There ain't no reason things are this way
It's how they always been and they intend to stay
I don't know why I say the things I say
But I say them anyway
But love will come, set me free
Love will come, set me free, I do believe
Love will come, set me free, I know it will
Love will come, set me free, yes
Prison walls still standing tall
Some things never change at all
Keep on building prisons, gonna fill them all
Keep on building bombs, gonna drop them all
Working your fingers bare to the bone
Breaking your back, make you sell your soul
Like a lung, it's filled with cold
Suffocating slow
The wind blows wild and I may move
The politicians lie and I am not fooled
You don't need no razor or a three piece suit
To argue the truth
They air on my skin in the world under my toes
Slavery stitched to the fabric of my clothes
Chaos and commotion wherever I go
Love I try to follow
Love will come, set me free
Love will come, set me free, I do believe
Love will come, set me free, I know it will
Love will come, set me free, yes
There ain't no reason things are this way
It's how they've always been and they intend to stay
I can't explain why we live this way
We do it every day
It's how they've always been and they intend to stay
I can't explain why we live this way
We do it every day
Preachers on the podiums speaking of saints
Prophets on the sidewalk begging for change
Old ladies laughing from the fire escape
Cursing my name
I got a basket full of lemons and they all taste the same
A window and a pigeon with a broken wing
You could spend your whole life working for something
Just to have it taken away
People walk around pushing back their debts
Wearing paychecks like necklaces and bracelets
Talking about nothing, not thinking 'bout death
Every little heartbeat, every little breath
People walk a tight rope on a razor's edge
Carrying their hurt and hatred and weapons
It could be a bomb, or a bullet or a pen
Or thought, or a word or a sentence
There ain't no reason things are this way
It's how they always been and they intend to stay
I don't know why I say the things I say
But I say them anyway
But love will come, set me free
Love will come, set me free, I do believe
Love will come, set me free, I know it will
Love will come, set me free, yes
Prison walls still standing tall
Some things never change at all
Keep on building prisons, gonna fill them all
Keep on building bombs, gonna drop them all
Working your fingers bare to the bone
Breaking your back, make you sell your soul
Like a lung, it's filled with cold
Suffocating slow
The wind blows wild and I may move
The politicians lie and I am not fooled
You don't need no razor or a three piece suit
To argue the truth
They air on my skin in the world under my toes
Slavery stitched to the fabric of my clothes
Chaos and commotion wherever I go
Love I try to follow
Love will come, set me free
Love will come, set me free, I do believe
Love will come, set me free, I know it will
Love will come, set me free, yes
There ain't no reason things are this way
It's how they've always been and they intend to stay
I can't explain why we live this way
We do it every day
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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Ebba Grön
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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/
Maybe the best most down to earth song ever. Brett Dennen touchs on every thing that is wrong with people in society these days and makes you actually think about life.
This song is so beautiful, every time I hear it I get chills. I have listened to it like 100 times today and every single time it is just as wonderful as the last.
I have never been touched so deeply by a song and I feel like hearing this song might make a very positive impact on my life. Things have been pretty rough in my life lately and it seems like wonderful songs like this are the only thing keeping me from falling apart.
Anyway thats my little rant, keep it real everybody. Especially Brett!
Well I'm syuprised that with brett's new CD out that no one has really caught onto how great his music and lyrics are.
This song is (to me) about the power of love, not the kind of love that you have for your wife, but maybe a little? Its more of the kind of love that is universal, world peace, things of that sort.
Also to me it means that we arnt in control of what happening and it talks about how we will never know why they are the way they are.
I've been listening to brett for some time now and just a few months ago when his new CD came out I had 2 of my best friends pass away in a car accident and music was there to save me frmo myself. Brett's music especialy kept me in the right direction.
This song is Amazing - Brett Dennen is Awesome - Good Luck!
It's about taking life for granted. and to never look down on anyone because you never know what you have until its gone.
This song is amazing ....and anyone who has actualy lisened to this song doesnt need to read what it means ....hes much too good at getting his point across for that
there's some mistakes in the lyrics... 'speaking of saints' 'pushing back their debts' 'thinking 'bout death' 'slavery stitched' I don't think there is need to argue a deeper meaning, as there is none- at least no huge, mind-bending metaphors. Great song, can't get enough of it.
Man, this is the kind of song that makes me want to live a better life.
He really is way ahead of his time. It's nice owning music that sounds different everytime you hear it. That's what I get anyways.
I think he is simply saying how crap life is at the moment of writing this. Maybe he was asked by a child? "why are things so bad?" and replied "there aint no reason". But he also gives us all hope saying "i do believe, love will set me free" restoring out faith in good (love) and his appreciation for such. Ending on "we do it everyday" is kinda a little sublimibnal message as to question yourself "why" you do it everyday. x
Yeah, I feel like i just discovered an artist making music that will be important to me for a long time. I haven't heard a song from him yet that I'm not completely impressed with. Incredible lyrical ability, witty, clever, original and over a variety of subject matters. His voice is so familiar and yet so unique.