"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.
The water's edge is where she waits
Lost soul still wandering
Meant to die, but she's stuck not crossing over
The other side is where he waits
His spirit reaching out
Meant to save, but she's too scared to take his hand
Living in a world without you (drowning in the past)
Is living in no world at all
So now I call on you
Remember me: I gave you life
You would not take it
Your suffering was all in vain
It's almost over now
Don't turn your back on Paradise
Feeling scared, she's prepared
To give up everything
She can't stand to feel like half of her is fading
He will choose the only way
To rid her of her pain
Take her soul now; the decision has been made
Living in a world without love (burning into my soul)
Is living in a worthless world
So I will call on you
Remember me: I gave you life
You would not take it
Your suffering was all in vain
It's almost over
Remember me; you were so young
How could I tell you?
Remember me: I am the one
Who saved your life that night
I was the one who would not
Abandon you
Even in death I was the one who would not leave you
I used my freedom to protect you
And all the while direct you
Do you remember me this time?
Even in death I gave you life
I gave you life
I wanted to deserve a place...
A place beside you
This time when I reach out my hand
It reached all the way to heaven
Remember me: I gave you life
You would not take it
Your suffering was all in vain
It's almost over now
Goodbye
It's almost over now
Goodbye
It's time I release you from this life
Don't turn your back on Paradise
Lost soul still wandering
Meant to die, but she's stuck not crossing over
The other side is where he waits
His spirit reaching out
Meant to save, but she's too scared to take his hand
Living in a world without you (drowning in the past)
Is living in no world at all
So now I call on you
Remember me: I gave you life
You would not take it
Your suffering was all in vain
It's almost over now
Don't turn your back on Paradise
Feeling scared, she's prepared
To give up everything
She can't stand to feel like half of her is fading
He will choose the only way
To rid her of her pain
Take her soul now; the decision has been made
Living in a world without love (burning into my soul)
Is living in a worthless world
So I will call on you
Remember me: I gave you life
You would not take it
Your suffering was all in vain
It's almost over
Remember me; you were so young
How could I tell you?
Remember me: I am the one
Who saved your life that night
I was the one who would not
Abandon you
Even in death I was the one who would not leave you
I used my freedom to protect you
And all the while direct you
Do you remember me this time?
Even in death I gave you life
I gave you life
I wanted to deserve a place...
A place beside you
This time when I reach out my hand
It reached all the way to heaven
Remember me: I gave you life
You would not take it
Your suffering was all in vain
It's almost over now
Goodbye
It's almost over now
Goodbye
It's time I release you from this life
Don't turn your back on Paradise
Lyrics submitted by Idan, edited by Octavarium64
The Ministry of Lost Souls Lyrics as written by John Petrucci John Myung
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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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/
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Every time I hear this song and listen to the lyrics I get chills, and honestly a bit weepy. Almost every line of this beautiful song speaks to me about a very difficult time I went through about 2 years ago. My mother developed alhimerzers, she only 65 years old. She deteriorated very quickly. My farther whom was also in his mid 60’s took care of her and would not accept any help. Well, one day he called me and told me he was having chest pains. As he was in great shape and not one to ever complain about anything, I drove the 5 min’s to there house and found him dead on the living room floor. To make a long story short, my mother died 2 week later. To me this song is my farther speaking to my mother. I can relate just about ever line to there love for each other. No matter what DT had in mind when the wrote this song, I would like to thank them for again creating a song which touchs me in a very special way
@ricgir - Thank you for sharing your story with us. I'm so sorry that happened to you. After reading this story, this song has a huge new meaning for me.
hooo a beautiful love story!!! I just love it!!!
the song tells a story of a man who saves a girl from drowning, but he dies in the process; the lyrics revolve around the girl being unable to live her life with the memory. The girl wants to "go to the other side" to meet the man who saved her. The man eventually pulls her through to the "other side."in order "To rid her of her pain"
I think the message of this song is pretty clear really, the people who say it has a Christian theme are right, but you're all over complicating it. Here is my opinion, for one: the song has no mention whatsoever of drowning, the lyric is "the waters edge is where she waits", how does one drown on the edge of a body of water? then "the other side is where he waits, his spirit reaching out". If you pay close attention the imagery is of two people on opposite sides of a river, or at least some kind of body of water. A very common piece of Christian imagery/symbolism is crossing the Jordan River(or any river) as symbolizing death. And one very key idea to interpreting this song is its name "The Ministry of Lost Souls". "She" in this song represents mankind, "He" represents Jesus Christ, reaching out, drawing people in, offering them hope, telling them "don't turn your back on paradise". The idea is that we reject His loving hand far too often and turn away from Him, or maybe we are afraid. The song is symbolic for the human condition from a Christian worldview. It may seem biased considering that I am a Christian myself, but 3 members of DT are bold, practicing Christians, I don't think its going too far to say that they would write a beautiful, symbolic song about the Christian faith.
Meaning confirmed to be about a person drowning, another person saving them and dying in the process.
The person who was saved then feels guilt / regret.
Eventually it's the person who died who reaches out and pulls them to the other side.
Taken from the Making Of Chaos DVD.
This is the only song that has made me cry as an adult.
It's about Jesus Christ. The woman by the water is the woman drew water from the Jacob's well in a town name Sychar, Samaria, where she encountered Jesus (in Gospel of John 4). "But she stuck not crossing over." She at first didn't know who Jesus was, confuse by what Jesus told her about Life Giving Water. On the other side is where he waiting. Jesus was explaining and showing who He really is, just to save her.
This song reminds me of the verse... "Neither will I forsake you, neither will I leave you."
no doubt, it's about Jesus Christ...
This is a beautiful song. Death is an obvious theme, but it's too vague of one.
this song is brilliant!
I'm pretty sure you're right. Maybe something related to greek? The waters edge referring to the river Styx, the man on the otherside trying to reach out to her but she can't cross because shes waiting for the ferryman Charon?<br /> Then maybe she gets across, and according to Greek mythology, if you've led a good life, you get into Elysium, which is the best you can achieve, except if you achieve Elysium, instead of sticking around, you opt for rebirth, and if you opt for rebirth thrice and get into Elysium thrice, you get into the Isles of the Blest, which is the party HQ of the underworld. "Even in death i gave you life" <br /> sounds like its narrated from Hades' point of view, and he fell for a mortal whos trying for the Isles, but Hades thinks its too risky. <br /> Random, but thats what the song seems like to me.
Love this song. One problem in the lyrics though. Where you put "To read her other pain" What is really said is "To rid her of her pain"
Fixed. :)
Gorgeous song. I haven't listened to it enough yet to fully understand it, but I'll post back when I do. Systematic Chaos is a stunning album.