"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.
I love this town you can see the stars at night
Even from downtown
'Cause there are no city lights
This town was my biggest fan
'Til I was who I am
What's the matter
What's the matter
All I ask is why afraid of this girl
What's the matter
What's the matter
All I ask is why be afraid of this world
I love this town the moon is dancing on the waves
And in the bars half of them are underage
People let a lot slip by
When they look a lot alike
What's the matter
What's the matter
All I ask is why afraid of this girl
What's the matter
What's the matter
All I ask is why be afraid of this world
What if I am Black or Jew
Straight or queer mother of two
Run around in a hippie dress
Ride my bike in a leather vest
What's the matter
I love this town where I climbed the apple trees
And that was me cheering for the hometown team
I've got something to give
In this town where I want to live
So what's the matter
What's the matter
All I ask is why afraid of this girl
What's the matter
What's the matter
All I ask is why be why be
What's the matter
What's the matter
All I ask is why be afraid of this world
Why be afraid
Even from downtown
'Cause there are no city lights
This town was my biggest fan
'Til I was who I am
What's the matter
What's the matter
All I ask is why afraid of this girl
What's the matter
What's the matter
All I ask is why be afraid of this world
I love this town the moon is dancing on the waves
And in the bars half of them are underage
People let a lot slip by
When they look a lot alike
What's the matter
What's the matter
All I ask is why afraid of this girl
What's the matter
What's the matter
All I ask is why be afraid of this world
What if I am Black or Jew
Straight or queer mother of two
Run around in a hippie dress
Ride my bike in a leather vest
What's the matter
I love this town where I climbed the apple trees
And that was me cheering for the hometown team
I've got something to give
In this town where I want to live
So what's the matter
What's the matter
All I ask is why afraid of this girl
What's the matter
What's the matter
All I ask is why be why be
What's the matter
What's the matter
All I ask is why be afraid of this world
Why be afraid
Lyrics submitted by LizardGirl
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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.
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.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
knowing the background of catie curtis makes you understand this song better. it is about a girl who, for so long, lived her life for others, to impress people, and got a great reputation doing it. but once she "came out" everyone abandoned her and even though they knew she was a good person they hated her b/c of her lifestyle. i love this song b/c it is so true about society. there is judgement everywhere about things people dont understand at all.
Wow...that's good stuff right there.