"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.
Shiny happy people laughing
Meet me in the crowd, people, people
Throw your love around, love me, love me
Take it into town, happy, happy
Put it in the ground where the flowers grow
Gold and silver shine
Shiny happy people holding hands
Shiny happy people holding hands
Shiny happy people laughing
Everyone around, love them, love them
Put it in your hands, take it, take it
There's no time to cry, happy, happy
Put it in your heart, where tomorrow shines
Gold and silver shine
Shiny happy people holding hands
Shiny happy people holding hands
Shiny happy people laughing
Whoa, here we go
Shiny happy people holding hands
Shiny happy people holding hands
Shiny happy people laughing
Shiny happy people holding hands
Shiny happy people holding hands
Shiny happy people laughing
Shiny happy people holding hands
Shiny happy people holding hands
Shiny happy people laughing
Shiny happy people holding hands (people, happy people)
Shiny happy people holding hands (people, happy people)
Shiny happy people holding hands (people, happy people)
Meet me in the crowd, people, people
Throw your love around, love me, love me
Take it into town, happy, happy
Put it in the ground where the flowers grow
Gold and silver shine
Shiny happy people holding hands
Shiny happy people holding hands
Shiny happy people laughing
Everyone around, love them, love them
Put it in your hands, take it, take it
There's no time to cry, happy, happy
Put it in your heart, where tomorrow shines
Gold and silver shine
Shiny happy people holding hands
Shiny happy people holding hands
Shiny happy people laughing
Whoa, here we go
Shiny happy people holding hands
Shiny happy people holding hands
Shiny happy people laughing
Shiny happy people holding hands
Shiny happy people holding hands
Shiny happy people laughing
Shiny happy people holding hands
Shiny happy people holding hands
Shiny happy people laughing
Shiny happy people holding hands (people, happy people)
Shiny happy people holding hands (people, happy people)
Shiny happy people holding hands (people, happy people)
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[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.
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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/
What this song is really about is: I remember reading that the title came from a piece of Chinese propaganda that the Chinese government put out after Tiananmen square, that had a first line that translated to read "the shiny happy people holding hands", which always lead me to believe that the entire song was not only meant to be sarcastic, but it was meant to be almost bitterly so. Simply put, a song to mock the overly happy fits of lunacy that people put out to mask real life problems.
Unfortunately for REM, the song became what it was mocking.
It's about communism. Like how in the pictures of the citizens of China they look happy, they are being hidden by what's happening behind closed doors. Hence, Shiny Happy People.
It always makes me think of Hippies. I don't know why
Me, too. Just seems like the attitude Hippies had in general and the way they'd do that whole happy campfire thing.
How many times does R.E.M have to explain this ffs:
The title and chorus are based on a Chinese propaganda poster. The slogan "Shiny happy people holding hands" is used ironically - the song was released in 1991, 2 years after the Tiananmen Square uprising when the Chinese government clamped down on student demonstrators, killing hundreds of them.
@lucydubbs Well, the music video produced for this song doesn't really help either.
@lucydubbs Also, R.E.M. don't explain it that way. As far as they're concerned, they just wrote a meaningless pop song.
I heard this on an interview - R.E.M. was tired of everyone saying that their songs and videos were morbid, sad, or dark. they wrote this and ridiculously dance in bright colors on the video to be smart asses. It's a great song that I've always liked, but after I heard where it stemmed from - I like it even MORE!
i always thought this was about how alot of people believe they are happy because that's what they are told. they live a "good" life, and even if it isn't the one they want, they are happy with it because they know that someone else has it worse.
shiny people are fake people. they think they are happy, but have no idea what happiness is.
who cares if its drug related or not? its a really happy song, and it makes you happy. and as long as you're happy, who cares? this song rules. forever. and then some. anyways, that's what i think...
@xpankfrisst lol omfg it is so not about that. It’s a gigantic FU to Bullshit propaganda specifically in relation T-Square massacre. It’s 100% sarcasm. I remember watching “shiny happy monsters” when REM was on Sesame Street with my toddler and I just started dying laughing. It’s way deeper than the surface. It’s not intended to make you happy, it’s intended to point out seeing through the terrible things people want to believe. Listening to the progressions, are indicative of sadness covered by superficial false happiness.
I LOVE THE VIDEO!!!!! It's just so awesomely fucked up you gotta love it. The reason they had Stipe dance in videos was b/c he couldn't.
she is kate pierson...
...why is this not on in time? mozzer answered that
I agree with OrangeCrush. Why are people so oblivious to sarcasm/different perspectives?