"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.
Virginia is almost sleeping
The night is getting older
There is static on the TV
And she's lying on the sofa
The cats crawl over her
Jenny is in the garage
She's got the car in neutral
She rolls it out so quietly
It's Saturday as usual
It always is
And me, I'm in my bedroom drawing in my notebook
Because my hand thinks I'm an artist
But my heart knows I'm a poet
It's just words, they mean so little to me
And I can't seem to do something more
When everyone will fall back
Daddy's in the backyard
His hands are getting dirty
And mom is in the kitchen
And her cake says that I'm thirteen
Another year
My brother went to college to become a doctor
And if he studies hard enough
He'll end up just like father
Who hates his life
And me, I'm in the bathroom
Crying out my eyelids because it's hard to be a man
When you are scared like a little kid
The world has become a little too mean
And I can't see the point of patient love
When everyone just wants to get fucked
The night is getting older
There is static on the TV
And she's lying on the sofa
The cats crawl over her
Jenny is in the garage
She's got the car in neutral
She rolls it out so quietly
It's Saturday as usual
It always is
And me, I'm in my bedroom drawing in my notebook
Because my hand thinks I'm an artist
But my heart knows I'm a poet
It's just words, they mean so little to me
And I can't seem to do something more
When everyone will fall back
Daddy's in the backyard
His hands are getting dirty
And mom is in the kitchen
And her cake says that I'm thirteen
Another year
My brother went to college to become a doctor
And if he studies hard enough
He'll end up just like father
Who hates his life
And me, I'm in the bathroom
Crying out my eyelids because it's hard to be a man
When you are scared like a little kid
The world has become a little too mean
And I can't see the point of patient love
When everyone just wants to get fucked
Lyrics submitted by PLANES, edited by IvanhoeHei
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
Yeah people, Conor is a lyrical genius. I think he's totally capable of writing this at 13. But I wouldn't be surprised if he wrote it as a kind of reflection of being 13.
The meaning of this song is pretty obvious. Growing up sucks, especially when you can't find any comfort because the people you look up to hate their lives. It doesn't take much looking into to realize how pointless life can be.
And hankmay4, I don't understand how "..drawing in my notebook. Because my hand thinks I'm an artist but my heart knows I'm a poet." can make you want to gag. It's like he wants to make [draw] something beautiful because everything around him is ugly. And because words mean so little to him, his music/poems don't seem beautiful. I actually really like that line.
I can't make out the lines: "I can't seem to deal with total trust There is something very wrong with me "
It seems more like: "I can't seem to deal. There's something wrong with everyone. Something, something." I'm not positive, though.
"and me I'm in my bedroom drawing in my notebook because my hand thinks I'm an artist but my heart knows I'm a poet It's just words they mean so little to me i can't seem to deal with total trust there is something very wrong with me"
All I have to say is wow. That verse is absolutely amazing. Connor's lyrics can really touch a person.
wow. this song is amazingly beautiful.
what a beautifully sad song. it's the first bright eyes song i heard, and i'm now in love. what an amazing artist.
"....and me i'm in the bathroom crying out my eyelids because it's hard to Be a man when you are scared like a little kid the world has become a little too mean and i can't see the point of patient love when everyone just wants to get fucked."
That part makes me wanna cry.. I'm not a guy, but the thought that all those stereotypical remarks ppl make about guys and un-true love and sex can just go away from my head reading these lyrics makes me wanna love this man.
jesus christ im so sick of it. not like specifically on this song, but i noticed on a lot of the bright eyes theres always someone using the word amazing. what the fuck i dont get it this is supposed to be what you think the song means i dont understand why you tell me that "conor is amazing" or whatever.. werd.
maybe the song to them means something amazing. and you can't help it to say conor is amazing.. he writes more real than anything else that exists
what cd is this song on? i want to get it because this is an AMAZING song.
and this song is about loneliness and growing up and fearing what u will become. its about a distance family thats misriable and trying to cope with that
a collection of songs
the first bright eyes song i heard;; a long long time ago. many months later, i'm still hooked. i actually used parts of this song in an art project i did pertaining to the horrific era of growing up, and realizing what the world is really like. quite depressing, really.
"and i can't see the point of patient love when everyone just wants to get fucked"
This is my motto on life.