"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.
Polarize me
Sensitize me
Criticize me
Civilize me
Compensate me
Animate me
Complicate me
Elevate me
Goddess in my garden
Sister in my soul
Angel in my armor
Actress in my role
Daughter of a demon lover
Empress of the hidden face
Priestess of the pagan mother
Ancient queen of inner space
Polarize me
Sensitize me
Criticize me
Civilize me
Compensate me
Animate me
Complicate me
Elevate me
Spirit in my psyche
Double in my role
Alter in my image
Struggle for control
Mistress of the dark unconscious
Mermaid of the lunar sea
Daughter of the great enchantress
Sister to the boy inside of me
Polarize me
Sensitize me
Criticize me
Civilize me
Compensate me
Animate me
Complicate me
Elevate me
My counterpart, my foolish heart
A man must learn to rule his tender part
A warming trend, a gentle friend
A man must build a fortress to defend
A secret face, a touch of grace
A man must learn to give a little space
A peaceful state, a submissive trait
A man must learn to gently dominate
Polarize me
Sensitize me
Criticize me
Civilize me
Compensate me
Animate me
Complicate me
Elevate me
Complicate me
Elevate me
Sensitize me
Criticize me
Civilize me
Compensate me
Animate me
Complicate me
Elevate me
Goddess in my garden
Sister in my soul
Angel in my armor
Actress in my role
Daughter of a demon lover
Empress of the hidden face
Priestess of the pagan mother
Ancient queen of inner space
Polarize me
Sensitize me
Criticize me
Civilize me
Compensate me
Animate me
Complicate me
Elevate me
Spirit in my psyche
Double in my role
Alter in my image
Struggle for control
Mistress of the dark unconscious
Mermaid of the lunar sea
Daughter of the great enchantress
Sister to the boy inside of me
Polarize me
Sensitize me
Criticize me
Civilize me
Compensate me
Animate me
Complicate me
Elevate me
My counterpart, my foolish heart
A man must learn to rule his tender part
A warming trend, a gentle friend
A man must build a fortress to defend
A secret face, a touch of grace
A man must learn to give a little space
A peaceful state, a submissive trait
A man must learn to gently dominate
Polarize me
Sensitize me
Criticize me
Civilize me
Compensate me
Animate me
Complicate me
Elevate me
Complicate me
Elevate me
Lyrics submitted by shed27, edited by Rush4Peace
Animate Lyrics as written by Alex Lifeson Geddy Lee
Lyrics © Anthem Entertainment
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
No Surprises
Radiohead
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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.
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/
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
While I agree its about the balance of masculine/feminine and how they must learn to compliment - i think this song is about two people not one.
Its about the challenges that masculinity faces when it meets its counterpart in a special someone, and how he must learn to let his guard down just the right amount so that they may compliment each other and become truly unified! It makes me think of learning to live with my girlfriend...
Three years late with the reply ... but what the hell!<br /> <br /> I'm not sure this is about A person or TWO persons. It really is a call to men in general to be aware of their feminine side and to embrace it ... to let it make them better than what they are. However it also speaks to women, asking them to understand that men have fortresses to defend and that strength is a natural and desirable trait that must be balanced so man can "gently dominate". I'm not sure the feminists will like that sentiment, but my wife nods in appreciation when she hears this song.
I think Neil's writing about finding a person (lover) who can basically light up your life. And that includes becoming more sensitive. That gain of sensitivity on the males behalf, will undoubtedly strengthen the relationship. He's also describing all these different roles his lover plays to his subconscious and how the woman he's fallen in love with has changed him.
I cannot imagine life without Rush, they're simply the Best!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Animate" itself is a pun on the Jungian concepts of anima / animus; the subconscious manifestations of the masculine and feminine. Western culture likes to create dualisms, and gender is no different. As such, the western school of thought is to presume a man is to be fully masculine and a woman to be fully feminine (add into this the cultural distortions of gender thereupon, and you can get a good image of why this becomes problematic).
The idea expressed here is to recognize that we possess both masculine and feminine identities and characteristics, and integrate our two halves so that we may become more balanced, complete individuals.
"Counterparts" as an album is about seeking balance, internal and external: making peace with yourself and extending that harmony to those around you. It is a very personally mature body of work in this regard. It recognizes that we all have demons that we must embrace (Stick it Out), but also not to let our own problems drag others down and to view others with love and compassion no matter how different they are or what their situation (Nobody's Hero).
Very interesting. I always thought the lyrics spoke of a deepening relationship with someone who is opposite yet a counterpart. Thank you for the insight.
This song is about the dualities of man. Read the theories on "man's feminine side" by Carl Jung.
There's a feminine side to every man, and they need to be more open about it.
m.youtube.com/watch might as well let Neil explain