"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.
It's the same outside,
Driving to the riverside.
I pretend to cry,
Even if I cried alone.
I forgot the start.
Use my hands to use my heart.
Even if I died alone.
Since the first of June,
Lost my job and lost my room.
I pretend to try,
Even if I tried alone.
I forgot the part.
Lose my hands to lose my heart.
Even if I died alone.
Driving to the riverside.
I pretend to cry,
Even if I cried alone.
I forgot the start.
Use my hands to use my heart.
Even if I died alone.
Since the first of June,
Lost my job and lost my room.
I pretend to try,
Even if I tried alone.
I forgot the part.
Lose my hands to lose my heart.
Even if I died alone.
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More Featured Meanings
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.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
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/
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.
I think the narrator must be feeliong guilty about not having a job. He says he'll "pretend to cry" and "pretend to try" even if he does these things alone.
Usually pretending to try and cry are only done for the benefit of others. You pretend to cry to gain sympathy. You pretend to try so others think you are doing your best. But here he says he'll pretend even if he's alone. This suggests to me that he is trying to prove to himself that what has happened (losing his job and room) is not his fault, because he's pretending to try.
He is also trying to prove to himself that he really wants a job by pretending to cry. If he didn't cry that might mean that he really is a lazy bum who enjoys not having a job.
I think the line "use my hands to use my heart" means that working was this man's way of life. It is not simply something he does with his hands, it was central to his life. However, he says he has "forgot the part" suggesting that he no longer feels this way. His work is no longer as important to him as it used to be. Perhaps he notices this and it bothers him, and that is why he feels the need to pretend to cry and try: because he wants to convince himself that work is still as important to him as it used to be.
Wow! If that really is what Sufjan was trying to convey then his economy of words is miraculous.
Of course, I could be wrong.
I have been going through this, mostly unemployed for two years after moving from a great engineering job for my wife's school. I found a dream job teaching, then was laid off 20 weeks later due to less students (electrical apprentices, so if there's no work, there's no students...) To top it off, 2 friends commited suicide within one month of each other.<br /> <br /> He doesn't feel guilt, he feels unnecessary and unwanted, rejected by a society that sees his skills, his "hands that use his heart", as superfluous. The forgot the part might also be that it's been so long since he worked that he's afraid he's getting rusty. That plus it's a common fear among employers if they see a big gap in employment.<br /> <br /> The pretending to try/pretending to cry isn't because he's lazy, it's because he's so beaten down from constant rejection that he has no motivation, and can't really feel anything much anymore. Look at how many times he repeats "Even if I die alone". The pretending to cry might also be just to release emotional stress, or him fooling himself into crying in a land where men don't cry.<br /> <br /> A very relevant song to a lot of people right now.
A boy asked me to prom by writing the word "Prom?" on a mix CD and giving it to me.
This was the last track.
I am in love with him.
I'm from about 15 minutes north of Flint. It was pretty much one of the centers of the automotive industry for a long time, behind Detroit, but if you saw Roger and Me you probably know what happened. Industry has been pulling out, Flint was failing. I can see where the lost my job, lost my room comes from.
i've lived in or within 10 minutes of flint my entire life, and this song does a great job of capturing the sense of apathy/hopelessness that seems to permiate the place.
a great song
this album is definitely my favorite right now
simply brilliant
One of the saddest, yet more beautiful works of art ive ever come across.
I'm from about 15 minutes north of Flint. It was pretty much one of the centers of the automotive industry for a long time, behind Detroit, but if you saw Roger and Me you probably know what happened. Industry has been pulling out, Flint was failing. I can see where the lost my job, lost my room comes from.
I live in Burton but I used to live in Flint haha<br /> Hearing this song for the first time almost made me cry.<br /> My Dad worked for GM his whole life but sadly passed away years ago.
pretty.