"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.
Come down baby from the mountaintop
It's time for you to let this go
There's things out there you just can't stop
There's things out there you just don't know
There's nowhere left for you to run
And all these books and all these words
Incompatible, absurd
You're watching on your TV set
'Til the world's a burning wreck
'Til you can hate someone you've never met
Well all I see is hate and greed
People fighting in the streets
And all these tears are washing me away
And Intolerance and genocide
And your book says that mine's a lie
If God's on your side, then who's on mine?
I woke up sleeping in a dream
All the boys had come back home
Your family's dancing in the streets
Your cousin's on the telephone
There's no need left for you to roam
Jesus, Buddha, Zeus and Jah
Apollo, Vishnu, and Allah
Bullets rain while children play
Do you watch or look away?
Tell me who decides, who will choose,
Who will win, who will lose?
Well all I see is hate and greed
People fighting in the streets
And all these tears are wearing us away
And Intolerance and genocide
And your book says that mine's a lie
If God's on your side, then who's on mine?
You knelt there in a pew
And you said a prayer or two
Lit a candle for luck
Put your money in the cup
You quote chapter and verse
And how your God got here first
In a stem cell petrie dish
There's a Darwin bumper fish
Come down baby from the mountaintop
Take a breath and let it go
There's things out there you just can't stop
There's things out there you'll never know
There's no need left for you to run
All I see is hate and greed
People fighting in the streets
And all these tears are wasting us away
And when we wake up in this war
but no one knows what it was for
Was God on my side, or was he on yours?
If God's on your side, then who's on mine?
It's time for you to let this go
There's things out there you just can't stop
There's things out there you just don't know
There's nowhere left for you to run
And all these books and all these words
Incompatible, absurd
You're watching on your TV set
'Til the world's a burning wreck
'Til you can hate someone you've never met
Well all I see is hate and greed
People fighting in the streets
And all these tears are washing me away
And Intolerance and genocide
And your book says that mine's a lie
If God's on your side, then who's on mine?
I woke up sleeping in a dream
All the boys had come back home
Your family's dancing in the streets
Your cousin's on the telephone
There's no need left for you to roam
Jesus, Buddha, Zeus and Jah
Apollo, Vishnu, and Allah
Bullets rain while children play
Do you watch or look away?
Tell me who decides, who will choose,
Who will win, who will lose?
Well all I see is hate and greed
People fighting in the streets
And all these tears are wearing us away
And Intolerance and genocide
And your book says that mine's a lie
If God's on your side, then who's on mine?
You knelt there in a pew
And you said a prayer or two
Lit a candle for luck
Put your money in the cup
You quote chapter and verse
And how your God got here first
In a stem cell petrie dish
There's a Darwin bumper fish
Come down baby from the mountaintop
Take a breath and let it go
There's things out there you just can't stop
There's things out there you'll never know
There's no need left for you to run
All I see is hate and greed
People fighting in the streets
And all these tears are wasting us away
And when we wake up in this war
but no one knows what it was for
Was God on my side, or was he on yours?
If God's on your side, then who's on mine?
Lyrics submitted by wrat
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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,
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.
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 heard Danny play this acoustic during an episode of The Vinyl Cafe (CBC Radio forever), and it blew me away. There was a podcast specially for it a while back.... In any case, beautiful song with a strong, clear message. Makes you think....