"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.
so glad that i finally found you
suppose that we’d never been introduced
don’t let it go to your head
don’t let it slip through your fingers
don’t see a doctor unless something’s bothering you
now that all of your dreams have come true
frau, what’s a girl like me to do?
don’t let it go to your head
don’t let it slip through your fingers
don’t see a doctor unless something’s bothering you
can’t you escape from your past?
must your demons always be demons?
until you lay them all to rest
they’ll come following you
they always do
suppose that we’d never been introduced
don’t let it go to your head
don’t let it slip through your fingers
don’t see a doctor unless something’s bothering you
now that all of your dreams have come true
frau, what’s a girl like me to do?
don’t let it go to your head
don’t let it slip through your fingers
don’t see a doctor unless something’s bothering you
can’t you escape from your past?
must your demons always be demons?
until you lay them all to rest
they’ll come following you
they always do
Lyrics submitted by 2008_forever
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
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“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.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
I think it's pretty obvious. This song is clearly about the Marvel character Dr. Stephen Strange.
"don't let it go to your head" "slip through your fingers" "don't see a doctor" The ENTIRE last verse