"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.
Even now the world is bleedin'
But feelin' just fine all numb
In our castle where we're always free
To choose never free enough
To find I wish somethin' would break
Cause we're runnin' out of time
And I am overcome
I am overcome
Holy water in my lungs
I am overcome
These women in the street
Pullin' out their hair
My master's in the yard givin' light
To the unaware this plastic little place
Is just a step amongst the stairs
And I am overcome
I am overcome
Baby holy water in my lungs
I am overcome
So drive me out out to that open field
Turn the ignition off
And spin around
Your help is here but
I'm parked in this open space
Blockin' the gates of love
I am overcome
I am overcome
Holy water in my lungs
I am overcome
Beautiful drowning
This beautiful drowning
This holy water
This holy water is in my lungs
But feelin' just fine all numb
In our castle where we're always free
To choose never free enough
To find I wish somethin' would break
Cause we're runnin' out of time
And I am overcome
I am overcome
Holy water in my lungs
I am overcome
These women in the street
Pullin' out their hair
My master's in the yard givin' light
To the unaware this plastic little place
Is just a step amongst the stairs
And I am overcome
I am overcome
Baby holy water in my lungs
I am overcome
So drive me out out to that open field
Turn the ignition off
And spin around
Your help is here but
I'm parked in this open space
Blockin' the gates of love
I am overcome
I am overcome
Holy water in my lungs
I am overcome
Beautiful drowning
This beautiful drowning
This holy water
This holy water is in my lungs
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Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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,
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.
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 not quite sure but i am thinking that its about being trapped in this ugly world that people hate and in the darkness of it all finding the love of God. he is overcome by the love of God because the earth is so dark and ugly. but still i'm not sure.
Jenna's information goes the longest way for me of explaining all the lyrics... I don't know that many Live songs, actually, but from what I've heard, there seems to be an almost ecstatic mystical streak to a lot of them. I think of stuff I read by Jellaludin Rumi and St. John of the Cross where the poet dissolves into God, which is a kind of death (holy drowning, maybe?). Lyrics like "the world is bleeding" and "women in the streets pulling out their hair" do evoke the tragedies of the world. It just doesn't make sense to me that, with "holy water" and "beautiful drowning", these are what he's overcome by in this song. Still, the emotional tone is somehow fitting for all sorts of situations, as many here have noted.
I think you are all missing the higher meaning. This is about seeing the wrongs in the world, and instead of brushing them aside, helping them, therefore showing your love.
The "holy water in my lungs" is the breath of life given when you help others in need.
I just heard an interview that Ed had on 92.3 WKRX (?) in New York. He said that he had the lyrics for a few years and last year while on tour, he re-edited it based upon things he views on the news (Palestine, school shootings, etc). However, it was definitely written and finalized before 9/11 (1 year to the date, RIP all...). Despite this, for many, as noted above and elsewhere, it has taken on 9/11 connotations. Nevertheless, I think it is a great song.
IT'S CLEARLY NOT ABOUT 9/11 AND IT'S OBVIOUSLY NOT ABOUT COLUMBINE.
Man, that is such a "publik" school interpretation.
It's about "Fortress America" and the dehumanizing aspect of urban life.
If you don't understand what I mean by that, feel free to ask and I'll explain in further detail.
That goes for the mods too. I'm sick of you all abusing your priviledges just because you don't "get" something.
The band did an interview a loooong time ago about this song. It was about an experience of the band members had when he was baptized. They really didn't explain themselves well, but talking about being dunked under the water in a lake when they were a teenager.
"holy water in my lungs" "beautiful drowning"
This song is about being baptized and finding Christ. Drowning and Holy Water are references to being Batized. 'My master's in the yard giving light to the unaware", Jesus helps everyone even if they are unaware or ignorant. "This plastic little place is just a step amongst the stairs", this life and Earth is just another step that we all must take before we go home. "I am overcome", he is overcome with happiness and love in his faith, and for the Lord.
This is a beautiful and uplifting song about accepting Jesus as his savior.
I agree with cjhike, the lyrics seem obvious to me. This is such a great song! If you listen to many of Lives other songs they seem to be spiritual in meaning. I myself am a Christian but - anyone with a belief in God can embrace the the deeper meaning of this song. I wish this band didnt break up - great songs!
While I am agnostic, verging on atheist, I can't help but love the way Live's lyrics describe their experiences and feelings of God. I agree with cjhike, Overcome is about finding God and being baptised.
What are the possibilities this song was written in a Christian context? World bleeding, spun around... life before conversion? After all, "holy water" is repeated through the song as a theme, in his lungs, all over him; baptism by submersion? Ethical struggle going on in his life?
ok yeah so I just read the last comments... I'm new here. I agree with liveislife. Baptism.