Around 1985, Chesnutt moved to Athens and joined the band, The La-Di-Da's. After leaving that group he began performing solo on a regular basis at the 40 Watt Club; it was there that he was spotted by Michael Stipe of R.E.M.; Stipe produced Chesnutt's first two albums, Little (1990) and West of Rome (1991).
In 1992 Chesnutt was the subject of a PBS documentary, Speed Racer. He also had a small role in the 1996 Billy Bob Thornton movie Sling Blade which he later described self-mockingly as a poor performance.
In 1996, Chesnutt was exposed to a wider audience with the release of the tribute album Sweet Relief II: Gravity of the Situation, the proceeds from which went to the Sweet Relief Fund. The album consisted of Chesnutt covers by famous musicians including Garbage, The Smashing Pumpkins (with Red Red Meat), Madonna, R.E.M. and Live.
He recorded several times with other groups and artists. Most notably he made two albums with fellow Athens, GA recording artist Widespread Panic, under the name of brute. Chesnutt's album The Salesman and Bernadette (1998) was recorded with alt-country group Lambchop as the backing band. The album Merriment was a collaborative effort between Chesnutt and Kelly and Nikki Keneipp, with Vic writing and singing the songs, and the Keneipps playing the music. The 2005 album Ghetto Bells features famed guitarist Bill Frisell, whom Chesnutt met in 2004 at the renowned Century of Song concert series at the German festival RuhrTriennale. Chesnutt's wife, Tina Chesnutt, frequently plays bass on his albums. His niece, and fellow songwriter, Liz Durrett also appeared on the Ghetto Bells album.
Chesnutt's first four albums were released on the independent Texas Hotel label. He then recorded About to Choke (1996) for Capitol, which was his first and only major record label recording. The Salesman and Bernadette (1998) was on PolyGram; Merriment (2000) was on the Backburner Records label; spinART was the label for the self performed and recorded Left to His Own Devices (2001). Vic then found a new home at the New West Records label, who have released two albums for him so far. In 2004 New West also re-released the early Texas Hotel recordings, including expanded liner notes and extra tracks.
In the winter of 2006, he recorded his newest album, North Star Deserter at the Hotel2Tango in Montreal. It was released on September 11, 2007 by Constellation Records. The record includes contributions from Constellation artists Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band, members of Godspeed You! Black Emperor, as well as Fugazi’s Guy Picciotto. The album was produced by documentary filmmaker Jem Cohen. He also appeared as a guest musician on Cowboy Junkies' 2007 album Trinity Revisited, a 20th anniversary edition of their classic album The Trinity Session.
On Dec 25th 2009, Vic Chesnutt died after falling into a coma following a suicide attempt.
Official Website: Vic Chesnutt
Speed Racer
Vic Chesnutt Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I think it's my attention span clipped by TV at an early age
well who heard the radio when you are five years old?
I used to watch Speed Racer with that hyper attitude
that carried me here to this fluorescent enlightenment
I'm not a victim, I'm not a victim
Oh, I, I, I, I am intelligent, I am intelligent
Oh, I, I, I, I am an atheist, I am an atheist
the idea of divine order is essentially crazy
the laws of action and reaction
are the closest thing to truth in the universe
so don't try to spray me with your archaic rites of soul
your vision is a biological one
I can dodge the thunderbolts
and scratch out an existence on this glorious but simple plane
I'm not a victim, I'm not a victim
Oh, I, I, I, I am intelligent, I am intelligent
I'm not a victim, I'm not a victim
Oh, I, I, I, I am an atheist, I am an atheist
The lyrics to Vic Chesnutt's "Speed Racer" express a sense of defiance and self-assurance in the face of societal pressures and religious doctrines. The opening lines revealing that Chesnutt questions whether he has learned anything from the lectures he has attended hint at a sense of disillusionment with institutional education. He then goes on to attribute his "clipped" attention span to the influence of television, indicating his belief that the medium has impacted his cognitive abilities from an early age. The mention of Speed Racer, a fictional character from a popular Japanese anime series, is significant in that it represents a time in Chesnutt's life when he was free from some of the pressures and expectations that society imposes.
The chorus of the song, which repeats the phrase "I'm not a victim, I'm not a victim," reinforces Chesnutt's sense of self-assurance and refusal to be labeled or confined by societal norms. He also asserts his intelligence and atheism, suggesting that he rejects the notion of a divine order and instead places his faith in the laws of action and reaction.
Overall, "Speed Racer" expresses a sense of rebellion against societal expectations and a rejection of traditional values in favor of a more individualistic and secular worldview.
Line by Line Meaning
have I learned anything from all of these lectures?
I'm questioning whether or not these lectures have actually taught me anything.
I think it's my attention span clipped by TV at an early age
I believe that watching TV at a young age shortened my attention span.
well who heard the radio when you are five years old?
Who listens to the radio when they're only five years old?
I used to watch Speed Racer with that hyper attitude
I used to watch Speed Racer with an energetic and enthusiastic attitude.
that carried me here to this fluorescent enlightenment
That energy and enthusiasm has led me to this new sense of enlightenment.
I'm not a victim, I'm not a victim
I refuse to be seen as a victim. I am in control of my own life and destiny.
Oh, I, I, I, I am intelligent, I am intelligent
I am intelligent and highly capable.
Oh, I, I, I, I am an atheist, I am an atheist
I do not believe in the existence of a higher power or deity.
the idea of divine order is essentially crazy
The concept of a divine order is fundamentally irrational.
the laws of action and reaction
The laws of cause and effect are the most accurate laws in the universe.
are the closest thing to truth in the universe
These laws are the most truthful laws in existence.
so don't try to spray me with your archaic rites of soul
Don't try to impose your outdated spiritual beliefs on me.
your vision is a biological one
Your understanding of the world is limited to a purely physical, biological perspective.
I can dodge the thunderbolts
I am capable of navigating and avoiding potential obstacles and challenges.
and scratch out an existence on this glorious but simple plane
I can live a fulfilling and meaningful life on this planet, despite its simplicity.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: VIC CHESNUTT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@andreashamburg218
I love every song he sings.
@noahtysonhighlonesome8117
amazing and brings me back. hanging with him , and michael stipe, when i was young. athens, ga is a magical place. just like thius song....just beautiful, raw, honest. hits ya right in the chest
@edhelvey
I was lucky to have heard an interview with Michael Stipe from 1985 rebroadcast on the radio in 1988 in which he said that his favorite album released that year was Camper Van Beethoven's "Telephone Free Landslide Victory". Almost none of David Lowery's music was heard on anything but college radio stations until he formed Cracker. While driving on the freeway, I heard Camper's "She Divines Water" on Loyola Marymount's station KXLU. At the next exit I got off of the freeway, went to Music + and bought "Our Beloved Revolutionary Sweetheart".
@joaneskins6510
Love this song in its bare bones simplicity and truth.
@frankneumann2118
He was the Best we ever had. But we lost him.
@user-fy2rk8wx6x
Phenomenal.
@pier_simonecinelli
the best
@fabiorossetti9117
..unico..
@thinice6080
I adore the lyrics. The naked truth.
@robertommundsen9155
Great