"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.
Shelters full out on the streets tonight
Swollen shut black eyes burning bright
Folded arms hold everything she's ever owned
Folded arms holding every broken bone
Hard to stand on broken feet below the ground
The silent face that screams a shattered sound
More to the eye than another knotted fist
Slash the lips that were once longed to be kissed
Promise keepers nothing cheaper, yeah
Promise to keep her digging deeper
One strong smile reminds looks can deceive
If you're strong enough to bleed
You're strong enough to leave
Running away again down the same short hall
The face she used to have stares from these walls
Burn the rope while tying up loose ends
Introduced to the family secret again
First step out is up then you start to walk
Take first salt by grain then by block
Promise keepers nothing cheaper
Promise to keep her digging deeper
Promise keepers nothing cheaper
I promise to keep her digging deep
If you get the guts you gotta hold em tight
You've got wings spread them out, take flight
Hard to stand on broken feet below the ground
The silent face that screams a shattered sound
Promise keepers nothing cheaper
Promise to keep her digging deeper
Promise keepers nothing cheaper
I promise to keep her digging deeper
Swollen shut black eyes burning bright
Folded arms hold everything she's ever owned
Folded arms holding every broken bone
Hard to stand on broken feet below the ground
The silent face that screams a shattered sound
More to the eye than another knotted fist
Slash the lips that were once longed to be kissed
Promise keepers nothing cheaper, yeah
Promise to keep her digging deeper
One strong smile reminds looks can deceive
If you're strong enough to bleed
You're strong enough to leave
Running away again down the same short hall
The face she used to have stares from these walls
Burn the rope while tying up loose ends
Introduced to the family secret again
First step out is up then you start to walk
Take first salt by grain then by block
Promise keepers nothing cheaper
Promise to keep her digging deeper
Promise keepers nothing cheaper
I promise to keep her digging deep
If you get the guts you gotta hold em tight
You've got wings spread them out, take flight
Hard to stand on broken feet below the ground
The silent face that screams a shattered sound
Promise keepers nothing cheaper
Promise to keep her digging deeper
Promise keepers nothing cheaper
I promise to keep her digging deeper
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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.
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.