"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.
I just can't help believin'
When she smiles up soft and gentle
With a trace of misty morning
And the promise of tomorrow in her eyes
I just can't help believin'
When she's lying close beside me
And my heart beats with the rhythm of her sighs
This time the girl is gonna stay
This time the girl is gonna stay
For more than just a day
Well, I just can't help believin'
When she slips her hand in my hand
And it feels so small and helpless
And my fingers fold around it like a glove
And I just can't help believin'
When she's whispering her magic
And her tears are shining honey sweet with love
This time the girl is gonna stay (this time the girl is gonna stay)
This time the girl is gonna stay
For more than just a day
For more than just a day
(Oh I just can't help believing) sing the song
(Oh I just can't help believing) one more time
(Oh I just can't help believing) yeah, one more
(Oh I just can't help believing)
For more than just a day
Oh, I just can't help believin'
When she slips her hand in my hand
And it feels so small and helpless
And my fingers fold around it like a glove
I just can't help believin'
When she smiles and whispering her magic
And her tears are shining honey sweet with love
This time the girl is gonna stay (this time the girl is gonna stay)
This time the girl is gonna stay
For more than just a day
(Oh I just can't help believing) take it
(Oh I just can't help believing) yo
(Oh I just can't help believing)
(Oh I just can't help believing)
When she smiles up soft and gentle
With a trace of misty morning
And the promise of tomorrow in her eyes
I just can't help believin'
When she's lying close beside me
And my heart beats with the rhythm of her sighs
This time the girl is gonna stay
This time the girl is gonna stay
For more than just a day
Well, I just can't help believin'
When she slips her hand in my hand
And it feels so small and helpless
And my fingers fold around it like a glove
And I just can't help believin'
When she's whispering her magic
And her tears are shining honey sweet with love
This time the girl is gonna stay (this time the girl is gonna stay)
This time the girl is gonna stay
For more than just a day
For more than just a day
(Oh I just can't help believing) sing the song
(Oh I just can't help believing) one more time
(Oh I just can't help believing) yeah, one more
(Oh I just can't help believing)
For more than just a day
Oh, I just can't help believin'
When she slips her hand in my hand
And it feels so small and helpless
And my fingers fold around it like a glove
I just can't help believin'
When she smiles and whispering her magic
And her tears are shining honey sweet with love
This time the girl is gonna stay (this time the girl is gonna stay)
This time the girl is gonna stay
For more than just a day
(Oh I just can't help believing) take it
(Oh I just can't help believing) yo
(Oh I just can't help believing)
(Oh I just can't help believing)
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
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
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.
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.
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.
one of my fave elvis songs. its a good one.... ive got a live version and its bloody awesome hearing his voice... his whole presence is magic