"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.
Check it out y'all...
This is Aceyalone on the microphone
and we got my nigga Punish on the beatbox
and we gonna show you how WE does it...
Anywhere you go
I am going to find you
And every time you flow
I'll be right behind you
Just to let you know and
constantly remind you
You can never be as dope as I am
God-damn
Now I know you hate it when the MC ain't fly
So I come in the party live
Chopping rappers down to size
I know em when I see em cause they got that look in their eyes
Surprise
Aceyalone has arrived
They surround around the microphone like shit attracts flies
I arise
The Thai gets me high
I find him, stand right behind him and I spy
No more than two tries; either freaks it or you die
I waited; somebody stated "He's intimidated"
I was faded; I played it like any other brother would've played it
Nut soon as I grabbed the microphone I went into a frenzy
Started givin niggaz black eyes like Spuds Mackenzie
when that bud's in me
Now one of these niggaz tried to tell me my shit was hopeless
His homeboy was on the other side sayin "Man your shit's the dopest"
All of a sudden another rapper pushed his way through the crowd
Came and stood in front of me and told me he was proud
Then he bowed, told me that he liked the way I styled
I thanked him, I smiled
then I had to be out
Anywhere you go
I am going to find you
And every time you flow
I'll be right behind you
Just to let you know and
constantly remind you
You can never be as dope as I am
God-damn
Now I'ma give shout out to all the dope MC's in the world...
y'all know who you are
You know I got the kinda style that everybody yearns
I mic check; I break a niggaz nectar like Kerns
Cause you are a worm, you are a germ
and you are about to be stepped on
so you should be concerned
iIf you have a perm then it's permanent
It's affirmative you will burn
Make a right turn turn
then a left turn
then a you-turn turn
Come all the way back, return
Stand stern and maybe you just might learn
about the firm
I used to be a sperm -- shoot
got derm
Nobody better not squirm
til my meeting is adjourned
Okay I'm through
And I rock from here to Peru
Vern
I could've sworn you knew
that AC's having a rap sale
you want to buy 1 or 2?
or 3 or 4 or 5
or 6 or 7 or 8
or 9 or 10 or 11
or 12 or 13 or 14?
Cause me and the mic are courting
My circuit breaker's shorting
My memory is aborting
I can barely remember this flow
but wack MC's ya still got another zillion miles or so to go
Anywhere you go
I am going to find you
And every time you flow
I'll be right behind you
Just to let you know and
constantly remind you
You can never be as dope as I am
God-damn
They pushed that rapper in front of the train
Took him to the doctor sewed his arm on again
Stabbed that rapper right in his heart
Gave him a transplant for a brand new start
and then he stopped; he started again
he forted bounced it and vomited
Now you know who's the dominant dog
that got to be given you that rhyme style
man child, locked in the promised land
I'ma stand in the middle of an open hand
that's extensive
Cause I don't flow religously or relentlessly
for innocent-minded-ticity
Okay I win and the battle's like over
Got a satellite Rover
with a rocket telescopic sprocket pocket pulley
and a fully automatic stun gun cause I'm a bully
My hair was wooly I'm a muillion
a calmer Jeffrey Dahmer hater
I'm greater than the latest greatest innovators
can go to hell, cause I say this so well
You can whistle my melody or noel
You're still gonna get the Speak n Spell
I get my ink from inkwell
my paper from the trees
I swell up when I eat MCs
so eat these
and stand at attention
did I forget to mention
my classes aren't expensive
That's if you are an uncomprehensive
Defensive sensitive
toy rapper
Little boy rapper
Momma's wittle wappin man wapper
Now you got me reachin for my zapper
I'll cut you off with a clapper
But that's for old gentlemen
who drink coffee with cinnamon, it'll take ten of them
Then again did I mention I'm potent
Totin holdin reloadin votin
with my channel changer fool
and since I don't speak Greek stranger
I'ma give it to you in layman's terms so you'll learn...
Anywhere you go
I am going to find you
And every time you flow
I'll be right behind you
Just to let you know and
constantly remind you
You can never be as dope as I am
God-damn
This is Aceyalone on the microphone
and we got my nigga Punish on the beatbox
and we gonna show you how WE does it...
Anywhere you go
I am going to find you
And every time you flow
I'll be right behind you
Just to let you know and
constantly remind you
You can never be as dope as I am
God-damn
Now I know you hate it when the MC ain't fly
So I come in the party live
Chopping rappers down to size
I know em when I see em cause they got that look in their eyes
Surprise
Aceyalone has arrived
They surround around the microphone like shit attracts flies
I arise
The Thai gets me high
I find him, stand right behind him and I spy
No more than two tries; either freaks it or you die
I waited; somebody stated "He's intimidated"
I was faded; I played it like any other brother would've played it
Nut soon as I grabbed the microphone I went into a frenzy
Started givin niggaz black eyes like Spuds Mackenzie
when that bud's in me
Now one of these niggaz tried to tell me my shit was hopeless
His homeboy was on the other side sayin "Man your shit's the dopest"
All of a sudden another rapper pushed his way through the crowd
Came and stood in front of me and told me he was proud
Then he bowed, told me that he liked the way I styled
I thanked him, I smiled
then I had to be out
Anywhere you go
I am going to find you
And every time you flow
I'll be right behind you
Just to let you know and
constantly remind you
You can never be as dope as I am
God-damn
Now I'ma give shout out to all the dope MC's in the world...
y'all know who you are
You know I got the kinda style that everybody yearns
I mic check; I break a niggaz nectar like Kerns
Cause you are a worm, you are a germ
and you are about to be stepped on
so you should be concerned
iIf you have a perm then it's permanent
It's affirmative you will burn
Make a right turn turn
then a left turn
then a you-turn turn
Come all the way back, return
Stand stern and maybe you just might learn
about the firm
I used to be a sperm -- shoot
got derm
Nobody better not squirm
til my meeting is adjourned
Okay I'm through
And I rock from here to Peru
Vern
I could've sworn you knew
that AC's having a rap sale
you want to buy 1 or 2?
or 3 or 4 or 5
or 6 or 7 or 8
or 9 or 10 or 11
or 12 or 13 or 14?
Cause me and the mic are courting
My circuit breaker's shorting
My memory is aborting
I can barely remember this flow
but wack MC's ya still got another zillion miles or so to go
Anywhere you go
I am going to find you
And every time you flow
I'll be right behind you
Just to let you know and
constantly remind you
You can never be as dope as I am
God-damn
They pushed that rapper in front of the train
Took him to the doctor sewed his arm on again
Stabbed that rapper right in his heart
Gave him a transplant for a brand new start
and then he stopped; he started again
he forted bounced it and vomited
Now you know who's the dominant dog
that got to be given you that rhyme style
man child, locked in the promised land
I'ma stand in the middle of an open hand
that's extensive
Cause I don't flow religously or relentlessly
for innocent-minded-ticity
Okay I win and the battle's like over
Got a satellite Rover
with a rocket telescopic sprocket pocket pulley
and a fully automatic stun gun cause I'm a bully
My hair was wooly I'm a muillion
a calmer Jeffrey Dahmer hater
I'm greater than the latest greatest innovators
can go to hell, cause I say this so well
You can whistle my melody or noel
You're still gonna get the Speak n Spell
I get my ink from inkwell
my paper from the trees
I swell up when I eat MCs
so eat these
and stand at attention
did I forget to mention
my classes aren't expensive
That's if you are an uncomprehensive
Defensive sensitive
toy rapper
Little boy rapper
Momma's wittle wappin man wapper
Now you got me reachin for my zapper
I'll cut you off with a clapper
But that's for old gentlemen
who drink coffee with cinnamon, it'll take ten of them
Then again did I mention I'm potent
Totin holdin reloadin votin
with my channel changer fool
and since I don't speak Greek stranger
I'ma give it to you in layman's terms so you'll learn...
Anywhere you go
I am going to find you
And every time you flow
I'll be right behind you
Just to let you know and
constantly remind you
You can never be as dope as I am
God-damn
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
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No Surprises
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Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
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“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
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.