"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.
Some people seem to think
They always know what's best for you
Their little minds try to
Create a world to keep you still
The bolt is thrown, the cage is locked
You saw this, don't you lie
At first you cry and then you hate
Those people stole your will
Do as you are told
And maybe then we'll let you out
You might be dead and cold
You might be full of doubt
Don't try to escape
'Cause you don't have nowhere to go
If nothing is your fate
There's no scenario
No nothing
Do you call my name?
Do you stain my brain?
My eyes are blurry
And I can't see you anymore
Do you call my name?
Do you breed my pain?
My heart is bloody
And I can't take it anymore
So you just sit there stuck
Afraid to risk reality
Afraid to cause yourself more pain
To face insanity
But nothing ventured, nothing gained
You see, your fear's your cage
You beg for help but you're alone
Stuck in a helpless rage
Do as you are told
And maybe then we'll let you out
You might be dead and cold
You might be full of doubt
Don't try to escape
'Cause you don't have nowhere to go
If nothing is your fate
There's no scenario
(It's me)
(I see)
(Please)
(Let me out I'm petrified)
Do as you are told
And maybe then we'll let you out
You might be dead and cold
You might be full of doubt
Don't try to escape
'Cause you don't have nowhere to go
If nothing is your fate
There's no scenario
C'mon
Do you call my name?
Do you stain my brain?
My eyes are blurry
And I can't see you anymore
Do you call my name?
Do you breath my pain?
My heart is bloody
And I can't take it anymore
Do you call my name?
Do you stain my brain?
My eyes are blurry
And I can't see you anymore
Do you call my name?
Do you breath my pain?
My heart is bloody
And I can't take it anymore
They always know what's best for you
Their little minds try to
Create a world to keep you still
The bolt is thrown, the cage is locked
You saw this, don't you lie
At first you cry and then you hate
Those people stole your will
Do as you are told
And maybe then we'll let you out
You might be dead and cold
You might be full of doubt
Don't try to escape
'Cause you don't have nowhere to go
If nothing is your fate
There's no scenario
No nothing
Do you call my name?
Do you stain my brain?
My eyes are blurry
And I can't see you anymore
Do you call my name?
Do you breed my pain?
My heart is bloody
And I can't take it anymore
So you just sit there stuck
Afraid to risk reality
Afraid to cause yourself more pain
To face insanity
But nothing ventured, nothing gained
You see, your fear's your cage
You beg for help but you're alone
Stuck in a helpless rage
Do as you are told
And maybe then we'll let you out
You might be dead and cold
You might be full of doubt
Don't try to escape
'Cause you don't have nowhere to go
If nothing is your fate
There's no scenario
(It's me)
(I see)
(Please)
(Let me out I'm petrified)
Do as you are told
And maybe then we'll let you out
You might be dead and cold
You might be full of doubt
Don't try to escape
'Cause you don't have nowhere to go
If nothing is your fate
There's no scenario
C'mon
Do you call my name?
Do you stain my brain?
My eyes are blurry
And I can't see you anymore
Do you call my name?
Do you breath my pain?
My heart is bloody
And I can't take it anymore
Do you call my name?
Do you stain my brain?
My eyes are blurry
And I can't see you anymore
Do you call my name?
Do you breath my pain?
My heart is bloody
And I can't take it anymore
Lyrics submitted by hyphenelle
Do You Call My Name Lyrics as written by Orris Gregorie Warner Daniel Ticotin
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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
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,
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
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.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
This song is just incredible. The sound is fresh and new. Not that same ol' rap-core BS you hear from every band now...