"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 know what you're doing, yeah, yeah
I know why you dialed my number
I know what you're doing, yeah, yeah
I know why you care
I know what you're doing, yeah, yeah
I know why you say you love me
I know what you're doing, yeah, yeah
And I don't think it's fair
I know why you dialed my number
I know why you say you're mine
I know what you're doing
And it's not gonna work this time
Not gonna work this time
I know what you're doing, yeah, yeah
I can never sing in that key
I know what you're doing, yeah, yeah
And you're the one to blame
I know what you're doing, yeah, yeah
I know why you can't forgive me
I know why you're singing lost love
The lyrics haven't changed
I can recognize the symptoms
You should know I've changed my mind
I know what you're doing
And it's not gonna work this time
Hey, said it's not gonna work this time
Not gonna work this time
Not gonna work this time
I know what you're doing, baby
I know why you call my name
I know why you say you love me
But I can't say the same
I can recognize the symptoms
You should know I've changed my mind
I know what you're doing
And it's not gonna work this time
Yeah, yeah, yeah
I know why you dialed my number
I know what you're doing, yeah, yeah
I know why you care
I know what you're doing, yeah, yeah
I know why you say you love me
I know what you're doing, yeah, yeah
And I don't think it's fair
I know why you dialed my number
I know why you say you're mine
I know what you're doing
And it's not gonna work this time
Not gonna work this time
I know what you're doing, yeah, yeah
I can never sing in that key
I know what you're doing, yeah, yeah
And you're the one to blame
I know what you're doing, yeah, yeah
I know why you can't forgive me
I know why you're singing lost love
The lyrics haven't changed
I can recognize the symptoms
You should know I've changed my mind
I know what you're doing
And it's not gonna work this time
Hey, said it's not gonna work this time
Not gonna work this time
Not gonna work this time
I know what you're doing, baby
I know why you call my name
I know why you say you love me
But I can't say the same
I can recognize the symptoms
You should know I've changed my mind
I know what you're doing
And it's not gonna work this time
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Lyrics submitted by ChrissyTina
I Know Lyrics as written by William Duvall Miles Davis
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
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
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“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.
She recognized the symptoms? She must have gaydar.