"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.
Think you gotta keep me iced? You don't
Think I'm gonna spend your cash? I won't
Even if you were broke
My love don't cost a thing
Think I wanna drive your Benz? I don't
If I wanna floss, I got my own
Even if you were broke
My love don't cost a thing
When you rolled up in the Escalade
Saw that dub you gave to the valet
Knew that it was game when you looked at me
Pulling up your sleeve so I could see the Rollie bling
Saw you later in the corner booth
Raising up a toast, so I would notice you
But you're hard to miss
Think you oughta know
Doesn't matter if you're balling out of control
All that matters is
That you treat me right
Give me all the things I need
That money can't buy, yeah
Think you gotta keep me iced, you don't
Think I'm gonna spend your cash, I won't
Even if you were broke
My love don't cost a thing
Think I wanna drive your Benz, I don't
If I wanna floss, I got my own
Even if you were broke
My love don't cost a thing
When I took a chance
Thought you'd understand
Baby, credit cards aren't romance
Still you're tryna buy what's already yours
What I need from you is not available in stores
Seen a side of you that I really feel
Doing way too much, never keep it real
If it doesn't change, gotta hit the road
Now I'm leaving, where's my keys?
I've got to go
All that matters is
That you treat me right
Give me all the things I need
That money can't buy, yeah
Think you gotta keep me iced, you don't
Think I'm gonna spend your cash, I won't (baby)
Even if you were broke
My love don't cost a thing
Think I wanna drive your Benz, I don't
If I wanna floss, I got my own
Even if you were broke
My love don't cost a thing
A thing, a thing
Yeah, yeah, yeah
You think the money that you make
Can substitute the time you take
To get the keys into my heart
Then you can win my heart, don't know what's in my heart
I think you need to take some time
To show me that your love is true
There's more than dollar signs in you
Then you can win my heart, and get what's in my heart
Think you gotta keep me iced, you don't
Think I'm gonna spend your cash, I won't
Even if you were broke
My love don't cost a thing
Think I wanna drive your Benz, I don't
If I wanna floss, I got my own
Even if you were broke
My love don't cost a thing
Think you gotta keep me iced, you don't
Think I'm gonna spend your cash, I won't
Even if you were broke
My love don't cost a thing
Think I wanna drive your Benz, I don't
If I wanna floss, I got my own
Even if you were broke
My love don't cost a thing
Think you gotta keep me iced, you don't
Think I'm gonna spend your cash, I won't
Even if you were broke
My love don't cost a thing
Think I wanna drive your Benz, I don't
If I wanna floss, I got my own
Even if you were broke
My love don't cost a thing
Think I'm gonna spend your cash? I won't
Even if you were broke
My love don't cost a thing
Think I wanna drive your Benz? I don't
If I wanna floss, I got my own
Even if you were broke
My love don't cost a thing
When you rolled up in the Escalade
Saw that dub you gave to the valet
Knew that it was game when you looked at me
Pulling up your sleeve so I could see the Rollie bling
Saw you later in the corner booth
Raising up a toast, so I would notice you
But you're hard to miss
Think you oughta know
Doesn't matter if you're balling out of control
All that matters is
That you treat me right
Give me all the things I need
That money can't buy, yeah
Think you gotta keep me iced, you don't
Think I'm gonna spend your cash, I won't
Even if you were broke
My love don't cost a thing
Think I wanna drive your Benz, I don't
If I wanna floss, I got my own
Even if you were broke
My love don't cost a thing
When I took a chance
Thought you'd understand
Baby, credit cards aren't romance
Still you're tryna buy what's already yours
What I need from you is not available in stores
Seen a side of you that I really feel
Doing way too much, never keep it real
If it doesn't change, gotta hit the road
Now I'm leaving, where's my keys?
I've got to go
All that matters is
That you treat me right
Give me all the things I need
That money can't buy, yeah
Think you gotta keep me iced, you don't
Think I'm gonna spend your cash, I won't (baby)
Even if you were broke
My love don't cost a thing
Think I wanna drive your Benz, I don't
If I wanna floss, I got my own
Even if you were broke
My love don't cost a thing
A thing, a thing
Yeah, yeah, yeah
You think the money that you make
Can substitute the time you take
To get the keys into my heart
Then you can win my heart, don't know what's in my heart
I think you need to take some time
To show me that your love is true
There's more than dollar signs in you
Then you can win my heart, and get what's in my heart
Think you gotta keep me iced, you don't
Think I'm gonna spend your cash, I won't
Even if you were broke
My love don't cost a thing
Think I wanna drive your Benz, I don't
If I wanna floss, I got my own
Even if you were broke
My love don't cost a thing
Think you gotta keep me iced, you don't
Think I'm gonna spend your cash, I won't
Even if you were broke
My love don't cost a thing
Think I wanna drive your Benz, I don't
If I wanna floss, I got my own
Even if you were broke
My love don't cost a thing
Think you gotta keep me iced, you don't
Think I'm gonna spend your cash, I won't
Even if you were broke
My love don't cost a thing
Think I wanna drive your Benz, I don't
If I wanna floss, I got my own
Even if you were broke
My love don't cost a thing
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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
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
I admit, I like this song. I doubt anyone is wondering what it means, but I love J. Lo, and this is a great pop song.
This song is so true, I swear, if you don't love someone in your heart, don't think money can fix the situation
she can't sing for shit...how can you people listen to this horrible excuse for music
the starting line did an awesome cover of "i'm real" check it out
rock on chicago, rock over london, dont light fires inthe forest.
Lyric Correction: Instead of "But your heart's a mess" it's "But you're hard to miss"
This song is about her love not costing her a thing , she doesnt want dudes money she wants his credit cards -cha ching! Otherwise he gets no J-blow from J-lo ohhhhh kaaaaaay!
ehhh who really cares how she sings, it's a pop song and the producers do a good job cutting and pasting so it's all good! anyway I dont know who wrote the song (havn't checked) but the words hold true as syd_mel wrote,
well anyway, this and waiting for tonight are pretty good and imho stand out from most of the extremely big label pop acts of teh 90s, so they should be respected for that.
and to the guy that doesnt like her singing even though i doubt you'll read this everrrrr........... are you better or something? :O
what the hell does "if i wanna floss i got my own" mean?!
is she talking about dental floss?! because honestly, if she is, i'm pretty sure that just shows that she's dumb. who cares if she has her own floss. i have my own but i don't go around bragging about it. furthermore, what kind of person can't afford dental floss?! i'm pretty sure it's quite obvious that she can considering people bought her crap and she mad a ton of money.
however... if it has nothing to do with dental floss, then i feel dumb in advance.... i just never understood why she talked about floss.
According to urbandictionary.com, to floss means to show off one's possessions. But I have never heard anyone except J Lo use that term. And it doesn't even make sense to me. You don't floss in public, so what does "floss" have to do with displaying one's wealth? shakes head
this song is nice, especially if u are really missing someone, but it's true, u don't have to know how to sing 'cause the producers make it sound good:>
hopefully she wasn't talking about dental floss.:> LOL