"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.
A man named Gene's got a beautiful voice
He carries me home on his beautiful horse
And where she waits, I will ride ride ride
Come on stranger, just sing me a song
And if it's sad, I'll sing along-long-long,
I told you I knew every word
When I get to California
Gonna write my name in the sand
I'm gonna lay this body down
And watch the waves roll in
When the city spreads out
Just like a cut vein
Everybody drowns, sad and lonely
Well everybody drowns, sad and lonely
Well everybody drowns, sad and lonely alright
Sweet sweet dreams, and color and sound
Highways in the faraway to be found
I saw gold mines, in the sky sky sky
They were clouds just waiting to cry
And with the wind
I'm dancing drift drift drift
In the shapes of the place that I miss
And when I get to California
Gonna write my name in the sand
I'm gonna lay this body down
And watch the waves roll in
I'm gonna rest this weary head
On someone who I think will care
But when the stars in the sky start fallin'
I think you'll understand
That the city spreads out
Just like a cut vein
Everybody drowns, sad and lonely
Well everybody drowns, sad and lonely
Well everybody drowns, sad and lonely alright
Yeah I'm waiting
For something to give
Well I'm waiting
I hope it's not me
Yeah I'm waiting
For something to give
Yeah I'm waiting
He carries me home on his beautiful horse
And where she waits, I will ride ride ride
Come on stranger, just sing me a song
And if it's sad, I'll sing along-long-long,
I told you I knew every word
When I get to California
Gonna write my name in the sand
I'm gonna lay this body down
And watch the waves roll in
When the city spreads out
Just like a cut vein
Everybody drowns, sad and lonely
Well everybody drowns, sad and lonely
Well everybody drowns, sad and lonely alright
Sweet sweet dreams, and color and sound
Highways in the faraway to be found
I saw gold mines, in the sky sky sky
They were clouds just waiting to cry
And with the wind
I'm dancing drift drift drift
In the shapes of the place that I miss
And when I get to California
Gonna write my name in the sand
I'm gonna lay this body down
And watch the waves roll in
I'm gonna rest this weary head
On someone who I think will care
But when the stars in the sky start fallin'
I think you'll understand
That the city spreads out
Just like a cut vein
Everybody drowns, sad and lonely
Well everybody drowns, sad and lonely
Well everybody drowns, sad and lonely alright
Yeah I'm waiting
For something to give
Well I'm waiting
I hope it's not me
Yeah I'm waiting
For something to give
Yeah I'm waiting
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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.
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,
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.
I'm thinking the "city spreads out" line is inspired by Pavement's "No Life Singed her"--
And the city spread out just like a jet's flame...