"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.
If I was the last person to know
How you cheated me
Did you think I could let go
Of your betrayal easily
Oh no it went deep
I lost a lot of sleep
Thinking I had no one to turn to
Oh I
Oh I
Gotta stop the world misfocusing on me
Gotta stop the world misfocusing on me
How you ever gonna see clearly
Are you ever gonna know the real me
I gotta stop the world I gotta stop the world
Gotta stop the world misfocusing on me
Oh I
Oh I
Oh I
I can't take all the mis quotes and lies
Barbed wire bouquets
But you I never thought
Would stoop so low
I guess that goes to show
What you just don't know
Can really hurt you so
And I'm not sure who to trust anymore
Gotta stop the world misfocusing on me
Gotta stop the world misfocusing on me
Are you ever gonna see clearly
How you ever gonna know the real me
I gotta stop the world I gotta stop the world
Gotta stop the world misfocusing on me
Oh I
Oh I
Oh I
Oh I
Oh I
Oh I
I can't deny it stresses me like no lover ever could
Makes me wonder why the world is such a jealous lover
Ask me what I have learned
You gotta play the fool to catch the wise
Act the mute to hear the lies
What else
What else
What else
And the rest
Coming home is always the best
But a smile can hide a deadly weapon
And a friend you thought you could rely on
Don't you feel sorry for me baby
Don't you feel sorry for me baby
Oh I
Oh I
Gotta stop the world misfocusing on me
Gotta stop the world misfocusing on me
Are you ever gonna see clearly
How you ever gonna know the real me
Gotta stop the world
Oh I gotta stop the world
Gotta stop the world misfocusing on me
Are you ever gonna see me clearly
How you ever gonna know the real me
I gotta stop the world
I gotta stop the world
Gotta stop the world misfocusing on me
Oh I
Oh I
Oh I
Oh I oh I
Oh
How you cheated me
Did you think I could let go
Of your betrayal easily
Oh no it went deep
I lost a lot of sleep
Thinking I had no one to turn to
Oh I
Oh I
Gotta stop the world misfocusing on me
Gotta stop the world misfocusing on me
How you ever gonna see clearly
Are you ever gonna know the real me
I gotta stop the world I gotta stop the world
Gotta stop the world misfocusing on me
Oh I
Oh I
Oh I
I can't take all the mis quotes and lies
Barbed wire bouquets
But you I never thought
Would stoop so low
I guess that goes to show
What you just don't know
Can really hurt you so
And I'm not sure who to trust anymore
Gotta stop the world misfocusing on me
Gotta stop the world misfocusing on me
Are you ever gonna see clearly
How you ever gonna know the real me
I gotta stop the world I gotta stop the world
Gotta stop the world misfocusing on me
Oh I
Oh I
Oh I
Oh I
Oh I
Oh I
I can't deny it stresses me like no lover ever could
Makes me wonder why the world is such a jealous lover
Ask me what I have learned
You gotta play the fool to catch the wise
Act the mute to hear the lies
What else
What else
What else
And the rest
Coming home is always the best
But a smile can hide a deadly weapon
And a friend you thought you could rely on
Don't you feel sorry for me baby
Don't you feel sorry for me baby
Oh I
Oh I
Gotta stop the world misfocusing on me
Gotta stop the world misfocusing on me
Are you ever gonna see clearly
How you ever gonna know the real me
Gotta stop the world
Oh I gotta stop the world
Gotta stop the world misfocusing on me
Are you ever gonna see me clearly
How you ever gonna know the real me
I gotta stop the world
I gotta stop the world
Gotta stop the world misfocusing on me
Oh I
Oh I
Oh I
Oh I oh I
Oh
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
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Holiday
Bee Gees
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@[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
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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.
Blue
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“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental 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.
This song is so sad. It describes Billie feeling backstabbed by people she trusted, and people around not getting her and pre judging her and not getting to know the real her.
This song is really sad. Billie's speaking back to the media that teared her life apart, the death threats from 5ive fans, and other things. People can't see the real her.