"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.
When winter comes in summer
When there's no more forever
Yeah, that's when I'll stop loving you
That's when I'll stop loving you
I'm sure you've heard these words before
And I know it's hard for you to trust them once more
You're afraid it all might end
And a broken heart is scared of breaking again
But you've gotta believe me, I'll never leave you
You'll never cry long as I am there
And I will always be there
You will never be without love
When winter comes in summer
When there's no more forever
When lies become the truth
Oh, you know then baby
That's when I'll stop loving
That's when I'll stop loving you
That's when I'll stop loving you, yeah
As long as sunlight lights the sky
Light of love will be found in these eyes of mine (these eyes of mine)
And I will shine that light for you
You're the only one I'll ever give this heart to
What I'm trying to say is, nothing will change this (to say)
There'll be no time you won't find me there (find me there)
'Cause I will always be there
You will always have all my love
When winter comes in summer
When there's no more forever (yeah)
When lies become the truth (oh)
Well, you know then, baby
That's when I'll stop loving
That's when I'll stop loving you
That's when I'll stop loving you
And when this world doesn't turn anymore
When the stars all decide to stop shining
'Til then, I'm gonna to be by your side
I'm gonna be loving you forever
Every day of my life, oh yeah, yeah (baby)
Well, you know then, baby
That's when I'll stop loving
That's when I'll stop loving
That's when I'll stop loving you
When winter comes in summer
When there's no more forever
When lies become the truth (when lies become the truth, yeah)
Well, you know then, baby
That's when I'll stop loving (that's when I'll stop loving)
That's when I'll stop loving you
When winter comes in summer (yeah)
When there's no more forever
When lies become the truth
That's when I'll stop loving (well, you know then, baby)
That's when I'll stop loving you
That's when I'll stop, babe
I'll stop, babe
Loving you
When there's no more forever
Yeah, that's when I'll stop loving you
That's when I'll stop loving you
I'm sure you've heard these words before
And I know it's hard for you to trust them once more
You're afraid it all might end
And a broken heart is scared of breaking again
But you've gotta believe me, I'll never leave you
You'll never cry long as I am there
And I will always be there
You will never be without love
When winter comes in summer
When there's no more forever
When lies become the truth
Oh, you know then baby
That's when I'll stop loving
That's when I'll stop loving you
That's when I'll stop loving you, yeah
As long as sunlight lights the sky
Light of love will be found in these eyes of mine (these eyes of mine)
And I will shine that light for you
You're the only one I'll ever give this heart to
What I'm trying to say is, nothing will change this (to say)
There'll be no time you won't find me there (find me there)
'Cause I will always be there
You will always have all my love
When winter comes in summer
When there's no more forever (yeah)
When lies become the truth (oh)
Well, you know then, baby
That's when I'll stop loving
That's when I'll stop loving you
That's when I'll stop loving you
And when this world doesn't turn anymore
When the stars all decide to stop shining
'Til then, I'm gonna to be by your side
I'm gonna be loving you forever
Every day of my life, oh yeah, yeah (baby)
Well, you know then, baby
That's when I'll stop loving
That's when I'll stop loving
That's when I'll stop loving you
When winter comes in summer
When there's no more forever
When lies become the truth (when lies become the truth, yeah)
Well, you know then, baby
That's when I'll stop loving (that's when I'll stop loving)
That's when I'll stop loving you
When winter comes in summer (yeah)
When there's no more forever
When lies become the truth
That's when I'll stop loving (well, you know then, baby)
That's when I'll stop loving you
That's when I'll stop, babe
I'll stop, babe
Loving you
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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,
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
there were a few wrong lyrics, other than that great job to the poster =) nysnc fo'evuhh.