"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.
Where am I today? I wish that I knew
'Cause looking around there's no sign of you
I don't remember one jump or one leap
Just quiet steps away from you lead
I'm holding my heart out but clutching it, too
Feeling this sort of a love that we once knew
Calling this a home when it's not even close
I'm playing the role with nerves left exposed
Standing on a darkened stage
Stumbling through the lines
Others have excuses
I have my reasons why
We get distracted by the dreams of our own
But nobody's happy while feeling alone
And knowing how hard it hurts when we fall
We lean another ladder against the wrong wall
And climb high to the highest rung
To shake fists at the sky
Others have excuses
I have my reasons why
With so much deception
It's hard not to wander away (hard not to wander away)
It's hard not wander away
'Cause looking around there's no sign of you
I don't remember one jump or one leap
Just quiet steps away from you lead
I'm holding my heart out but clutching it, too
Feeling this sort of a love that we once knew
Calling this a home when it's not even close
I'm playing the role with nerves left exposed
Standing on a darkened stage
Stumbling through the lines
Others have excuses
I have my reasons why
We get distracted by the dreams of our own
But nobody's happy while feeling alone
And knowing how hard it hurts when we fall
We lean another ladder against the wrong wall
And climb high to the highest rung
To shake fists at the sky
Others have excuses
I have my reasons why
With so much deception
It's hard not to wander away (hard not to wander away)
It's hard not wander away
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
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/
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.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
I think that this song is literally of a home falling apart, one day they wake up, and they are far apart from each other and they are trying to bring it back together with a ladder, for chance, but its the wrong way and they just end up wandering away and leaving each other and they both think they have their reasons why. Spiritually, I feel this way sometimes with God, except it's ONLY me wandering away, God is there handing me a ladder, and I lean it the wrong way. . . and I think I have all the reasons why Im wandering, when really God's reasons are the only ones I need, and need to go back.
I think this song is all about the human tendancy to wander away from God, because we want to control our own lives...when truly He is the only one that can make it all go right. It's just hard for us to accept that our lives might not be exactly how WE want them if we let God take over. "I'm calling this home but it's not even close"--we try to feel comfortable in our own decisions and dreams, but something's always missing when we do (our Creator!)
This is one of the best songs I have ever heard. The music and lyrics are awesome.
Totally agree with both of you guys... this song is so awesome...
this song is about a persons personal relationship with God. "i don't remember one jump or one leap, just quiet steps away from your lead" that's definitely about falling away from God. it's very sad, really.
i have a different take on the line "i'm calling this home but it's not even close." i think it is about getting too comfortable in the world and forgetting our residence on earth is only temporary...our real home is eternal in heaven (or hell sadly for some).
I love Nickel Creek. I've been a fan for a really long time. I by chance was flipping through the tv and came across the music video when it was debuting, and ever since then loved this group.
Beautiful and calming music. I love how there is nothing out there that is mainstream that compares to them. There is bluegrass/folk, of course, but nothing that became so popular. And I was even more suprised to find out they've been singing this sort of stuff all their life and weren't interested in being some pop group.
Nickel Creek is awesome because they incorporate Christianity in their music w/o changing their "polystylistic genre" which includes folk, pop, rock, bluegrass, etc.. Their amazing.
Vertigo22, I'm not a Christian, and I'm not particularly religious myself, but I still think this is a really good song. You interpret it the way you want to. That's the beauty of music. It's very ambiguous.
I really like her voice. It sounds so ethereal. And, to be honest, I like to think of it as having to do with your relationship with God. It's a nice song.
Love it! Very inspirational.