"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.
Sun go east, sun go west
Sun go east, sun go west
You used to say love and be loved all the time
'Til you discovered feelings were a failure sign
When it rains, it rains so hard
The tears begin to show
Now it's raining in my heart
I want the world to know
Life will never be the same as it was again
Life will never be the same as it was again
Through my anger and my joy, my tears and pain
Life will never be the same as it was again
Beneath the sea of Hollywood where Frances used to reign
They trade their deepest wishes for a part in someone's game
Spirits die alone at night
For life they cannot hold
I would rather dance with you
Than have a medal to show
Life will never be the same as it was again
Life will never be the same as it was again
Through my anger and my joy, my tears and pain
Life will never be the same as it was again
Sun go east, sun go west
Will I wear a medal again
Sun go east, sun go west
We can dance and bring on the rain
Now I say love for love, not a space in time
The strangest things can shatter kings and take away what's mine
When it's raining in my heart
I want the world to know
I would rather dance with you
Than have a medal to show
Life will never be the same as it was again
Life will never be the same as it was again
Through my anger and my joy, my tears and pain
Life will never be the same as it was again
We are just everyday people, not a theatre company
Everyone wants to join us, there's no fear in us you see
It's me for you and you for me
Sun go east, sun go west
Will I wear a medal again
Sun go east, sun go west
We can dance and bring on the rain
Sun go east, sun go west
You used to say love and be loved all the time
'Til you discovered feelings were a failure sign
When it rains, it rains so hard
The tears begin to show
Now it's raining in my heart
I want the world to know
Life will never be the same as it was again
Life will never be the same as it was again
Through my anger and my joy, my tears and pain
Life will never be the same as it was again
Beneath the sea of Hollywood where Frances used to reign
They trade their deepest wishes for a part in someone's game
Spirits die alone at night
For life they cannot hold
I would rather dance with you
Than have a medal to show
Life will never be the same as it was again
Life will never be the same as it was again
Through my anger and my joy, my tears and pain
Life will never be the same as it was again
Sun go east, sun go west
Will I wear a medal again
Sun go east, sun go west
We can dance and bring on the rain
Now I say love for love, not a space in time
The strangest things can shatter kings and take away what's mine
When it's raining in my heart
I want the world to know
I would rather dance with you
Than have a medal to show
Life will never be the same as it was again
Life will never be the same as it was again
Through my anger and my joy, my tears and pain
Life will never be the same as it was again
We are just everyday people, not a theatre company
Everyone wants to join us, there's no fear in us you see
It's me for you and you for me
Sun go east, sun go west
Will I wear a medal again
Sun go east, sun go west
We can dance and bring on the rain
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.