"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.
smile
you will be my shield
you'll be the only thing
anyone ever sees
kill
crush me, break my will
cease the endless rats inside the walls
that squeak and scratch away
and keep me awake
this is my vice that i will break
this is my christ in arms today
this is my golden chance
to fight the odds that never seem to change
ne'er seem to change
ne'er seem to change
today
love
don't hurt me this time
be for real
or kindly let this
lonely soldier be
fear
my old friend disappear
leave me to regard the world
in better ways
than what is wrong
and what cannot be
don't say you'll change
you will be my shield
you'll be the only thing
anyone ever sees
kill
crush me, break my will
cease the endless rats inside the walls
that squeak and scratch away
and keep me awake
this is my vice that i will break
this is my christ in arms today
this is my golden chance
to fight the odds that never seem to change
ne'er seem to change
ne'er seem to change
today
love
don't hurt me this time
be for real
or kindly let this
lonely soldier be
fear
my old friend disappear
leave me to regard the world
in better ways
than what is wrong
and what cannot be
don't say you'll change
Lyrics submitted by killrockstars68
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
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.
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,
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.
wow...once again another wonderful from the velvet teen. they do not disappoint. perfection.
rock on.
god i love them. just love them. love love love.
I love this song. Its their best
smile you will be my shield you'll be the only thing anyone ever sees
This is not the whole song. On every site it ends after "don't say youll change". Does anyone know what comes after this? Sounds something like:
Don't let me go Don't ever leave me
it's
"don't ever go don't ever leave me"
with another chorus
This is seriously one of the greatest songs of all time.
And, excuse my dorkiness, but I always picture Link, from The Legend of Zelda, fighting stuff when I hear this song. However, it's specifically the Link from the animated series... always trying to get a kiss from princess Zelda. He's got such an endearing love for her than never falters even though she never really gives him reason to believe that she'll ever accept him as a lover... though she desperately needs him as a saviour. That's what this song is to me. I'm pretty sure that's not what it was written about, but that's what it means to me.
I thoroughly enjoyed kickmagnet's comment. Zelda is an incredible series.
i love the smile-kill-love-fear, they all seem like titlecards to feelings that are to be described. probably the only song i have ever heard that has done that so well. plus the fact that the vocals practically massage every word, that helps.