"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.
I sit and wait
Does an angel contemplate my fate?
And do they know
The places where we go
When we're grey and old
'Cause I have been told
That salvation lets their wings unfold
So when I'm lying in my bed
Thoughts running through my head
And I feel the love is dead
I'm loving angels instead
And through it all she offers me protection
A lot of love and affection
Whether I'm right or wrong
And down the waterfall
Wherever it may take me
I know that life won't break me
When I come to call, she won't forsake me
I'm loving angels instead
When I'm feeling weak
And my pain walks down a one-way street
I look above
And I know I'll always be blessed with love
And as the feeling grows
She breathes flesh to my bones
And when love is dead
I'm loving angels instead
And through it all she offers me protection
A lot of love and affection
Whether I'm right or wrong
And down the waterfall
Wherever it may take me
I know that life won't break me
When I come to call, she won't forsake me
I'm loving angels instead
And through it all she offers me protection
A lot of love and affection
Whether I'm right or wrong
And down the waterfall
Wherever it may take me
I know that life won't break me
When I come to call, she won't forsake me
I'm loving angels instead
Does an angel contemplate my fate?
And do they know
The places where we go
When we're grey and old
'Cause I have been told
That salvation lets their wings unfold
So when I'm lying in my bed
Thoughts running through my head
And I feel the love is dead
I'm loving angels instead
And through it all she offers me protection
A lot of love and affection
Whether I'm right or wrong
And down the waterfall
Wherever it may take me
I know that life won't break me
When I come to call, she won't forsake me
I'm loving angels instead
When I'm feeling weak
And my pain walks down a one-way street
I look above
And I know I'll always be blessed with love
And as the feeling grows
She breathes flesh to my bones
And when love is dead
I'm loving angels instead
And through it all she offers me protection
A lot of love and affection
Whether I'm right or wrong
And down the waterfall
Wherever it may take me
I know that life won't break me
When I come to call, she won't forsake me
I'm loving angels instead
And through it all she offers me protection
A lot of love and affection
Whether I'm right or wrong
And down the waterfall
Wherever it may take me
I know that life won't break me
When I come to call, she won't forsake me
I'm loving angels instead
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.
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.
For all of you, if you guys haven't noticed, we're in songmeanings.net, not listentotheassholesspeak.net. If you're not here to help us understand the song, then I suggest you quit whining and leave. Take your shit with you. God! Get a life. (By the way, if you reply to this, then you guys really must be just loser geeks who have nothing better to do)
Anyway, I think this song is really about angels. Just read the lyrics, and you'll find it's pretty much about the guy being thankful for the angel that watched over him. He refers to her merely as 'she'.
And also, one of you guys said that Robbie Williams didn't really write this song? That you actually did, and you sold it to him? Well it seems like you're not much upset by it. Or maybe you're lying, bastard.
But seriously, if you did write it then you've got some talent. You should consider doing more.
@y7000k 13 years later, how do you feel about your post? You sound like you were very unhappy back in 2005. Hopefully life got better for you.
@y7000k after 17 years, it seems you were angry and upset just like me\r\nFuck both of us
It’s about a loved one passing away. It’s about grief and being lucky to have had that kind of love. The song seems to imply that when you are in a weak moment of grieving you will draw strength from up above. Your loved one is now your angel. For me this song represents the passing of my father and the lyrics to me are so powerful. All the words in this song represent my father now my angel. Just beautifully written.
great song,great memories
Unconditional Love. It is about someone who makes a diffrenece in your life with their love. Someone who loves you no matter what...causeing this person to take on an out of worldly presence. In short feeling blessed to have someone.
I think this is about turning to a dead lover or friend for help and guidance, someone looking down from up above and watching over you. It may sound morbid, but i want this one played at my funeral, to let my loved ones know that I'll always be with them long after I'm gone from this Earth.
i was at knebworth all three nights and i wasnt really a fan(my friend dragged me along) and after he sang ANGELS it turned me into a fan of his, robbie and this song are brillian!!!
It's about spirit guides, Mr. Williams said so himself in an interview. He wrote it before he got the record deal, when he was feeling really down, and he felt as though the grace of angels could have gotten him through. And yes, Jessica Simpson simply should not sing this song.
I love this song way too much and yes, Jessica Simpson should shut up and not ruin this great song with her whining
This song may be interpreted differently, however I have a slightly different take on it.
Looking at the lines, "And when the love is dead, I'm loving angels instead" strikes me as if the person saying this that the only real love in the world would be divine love.
In the chorus, which starts from "and through it all..." and goes on describing a typical ideal, unconditional love and on the last line he says "I'm loving angels instead..."
Get over yourselves. If you don't like it don't listen to it but why waste your time and ours, really kids, really. Fin