"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.
There are times that I should try,
To be so much more alive
But if time was right then I would be with you again
Or do you worry that I try to avoid the point
And then deny
The time I spent deciding it was you again
It's when I live in a hiding place
It's the only way I feel safe
When I'm safe in a hiding place
(That's not hidden now)
I'm safe in a hiding place
It's the only way I feel safe
When I'm safe in a hiding place
And you're full of facts
But not things that could add up to words
Think about meaning more as an after word
As in afterward
I return but don't remain,
I'm impatient for a reason
To complain about winter,
Making me see through again
Or is it your damaged reply,
That makes me realize that
The more I try
The less that plans will help me comprehend again
So I live in a hiding place
It's the only way I feel safe
When I'm safe in a hiding place
(That's not hidden now)
I'm safe in a hiding place
It's the only way I feel safe
When I live in a hiding place
And you're full of facts
But not things that could add up to words
You think about meaning more as an after word
And you're full of facts
But not things that could add up to words
You think about meaning more as an after word
As in afterward
To be so much more alive
But if time was right then I would be with you again
Or do you worry that I try to avoid the point
And then deny
The time I spent deciding it was you again
It's when I live in a hiding place
It's the only way I feel safe
When I'm safe in a hiding place
(That's not hidden now)
I'm safe in a hiding place
It's the only way I feel safe
When I'm safe in a hiding place
And you're full of facts
But not things that could add up to words
Think about meaning more as an after word
As in afterward
I return but don't remain,
I'm impatient for a reason
To complain about winter,
Making me see through again
Or is it your damaged reply,
That makes me realize that
The more I try
The less that plans will help me comprehend again
So I live in a hiding place
It's the only way I feel safe
When I'm safe in a hiding place
(That's not hidden now)
I'm safe in a hiding place
It's the only way I feel safe
When I live in a hiding place
And you're full of facts
But not things that could add up to words
You think about meaning more as an after word
And you're full of facts
But not things that could add up to words
You think about meaning more as an after word
As in afterward
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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/
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
Hmm, i found this song a lil bit difficult to understand, but what i think it's about is him having had a relationship with someone whom doesn't have ne feeling "And you're full of facts But not things that could add up to words" Meaning she knows a lot of facts however she can't express them into her own feelings. And "Think about meaning more as an after word As in afterward " i think means she spends too much time analysing things as in she doesn't just take things as it comes, she spends too much time analysing things. I'm not really too sure what the hiding place he talks about actually is? Any suggestions? But this is one of my fave tracks off the new album :) Lorna* (",) xXx
I can kind of relate to it...I guess it could be about having the affections of someone you love, and then losing them, happened to me, sucked really...this song means that to me, but it could mean something else altogether, Roddy is such an obtuse little bastard ain't he?
I like this song alot more than the other singles off the new album. As for what it means I agree with Lorna kind of. To me Roddy is singing about two seperate realtionships he has. One with someone who he has a difficult confusing relationship with, ut who he cares a lot about. "But if time was right then I would be with you again Or do you worry that I try to avoid the point And then deny The time I spent deciding it was you again"
And the other who he has a normal relationship with but who doesn't mean anything to him. "And you're full of facts But not things that could add up to words"
To me the whole point of the song is him trying to escape this confusion (IE. IN A HIDING PLACE!!, you following me?) and try to work out how he really feels. Or maybe I'm way off track.
Ok, this song rules, never realy decided i liked them before them befre this song, but now they have anothe album sale. Ok, i think this song is about guy who is liking sombody for the second time...possib afte a first relationship failed 'Or do you worry that I try to avoid the point And then deny The time I spent deciding it was you again' ok,so anyay, the guy (damn stereotype, it could be anyone) doesnt think that tellng the prson he likes them again is a good iea, so he keeps them safe in a hiding place, but the woman has picked up on his feelings...hence the line 'Its the only way I feel safe When Im safe in a hiding place (Thats not hidden now)' im not sure if he had told her, or she had sussed him out, but probbly the latter, cos i dont think he got any success from revealing hi feelings, which is why the song is quite depressive. I think the 'facts' bit is her giving reasons why they wont get back together, hence they dont add up to much and he realises when he says 'The more I try The less that plans will help me comprehend again' there, i think ive picked this to death and made no sense, but replies would be good l8r on
yeah, reading the above things i've come to this conclusion: its about a guy (probably roddy) who has felt strongly for someone and then been hurt, he still thinks about her and would be with her again if he had a chance, he also finds he has to live in a hiding place in order to keep his feelings to himself, almost as if he is avoiding her and hiding from her. He is talking about another relationship at the same time that didnt mean anything really to him or at least didnt compare to the main one in this song. "the more i try... the less that plans will help me comprehend again" the only thing i can think from this is that he is trying to come up with a plan to get her back but that.. i dunno! something like that. after reading your thoughts, this song has added meaning now cos i can actually relate totally to it, if it is about what we think its about. it could also just be about not taking chances with women as he is scared of getting hurt again after a past relationship, so he lives in a hiding place?
i prefer my first theory, or even a mixture. :)
for anyone who has seen the video, i think it gives us a few clues. its set in the wild west, as if he is living in the past, while modern day people walk past, he is in black and white. he is also seen reading letters in his caravan thing.
I agree with the theory put forth by Michael. Seems most refined. I love this song. It's one of me all time best. And I'd kill to see the video.
I think this song is just beatiful - probably one of teh best on the album. I love the lyric 'You're full of facts but not things that could add up to words'. It's almost like the person knows all this stuff but when they speak it's all irrelevant beacuse they're not showing their true feelings. Roddy is probbaly explaining how he wants this person to just tell them the truth, instead of covering up their emotions which endless facts.
Get the acoustic version - it's fantastic. This is my favourite song off the new album, I just listen to it all the time.
"There are times that I should try, To be so much more alive But if time was right then I would be with you again Or do you worry that I try to avoid the point And then deny The time I spent deciding it was you again" The first verse to me gives the impression that he was in a relationship which maybe he ended, but after time and thinking he decides that it was a mistake and that he wants to be with this person again. "So I live in a hiding place Itfs the only way I feel safe When Ifm safe in a hiding place" Then here i think he is trying to escape the feelings he has and stays in one place where he feels safe "hiding place" when hes here he can think about things more but escape the world outside.