"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 know there's pain
Why do you lock yourself up in these chains?
No one can change your life except for you
Don't ever let anyone step all over you
Just open your heart and your mind
Is it really fair to feel this way inside?
Oh
Some day somebody's gonna make you want to
Turn around and say goodbye
Until then baby are you going to let them
Hold you down and make you cry?
Don't you know?
Don't you know things can change
Things'll go your way
If you hold on for one more day
Can you hold on for one more day?
Things'll go your way
Hold on for one more day
You could sustain
Or are you comfortable with the pain?
You've got no one to blame for your unhappiness (no, baby)
You got yourself into your own mess (ooh)
Lettin' your worries pass you by (lettin' your worries pass you by)
Baby, don't you think it's worth your time
To change your mind? Ooh, no
Some day somebody's gonna make you want to
Turn around and say goodbye
Until then baby are you going to let them
Hold you down and make you cry?
Don't you know?
Don't you know things can change
Things'll go your way
If you hold on for one more day
Can you hold on for one more day?
Things'll go your way (things'll go your way)
Hold on for one more day
I know that there is pain
But you hold on for one more day and
Break free the chains
Yeah, I know that there is pain
But you hold on for one more day and you
Break free, break from the chains
Some day somebody's gonna make you want to
Turn around and say goodbye
Until then baby are you going to let them
Hold you down and make you cry
Don't you know?
Don't you know things can change
Things'll go your way
If you hold on for one more day, yeah
If you hold on
Don't you know things can change
Things'll go your way
If you hold on for one more day
If you hold on
Can you hold on
Hold on baby
Won't you tell me now
Hold on for one more day 'cause
It's gonna go your way
Don't you know things can change
Things'll go your way
If you hold on for one more day, yeah
Can't you change it this time
Make up your mind
Hold on
Hold on
Baby hold on
Why do you lock yourself up in these chains?
No one can change your life except for you
Don't ever let anyone step all over you
Just open your heart and your mind
Is it really fair to feel this way inside?
Oh
Some day somebody's gonna make you want to
Turn around and say goodbye
Until then baby are you going to let them
Hold you down and make you cry?
Don't you know?
Don't you know things can change
Things'll go your way
If you hold on for one more day
Can you hold on for one more day?
Things'll go your way
Hold on for one more day
You could sustain
Or are you comfortable with the pain?
You've got no one to blame for your unhappiness (no, baby)
You got yourself into your own mess (ooh)
Lettin' your worries pass you by (lettin' your worries pass you by)
Baby, don't you think it's worth your time
To change your mind? Ooh, no
Some day somebody's gonna make you want to
Turn around and say goodbye
Until then baby are you going to let them
Hold you down and make you cry?
Don't you know?
Don't you know things can change
Things'll go your way
If you hold on for one more day
Can you hold on for one more day?
Things'll go your way (things'll go your way)
Hold on for one more day
I know that there is pain
But you hold on for one more day and
Break free the chains
Yeah, I know that there is pain
But you hold on for one more day and you
Break free, break from the chains
Some day somebody's gonna make you want to
Turn around and say goodbye
Until then baby are you going to let them
Hold you down and make you cry
Don't you know?
Don't you know things can change
Things'll go your way
If you hold on for one more day, yeah
If you hold on
Don't you know things can change
Things'll go your way
If you hold on for one more day
If you hold on
Can you hold on
Hold on baby
Won't you tell me now
Hold on for one more day 'cause
It's gonna go your way
Don't you know things can change
Things'll go your way
If you hold on for one more day, yeah
Can't you change it this time
Make up your mind
Hold on
Hold on
Baby hold on
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More Featured Meanings
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Yes, it has upbeat music, but I think they're trying to bring a dark subject to light. It's about a woman who is in an abusive relationship. The lyrics are almost like she's talking to herself... someday he'll give her "enough" reason to say goodbye. She knows she should get out now, but she's also wishful thinking... hold on one more day, things will change.
Honey, he will never change. There are plenty of nice men out there.
It sounds like a song about suicide to me. The person whom is locked up in chains has doen this mess to themselves by not sticking up for themselves. She says "Hold on for one more day and things will go your way". That to me seems like "Ride it out because this too shall pass".
I believe this song is confronting depression and anxiety. Everyone goes through pain and suffering. Many feel as though they have hit rock bottom and it will never get better. The lyrics attempt to encourage those who feel as though they have lost all hope, to continue to keep living and not be a prisoner to the pain and suffering. ("I know there is pain. Why do you lock yourself up in these chains?").
I find the song to be quite moving and uplifting especially for those who have been or are currently in a state of depression. The song emphasizes the importance of persevering in spite of obstacles and not let the situation consume you. Everything will be alright in the end. ("Hold on for one more day. Things will go your way.")
The most peppy suicide song ever made.
This is a song saying stand up for yourself when someone or something gets you down. Keep your chin up, hold on and you will get by. I love it!
It sounds like a song about suicide to me. The person whom is locked up in chains has doen this mess to themselves by not sticking up for themselves. She says "Hold on for one more day and things will go your way". That to me seems like "Ride it out because this too shall pass".
Lol, well.. i just came here to look for the meaning of this song cause i think i can relate to it's meaning now. And i posted it for him to listen and feel what's inside me.
this song inspired me to stay me and go through life my way
Whenever I listen to this song, I can't stop laughing. I keep picturing that scene from Harold and Kumar go to White Castle.
exactly right.
I think the following link sums up the song meaning nicely, especially from this Cindy 80 person:
leoslyrics.com/listlyrics.php