"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.
It stops, never
Meant to be
You and me
Unconscious love
Love is a attraction
It's so hot
What we've got
Like a chemical reaction
So how can it be so suddenly
You treat me like a stranger
Remember, remember when
You told me I
I made you feel so alive
You can't stand in the way of love
You can't stand in the way of love
Like a river to the ocean
Can't stop this emotion
You can't stand in the way of love
How can you be so cold
Put my heart on hold
Gotta see you tonight
Gonna show you what I feel for you
Gonna do anything you want me to
You can't stand in the way of love
You can't stand in the way of love
Like a river to the ocean
Can't stop this emotion
You can't stand in the way
Can't stand in the way of love
You can't stand in the way of love
No, no, no
You can't stand in the way of love
You can tell yourself
"this time it's over"
Build a wall
Close the door
You can tell yourself
Tell yourself
That you don't need me anymore
No, no, no, no
If there's a door
I'll break it down
Break it down
Build a wall
I'll climb around
You can't stand in the way of love
You can't stand in the way of love
Like a river to the ocean
Can't stop this emotion
You can't stand in the way
You can't stand in the way
It's driving me crazy
You can't stand in the way
You can't stand in the way
That's you won't be my baby
Once you've tasted the potion
It puts you in motion
You can't stand in the way
Stand in the way
It's driving me crazy
You can't stand in the way
Like a river to the ocean
Can't stop this emotion
Meant to be
You and me
Unconscious love
Love is a attraction
It's so hot
What we've got
Like a chemical reaction
So how can it be so suddenly
You treat me like a stranger
Remember, remember when
You told me I
I made you feel so alive
You can't stand in the way of love
You can't stand in the way of love
Like a river to the ocean
Can't stop this emotion
You can't stand in the way of love
How can you be so cold
Put my heart on hold
Gotta see you tonight
Gonna show you what I feel for you
Gonna do anything you want me to
You can't stand in the way of love
You can't stand in the way of love
Like a river to the ocean
Can't stop this emotion
You can't stand in the way
Can't stand in the way of love
You can't stand in the way of love
No, no, no
You can't stand in the way of love
You can tell yourself
"this time it's over"
Build a wall
Close the door
You can tell yourself
Tell yourself
That you don't need me anymore
No, no, no, no
If there's a door
I'll break it down
Break it down
Build a wall
I'll climb around
You can't stand in the way of love
You can't stand in the way of love
Like a river to the ocean
Can't stop this emotion
You can't stand in the way
You can't stand in the way
It's driving me crazy
You can't stand in the way
You can't stand in the way
That's you won't be my baby
Once you've tasted the potion
It puts you in motion
You can't stand in the way
Stand in the way
It's driving me crazy
You can't stand in the way
Like a river to the ocean
Can't stop this emotion
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
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
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.
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/
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.