"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.
Yo loon, loon
Come here for a second
I want to holla at ya
What's up
Yo, you know that girl?
You was with the other day
Yea, she got a man?
Maybe, why?
I'm trying to get her to holla
Put me down
Yesterday, I was playing ball
Around my way
When I saw you with a girl,
That I never seen before
And girl, I gotta holla
Oh, tell her I said what's up
Oh, I want to know what's up
Oh, tell her I'm the,
I'm the fliest and I'm h-o-t
Oh, tell her I'm Mario,
Oh, that I'm a Romeo
So, why don't you let her know?
Can you hook it up for me?
[Chorus]
I'm feeling your girlfriend
Can you put me on?
She needs a boyfriend
Who can put it on
It ain't gotta be serious
We can just chill and have fun
Girl, you've got to put me on
I can't wait
Can you call her up
Or find some way
For us to meet and talk
Hit the movies
Or let's take a long walk
Oh, tell her I said what's up
Oh, I want to know what's up
Oh, tell her I'm the,
I'm the fliest and I'm h-o-t
Oh, tell her I'm Mario,
Oh, that I'm a Romeo
So, why don't you let her know?
Can you hook it up for me?
[Chorus]
I'm curious, I gotta know just how she feels
I'm serious, so baby tell me what's the deal
I know that she's the one
Don't make me wait to long
Girl, you know you've got to put me on
[Chorus]
Come here for a second
I want to holla at ya
What's up
Yo, you know that girl?
You was with the other day
Yea, she got a man?
Maybe, why?
I'm trying to get her to holla
Put me down
Yesterday, I was playing ball
Around my way
When I saw you with a girl,
That I never seen before
And girl, I gotta holla
Oh, tell her I said what's up
Oh, I want to know what's up
Oh, tell her I'm the,
I'm the fliest and I'm h-o-t
Oh, tell her I'm Mario,
Oh, that I'm a Romeo
So, why don't you let her know?
Can you hook it up for me?
[Chorus]
I'm feeling your girlfriend
Can you put me on?
She needs a boyfriend
Who can put it on
It ain't gotta be serious
We can just chill and have fun
Girl, you've got to put me on
I can't wait
Can you call her up
Or find some way
For us to meet and talk
Hit the movies
Or let's take a long walk
Oh, tell her I said what's up
Oh, I want to know what's up
Oh, tell her I'm the,
I'm the fliest and I'm h-o-t
Oh, tell her I'm Mario,
Oh, that I'm a Romeo
So, why don't you let her know?
Can you hook it up for me?
[Chorus]
I'm curious, I gotta know just how she feels
I'm serious, so baby tell me what's the deal
I know that she's the one
Don't make me wait to long
Girl, you know you've got to put me on
[Chorus]
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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/
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.