"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.
Hit it
Nah, na-na-na-nah
Na-na-na-na, na-na-na, na-na-na
Na-na-na-nah
Nah, na-na-na-nah
Na-na-na-na, na-na-na, na-na-na
Na-na-na-nah
Here comes the hotstepper (murderer)
I'm the lyrical gangster (murderer)
Pick up the crew in-a de area (murderer)
Still love you like that (murderer)
No no we don't die, yes we multiply
Anyone press will hear the fat lady sing
Act like you know, Rico
I know what Bo don't know
Touch them up and go, uh-oh
Ch-ch-chang chang
Here comes the hotstepper (murderer)
I'm the lyrical gangster (murderer)
Excuse me mister officer (murderer)
Still love you like that (murderer)
Extraordinary, juice like a strawberry
Money to burn baby, all of the time
Cut to fit is me, fit to cut is she
Come juggle with me, I say every time
Here comes the hotstepper (murderer)
I'm the lyrical gangster (murderer)
Dial emergency number (murderer)
Still love you like that (murderer)
Nah, na-na-na-nah
Na-na-na-na, na-na-na, na-na-na
Na-na-na-nah
It's how we do it man
Nah, na-na-na-nah
Na-na-na-na, na-na-na, na-na-na
Na-na-na-nah
Hey, start like a jackrabbit, finish in front of it
On the night is jack, that's it, understand?
I'm the daddy of the mack daddy
His are left in gold, maybe
Ain't no homie gon' play me, top celebrity man
Murderer, I'm the lyrical gangster (murderer)
Excuse me mister officer (murderer)
Still love you like that (murderer)
No, no we don't die, yes we multiply
Anyone test will hear the fat lady sing
Act like you know, G go, I know what Bo don't know
Touch them up and go, uh-oh
Ch-ch-chang chang
Here comes the hotstepper (murderer)
I'm the lyrical gangster (murderer)
Pick up the crew in-a de area (murderer)
Still love you like that (murderer)
Nah, na-na-na-nah
Na-na-na-na, na-na-na, na-na-na
Na-na-na-nah
Yeah man, it's how it is
Nah, na-na-na-nah
Na-na-na-na, na-na-na, na-na-na
Na-na-na-nah
Right
Here comes the hotstepper (murderer)
I'm the lyrical gangster (murderer)
Big up all crew bow ya (murderer)
Still love you like that (murderer)
Here comes the hotstepper (murderer)
I'm the lyrical danger (murderer)
Pick up the crew in-a de area (murderer)
Still love you like that (murderer)
Here comes the hotstepper
I'm the lyrical gangster
I'm a live in-a me danger
Still love you like that
Hey, da-da da-da
Da-da, da-da
Da-da, da-da
(Come on)
(Come on)
(Come on)
(Come on)
(Come on)
Nah, na-na-na-nah
Na-na-na-na, na-na-na, na-na-na
Na-na-na-nah
Nah, na-na-na-nah
Na-na-na-na, na-na-na, na-na-na
Na-na-na-nah
Here comes the hotstepper (murderer)
I'm the lyrical gangster (murderer)
Pick up the crew in-a de area (murderer)
Still love you like that (murderer)
No no we don't die, yes we multiply
Anyone press will hear the fat lady sing
Act like you know, Rico
I know what Bo don't know
Touch them up and go, uh-oh
Ch-ch-chang chang
Here comes the hotstepper (murderer)
I'm the lyrical gangster (murderer)
Excuse me mister officer (murderer)
Still love you like that (murderer)
Extraordinary, juice like a strawberry
Money to burn baby, all of the time
Cut to fit is me, fit to cut is she
Come juggle with me, I say every time
Here comes the hotstepper (murderer)
I'm the lyrical gangster (murderer)
Dial emergency number (murderer)
Still love you like that (murderer)
Nah, na-na-na-nah
Na-na-na-na, na-na-na, na-na-na
Na-na-na-nah
It's how we do it man
Nah, na-na-na-nah
Na-na-na-na, na-na-na, na-na-na
Na-na-na-nah
Hey, start like a jackrabbit, finish in front of it
On the night is jack, that's it, understand?
I'm the daddy of the mack daddy
His are left in gold, maybe
Ain't no homie gon' play me, top celebrity man
Murderer, I'm the lyrical gangster (murderer)
Excuse me mister officer (murderer)
Still love you like that (murderer)
No, no we don't die, yes we multiply
Anyone test will hear the fat lady sing
Act like you know, G go, I know what Bo don't know
Touch them up and go, uh-oh
Ch-ch-chang chang
Here comes the hotstepper (murderer)
I'm the lyrical gangster (murderer)
Pick up the crew in-a de area (murderer)
Still love you like that (murderer)
Nah, na-na-na-nah
Na-na-na-na, na-na-na, na-na-na
Na-na-na-nah
Yeah man, it's how it is
Nah, na-na-na-nah
Na-na-na-na, na-na-na, na-na-na
Na-na-na-nah
Right
Here comes the hotstepper (murderer)
I'm the lyrical gangster (murderer)
Big up all crew bow ya (murderer)
Still love you like that (murderer)
Here comes the hotstepper (murderer)
I'm the lyrical danger (murderer)
Pick up the crew in-a de area (murderer)
Still love you like that (murderer)
Here comes the hotstepper
I'm the lyrical gangster
I'm a live in-a me danger
Still love you like that
Hey, da-da da-da
Da-da, da-da
Da-da, da-da
(Come on)
(Come on)
(Come on)
(Come on)
(Come on)
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
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,
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
wicked song indeed.... also... the last nah, na na na nah should go after the her comes the hotstepper paragraph.... this song can become a bit too much during a party if the b-day boy loves it..... innit jake??