"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.
So here I am once more
In the playground of the broken hearts
One more experience, one more entry
In a diary, self penned
Yet another emotional suicide
Overdosed on sentiments and pride
Too late to say I love you
Too late to restage the play
Abandoning the relics
In my playground of yesterday
I'm losing on the swings
I'm losing on the roundabouts
I'm losing on the swings
I'm losing on the roundabouts
Too much, too soon, too far to go
Too late to play the game is over
The game is over
So here I am once more
In the playground of the broken hearts
I'm losing on the swings
I'm losing on the roundabouts
The game is over, over, over
Over, over, over, over, over
Yet another emotional suicide
Overdosed on sentiments and pride
I'm losing on the swings
I'm losing on the roundabouts
The game is over
Too late to say, "I love you"
Too late to restage the play
The game is over
I act the role in classic style
Of a martyr carved with twisted smile
To bleed the lyric for this song
To write the rights to right my wrongs
An epitaph to a broken dream
To exercise this silent scream
A scream that's born from sorrow
I never did write that love song
The words just never seemed to flow
Now sad in reflection did I gaze through perfection
And examine the shadows
On the other side of the morning
And examine the shadows
On the other side of morning
Promised wedding now awake
Promised wedding now awake
Awake, awake, awake, awake
The fool escaped from paradise
Will look over his shoulder and cry
Sit and chew on daffodils and struggle to answer why?
As you grow up and leave the playground
Where you kissed your prince and found your frog
Remember the jester that showed you tears
The script for tears
So I'll hold my peace forever
When you wear your bridal gown
In the silence of my shame the mute
That sang the sirens' song
Has gone solo in the game
I've gone solo in the game
But the game is over
Can you still say you love me?
Can you still say you love me?
Can you still say that you love me?
Do you love me, do you love me?
Do you love me, do you love me?
Do you love me just as you did
Can you still say you love me?
Can you still say you love me?
Can you still say that you love me?
Just as is, just as is
Do you love me, do you love me?
Do you love me?
In the playground of the broken hearts
One more experience, one more entry
In a diary, self penned
Yet another emotional suicide
Overdosed on sentiments and pride
Too late to say I love you
Too late to restage the play
Abandoning the relics
In my playground of yesterday
I'm losing on the swings
I'm losing on the roundabouts
I'm losing on the swings
I'm losing on the roundabouts
Too much, too soon, too far to go
Too late to play the game is over
The game is over
So here I am once more
In the playground of the broken hearts
I'm losing on the swings
I'm losing on the roundabouts
The game is over, over, over
Over, over, over, over, over
Yet another emotional suicide
Overdosed on sentiments and pride
I'm losing on the swings
I'm losing on the roundabouts
The game is over
Too late to say, "I love you"
Too late to restage the play
The game is over
I act the role in classic style
Of a martyr carved with twisted smile
To bleed the lyric for this song
To write the rights to right my wrongs
An epitaph to a broken dream
To exercise this silent scream
A scream that's born from sorrow
I never did write that love song
The words just never seemed to flow
Now sad in reflection did I gaze through perfection
And examine the shadows
On the other side of the morning
And examine the shadows
On the other side of morning
Promised wedding now awake
Promised wedding now awake
Awake, awake, awake, awake
The fool escaped from paradise
Will look over his shoulder and cry
Sit and chew on daffodils and struggle to answer why?
As you grow up and leave the playground
Where you kissed your prince and found your frog
Remember the jester that showed you tears
The script for tears
So I'll hold my peace forever
When you wear your bridal gown
In the silence of my shame the mute
That sang the sirens' song
Has gone solo in the game
I've gone solo in the game
But the game is over
Can you still say you love me?
Can you still say you love me?
Can you still say that you love me?
Do you love me, do you love me?
Do you love me, do you love me?
Do you love me just as you did
Can you still say you love me?
Can you still say you love me?
Can you still say that you love me?
Just as is, just as is
Do you love me, do you love me?
Do you love me?
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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.
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.
one of my favorie marrillion songs. I have read that this song refers to fish's relationship with his much loved girlfriend kay though it was written much before kayleigh but then I don't know how long they were together..... It's clearly about lost love and regret, very sad but fantasic song