"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.
Passed the road to your house
That you never called home
Where they turned out your lights
Though they say you'll never know
I remember running through the wet grass
Falling a step behind
Both of us never tiring
Desperately wanting
When they pumped out your guts
And filled you full of those pills
You were never quite right
Deserving all the chills
They say the worst is over
Kicked it over and ran
Then they ask what went wrong
When they turn you on again
They turn you on again
I remember running through the wet grass
Falling a step behind
Both of us never tiring
Desperately wanting
Kick them right in the face
Make them wish they weren't born
And if they bring up your name
Well they'll say you won the war
Baby burst in the world
Never given a chance
Then they ask what went wrong
When you never had it right
Well, you never had it right
Oh the letters have dropped off
Though they say you got them all
I finally figured out some things you'll never know
Take back your life
Let me inside
We'll find the door
If you care, if you care to anymore
I remember running through the wet grass
and falling a step behind
Both of us never tiring
Desperately wanting
That you never called home
Where they turned out your lights
Though they say you'll never know
I remember running through the wet grass
Falling a step behind
Both of us never tiring
Desperately wanting
When they pumped out your guts
And filled you full of those pills
You were never quite right
Deserving all the chills
They say the worst is over
Kicked it over and ran
Then they ask what went wrong
When they turn you on again
They turn you on again
I remember running through the wet grass
Falling a step behind
Both of us never tiring
Desperately wanting
Kick them right in the face
Make them wish they weren't born
And if they bring up your name
Well they'll say you won the war
Baby burst in the world
Never given a chance
Then they ask what went wrong
When you never had it right
Well, you never had it right
Oh the letters have dropped off
Though they say you got them all
I finally figured out some things you'll never know
Take back your life
Let me inside
We'll find the door
If you care, if you care to anymore
I remember running through the wet grass
and falling a step behind
Both of us never tiring
Desperately wanting
Lyrics submitted by oofus
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,
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.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
Maybe it's just me, but I tend to take the words in the song and use them to form a context for a song. I do the same with books, comic books, films, TV. etc. I don't care what the writers say about a song outside the song.
I don't see any indication in this song that it has anything to do with a fraternity or pledging a fraternity. To state that this song has to do with a silly frat initiation is dumb.
It's clear in the lyrics what the song is about:
Two friends -- one raised well with good parents, the other, after he/she "burst in the world, never given a chance," raised poorly by awful parents.
The friend raised well is trying to save his/her friend raised poorly and who messed up their life.
"They" are the physicians trying to help the second kid after a suicide attempt.
There's more to it, but it has absolutely nothing to do with pledging a frat or the initiation.
@HellBlazerRaiser
@HellBlazerRaiser <br /> You hit the nail on the head with the whole 2friends and the suicide attempt. It what I got out of the song too. And the girl was never the same again after her attempt. The song still gives me goose bumps and I've had the album since its release.<br />