"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.
You got your big girl
Now you've got your young one too
Wondering if some day
I could have them
The way I once had you
I remember your crazy remarks
We'd get drunk and go out after dark
Searching for someone we could take home
You don't wanna be alone
You don't want to see the sun go down
You don't wanna open the door
And see her go
One step and tomorrow comes
Two steps and she's off with someone
Three steps and it's all you know
You'll be gone, she'll be gone
So what are you gonna do about me
I'll be there when you have no one else
Spotted the old man in the south
Hold it in, I'll be there, be your friend
Hold on strong, don't let go
There will never be no one to take your place
So don't you want to reach out and take my hand
You don't wanna be alone
You don't want to see the sun go down
You don't wanna open the door and see her go
One step and tomorrow comes
Two steps and she's off with someone
Three steps and it's all you know
You'll be gone, she'll be gone
You don't wanna be alone
You don't want to see the sun go down
You don't wanna open the door
And see her go, see her go
One step and tomorrow comes
Two steps and she's off with someone
Three steps and it's all you know
You'll be gone, she'll be gone
One step and tomorrow comes
Two steps and she's off with someone
Three steps and it's all you know
You'll be gone, she'll be gone
Now you've got your young one too
Wondering if some day
I could have them
The way I once had you
I remember your crazy remarks
We'd get drunk and go out after dark
Searching for someone we could take home
You don't wanna be alone
You don't want to see the sun go down
You don't wanna open the door
And see her go
One step and tomorrow comes
Two steps and she's off with someone
Three steps and it's all you know
You'll be gone, she'll be gone
So what are you gonna do about me
I'll be there when you have no one else
Spotted the old man in the south
Hold it in, I'll be there, be your friend
Hold on strong, don't let go
There will never be no one to take your place
So don't you want to reach out and take my hand
You don't wanna be alone
You don't want to see the sun go down
You don't wanna open the door and see her go
One step and tomorrow comes
Two steps and she's off with someone
Three steps and it's all you know
You'll be gone, she'll be gone
You don't wanna be alone
You don't want to see the sun go down
You don't wanna open the door
And see her go, see her go
One step and tomorrow comes
Two steps and she's off with someone
Three steps and it's all you know
You'll be gone, she'll be gone
One step and tomorrow comes
Two steps and she's off with someone
Three steps and it's all you know
You'll be gone, she'll be gone
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
It sounds like he's addressing a girl (Hannah Jane, perhaps?) and he's fallen in love with her. But he didn't before. Before they were just friends who hung out and had a good time ("We'd get drunk and go out after dark, Searching for someone that we could take home"). But he misses the things they used to do and now she's got children ("You've got your big girl, Now you've got your young one too") but he wants her as more than a friend and he wants to be the father of her children ("Wonder if some day I can have them, the way I once had you").
The chorus, though, seems to be like he's talking to himself. Saying, basically, "Take her. You don't want to be alone anymore and if you don't do it soon, sombody else will".
Then in the last verse, he's addressing her again. Finally owning up the courage to tell her how he feels. He tells her that he'll always be there for her and that she should "take his hand".
you missed a bit, it goes...
So what are you gonna do about me? I'll be there when you have no ne else Spot in the ocean in the south's holding hand I'll be there be your friend
or is it holy land? instead of holding hand. anyway it's an awesomesong you should post on it ppl . I think clearly about having a good friend who you dont see in a romantic light or she doesnt see you that way and you wont do anything about it. As the guy in this song wastes time and doesnt tell her how he feels she is slipping away and he could lose her altogether
Hannah Jane's is the name of a pub of sorts in Columbia, South Carolina where the band formed. Probably a place where Darius liked to go with his female friend in this song.
Hannah Jane's is the name of a pub of sorts in Columbia, South Carolina where the band formed. Probably a place where Darius liked to go with his female friend in this song.
I always though of this being a song sung to another guy, like two male best friends. The first two lines are his friend's wife, and daughter, the singer wonders if he himself could have a wife and kid like he used to have him as a best friend, but now he has moved on. 'Searching for someone to take home' could mean they used to go out looking for girlfreinds...future wives. Then the chorus seems like the marriage could break down and heis just telling his old friend he will always be there cos he has no one else...thats just how i thought about it before i came on SM and read everyone elses meanings :)
Bravura has it... I would like to know what he says I think he says spot in the ocean in the south's holy land........?
Not sure where the name come from, but I read years ago that the song is about one of Darius' friends who fell in love and no longer comes around. You know that high school or college buddy that meets a girl and you don't hear from him again? This is about that type of friend.
"You've got your big girl, now you have your young one(s), too" His friend got married and had children.
"Wondering if someday I can have them the way I once had you" Darius wonders if he can be as close to the friend's family as he once was with his friend.
"You don't want to be alone" Darius chose music, while his friend chose marriage so he wouldn't have to be alone.
The rest of the song is self-explanatory. They used to party together and try to meet girls. If you aren't careful, the wife will leave. Possibly the friend married her because he couldn't stand the idea of losing her or seeing her with somebody else.
I think Darius is saying, "Hey, you met the one. But we were once really good friends. It's time to start coming around again."
@thgjd I don't think 'have them' means friendship.<br /> I would NEVER say to a male friend of mine if I can 'have' him.<br /> That is - imo - purely a sexual reference.
I love the music. But frankly, the lyrics sound creepy to me.
'You got your big girl Now you've got your young one too Wondering if some day I could have them The way I once had you I remember your crazy remarks We'd get drunk and go out after dark Searching for someone we could take home'
That sounds highly creepy. Like the guy wants to have sex with his friend's daughter.
And the last line has all kinds of potential, negative meanings to it.
No doubt you big Hootie fans refuse to believe they could EVER put out anything but wonderful lyrics. And I will assume the intention behind this song was good. And that I am not understanding them. But - as it sits - the lyrics are a bit disturbing to me.
And yes, I do love the album.