"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.
A groan of tedium escapes me
Startling the fearful
Is this a test? It has to be
Otherwise I can't go on
Draining patience, drain vitality
This paranoid, paralyzed vampire act's a little old
But I'm still right here
Giving blood, keeping faith
And I'm still right here
But I'm still right here
Giving blood, keeping faith
And I'm still right here
Wait it out
Gonna wait it out
Be patient (wait it out)
If there were no rewards to reap
No loving embrace to see me through
This tedious path I've chosen here
I certainly would've walked away by now
Gonna wait it out
If there were no desire to heal
The damaged and broken met along
This tedious path I've chosen here
I certainly would've walked away by now
And I still may, I still may
Be patient
Be patient
Be patient
I must keep reminding myself of this
I must keep reminding myself of this
I must keep reminding myself of this
I must keep reminding myself of this
And if there were no rewards to reap
No loving embrace to see me through
This tedious path I've chosen here
I certainly would've walked away by now
And I still may
And I still may
And I still may
And I
Gonna wait it out
Gonna wait it out
Wait it out
Gonna wait it out
Startling the fearful
Is this a test? It has to be
Otherwise I can't go on
Draining patience, drain vitality
This paranoid, paralyzed vampire act's a little old
But I'm still right here
Giving blood, keeping faith
And I'm still right here
But I'm still right here
Giving blood, keeping faith
And I'm still right here
Wait it out
Gonna wait it out
Be patient (wait it out)
If there were no rewards to reap
No loving embrace to see me through
This tedious path I've chosen here
I certainly would've walked away by now
Gonna wait it out
If there were no desire to heal
The damaged and broken met along
This tedious path I've chosen here
I certainly would've walked away by now
And I still may, I still may
Be patient
Be patient
Be patient
I must keep reminding myself of this
I must keep reminding myself of this
I must keep reminding myself of this
I must keep reminding myself of this
And if there were no rewards to reap
No loving embrace to see me through
This tedious path I've chosen here
I certainly would've walked away by now
And I still may
And I still may
And I still may
And I
Gonna wait it out
Gonna wait it out
Wait it out
Gonna wait it out
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
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
I recognized this song as young men being the vampire. No more, but for a while I was. I have to say, I never physically abused my wife, but mentally, I did. I made her take my shit, just to prove she loved me. Reminds me of the Pink Floyd lyrics, "I'd make her prove her love for me. I'd take all that I could take. And I'd push her to the limit, just to see if she would break." This song is about most young relationships, because I've seen so many like that. I think of it as being sung from a young woman's point of view. She is putting up with a young man. If you didn't realize it yet, nobody is more emotional and insecure, and harder to deal with than a young man. As usual TOOL is dealing with the realities of everyday life struggles.
Young men, especially those who weren't raised in the best manner, are scarred to a degree (but aren't we all), and struggling to become what they think is a strong man. Because of that, they are abusive and controlling to their young girlfriends or wives. And God knows why, way more often than not, the young women take it. They see inside of the want-to-be-tough guy, and see that he is hurting, and his abuse is a symptom of his pain, and they are going to heal him. Because God knows after he abuses her, he's going to be Mr. nice guy again and give her that loving embrace to see her through.
Every now and then they just get sick of the same old cycle and a groan of tedium escapes them....startling the fearful. The fearful would of course be the young man himself, or his family who hopes that the good woman is going to stick by him and help him dig out of his pathetic existence, make a civilized human being out of him, and of course lighten their burden from him. Maybe even a judge who sees that he has a chance because he has a good woman who may straighten him out.
Even though she's tired of it all, what does she say after her groans....I'm going to wait it out. But then she may walk away....and she still may. But she keeps taking it because this sick man who needs her help is her.....Patient. Blood sucking bastard. Grow up and start giving back what you've taken. Treat her like she deserves. We all see you for what you are. A weak little boy trying to pretend to be a man, who is more emo than a teenage girl.