"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.
Some people think little girls should be seen and not heard
But I think "oh bondage, up yours!"
One-two-three-four!
Bind me, tie me, chain me to the wall
I wanna be a slave to you all
Oh bondage, up yours
Oh bondage, no more
Oh bondage, up yours
Oh bondage, no more
Chain-store chainsmoke, I consume you all
Chain-gang chainmail, I don't think at all
Oh bondage, up yours
Oh bondage, no more
Oh bondage, up yours
Oh bondage, no more
Thrash, me crush me, beat me till I fall
I wanna be a victim for you all
Oh bondage, up yours
Oh bondage, no more
Oh bondage, up yours
Oh bondage, no more
Bind me, tie me, chain me to the wall
I wanna be a slave to you all
Oh bondage, up yours
Oh bondage, no more
Oh bondage, up yours
Oh bondage, no more
Bind me, tie me, chain me to the wall
I wanna be a slave to you all
Oh bondage, up yours
Oh bondage, no more
Oh bondage, up yours
Oh bondage, no more
Oh bondage, up yours
Oh bondage, no more!
But I think "oh bondage, up yours!"
One-two-three-four!
Bind me, tie me, chain me to the wall
I wanna be a slave to you all
Oh bondage, up yours
Oh bondage, no more
Oh bondage, up yours
Oh bondage, no more
Chain-store chainsmoke, I consume you all
Chain-gang chainmail, I don't think at all
Oh bondage, up yours
Oh bondage, no more
Oh bondage, up yours
Oh bondage, no more
Thrash, me crush me, beat me till I fall
I wanna be a victim for you all
Oh bondage, up yours
Oh bondage, no more
Oh bondage, up yours
Oh bondage, no more
Bind me, tie me, chain me to the wall
I wanna be a slave to you all
Oh bondage, up yours
Oh bondage, no more
Oh bondage, up yours
Oh bondage, no more
Bind me, tie me, chain me to the wall
I wanna be a slave to you all
Oh bondage, up yours
Oh bondage, no more
Oh bondage, up yours
Oh bondage, no more
Oh bondage, up yours
Oh bondage, no more!
Lyrics submitted by x_melancholy_x
Oh Bondage! Up Yours! Lyrics as written by Marian Elliott
Lyrics © T.R.O. INC.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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
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.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
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.
This is a feminist song about being sick of being how you're meant to be, as a girl, tied to a future you didn't choose, and the masochistic role you are meant to play as a slave to your husband, your family, and society's expectations. Sick of being open to scrutiny by others, who make sure you are performing as you should be, as anyone who has a duty to society and a duty to behave a certain way feels. You want to do what they demand, to be accepted, but for a woman this means to 'be seen and not heard', so she screams this in the mostly gratingly and feminine way she can, throwing back those standards in a bid for freedom and turning that girly voice into something else more uncomfortable and intruding, and thus liberating.
Your interpretation is a tad off I'm afraid
I'm one hundred percent with asstronaut. X Ray Spex have spoke out on the meaning of this song and, (yes surprisingly), it's not about bondage in sex. It's about bondage by society, and being bonded into roles, stereotypes, etc. etc.
The last two comments are the only right ones. Why do you think Marion Elliot renamed herself Poly Styrene? It was to say to everyone; "Consuming has created me, do you like the product?"
I agree with asstronaut et. al. that this song is primarily about consumerism... But I would take it a step further and say it specificly refers to consumerism within the punk scene and the punk "uniform" of bondage pants and spikes etc. By the late 70's, merchandisers had begun to capitalize on the punk phenomenon (Malcolm McLaren & Vivienne Westwood, anyone?) and you could go into some stores and purchase ripped shirts, collars, and (of course) bondage pants.
seeing a pair of bondage pants in a store window actually inspired her to write this song, so you are correct.
what a sweet song.
Exactly, have2mints. And it's a pretty kick-ass song, too.
I think this song has surprisingly little to do with sex and may be best explicated by a quote from Poly Styrene herself: "We live in a consumer society, and if you don't consume, it consumes you."
Whatever it means, the line "some people think little girls should be seen and not heard" is clear. Feminism. It reminds me of Bikini Kill, not as raw as BK, but the sax gives X-RS a magic touch. The lyrics are sarcastic, of course.
The sax solo sounds like a third chair elementary school student in band practice. Pretty cool
Wow, you guys completely missed the meaning of the song. This song eagerly steam rolls over the idea of women being treated like sex objects. It's sarcastic of course.