"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.
I feel a hunger, it's a hunger
That tries to keep a man awake at night
Are you the answer? I shouldn't wonder
When I can feel you whet my appetite
With all the power you're releasing
It isn't safe to walk the city streets alone
Anticipation is running through me
Let's find the key and turn this engine on
I can feel you breathe
I can feel your heart beat faster
Take me home tonight
I don't wanna let you go 'til you see the light
Take me home tonight
Listen, honey, just like Ronnie sang
Be my little baby, oh, ho, oh
I get frightened in all this darkness
I get nightmares I hate to sleep alone
I need some company, a guardian angel
To keep me warm when the cold winds blow
I can feel you breathe
I can feel your heart beat faster
Take me home tonight
I don't wanna let you go 'til you see the light
Take me home tonight
Listen, honey, just like Ronnie sang
Be my little baby
Be my little baby, ho, huh
Just like Ronnie sang
I said
Just like Ronnie sang
Be my little baby
Baby, my darlin'
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
I feel a hunger
It's a hunger
Take me home tonight
I don't wanna let you go 'til you see the light (oh, oh, oh, oh, oh)
Take me home tonight
Listen, honey, just like Ronnie sang (oh, oh, oh, oh, oh)
Be my little baby (take me home tonight)
I don't wanna let you go 'til you see the light
Take me home tonight
Listen, honey, just like Ronnie sang (oh, oh, oh, oh, oh)
Be my little baby (take me home tonight)
I don't wanna let you go 'til you see the light (be my darling, oh ho, oh, oh)
Take me home tonight
Listen, honey, just like Ronnie sang (oh, oh, oh, oh, oh)
Be my little baby (take me home tonight)
I don't wanna let you go 'til you see the light (no, no, no, no)
Take me home tonight
That tries to keep a man awake at night
Are you the answer? I shouldn't wonder
When I can feel you whet my appetite
With all the power you're releasing
It isn't safe to walk the city streets alone
Anticipation is running through me
Let's find the key and turn this engine on
I can feel you breathe
I can feel your heart beat faster
Take me home tonight
I don't wanna let you go 'til you see the light
Take me home tonight
Listen, honey, just like Ronnie sang
Be my little baby, oh, ho, oh
I get frightened in all this darkness
I get nightmares I hate to sleep alone
I need some company, a guardian angel
To keep me warm when the cold winds blow
I can feel you breathe
I can feel your heart beat faster
Take me home tonight
I don't wanna let you go 'til you see the light
Take me home tonight
Listen, honey, just like Ronnie sang
Be my little baby
Be my little baby, ho, huh
Just like Ronnie sang
I said
Just like Ronnie sang
Be my little baby
Baby, my darlin'
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
I feel a hunger
It's a hunger
Take me home tonight
I don't wanna let you go 'til you see the light (oh, oh, oh, oh, oh)
Take me home tonight
Listen, honey, just like Ronnie sang (oh, oh, oh, oh, oh)
Be my little baby (take me home tonight)
I don't wanna let you go 'til you see the light
Take me home tonight
Listen, honey, just like Ronnie sang (oh, oh, oh, oh, oh)
Be my little baby (take me home tonight)
I don't wanna let you go 'til you see the light (be my darling, oh ho, oh, oh)
Take me home tonight
Listen, honey, just like Ronnie sang (oh, oh, oh, oh, oh)
Be my little baby (take me home tonight)
I don't wanna let you go 'til you see the light (no, no, no, no)
Take me home tonight
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
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."
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,
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.
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.
Remember the oldies song "Be My Baby" by the Ronette's? It was written and produced by Phil Spector. To refresh your memory, the chorus goes:
"So come on and please (Be my be my baby) Be my little baby (I want it only say) Say you'll be my darling (Be my be my baby) Be my baby now (I want it only say) Ooh, ohh, ohh, oh "
Anyway...
Ronnie Bennett was the lead singer of the Ronettes. And she is the woman singing in this Eddie Money song. When he says "Just like Ronnie sang..." he's referring to the classic Ronette's tune. And then Ronnie Bennet of the Ronette's pipes in and does her bit. FYI, her name is really Veronica but she changed it when she formed the Ronettes.
Yeah I was listening to one of my CDs full of mp3s and came across this song, then I looked it up and realized that Mr. money was nowhere to be found, so i though i do everyone a favor and post his bad ass up
this is one of my favorite songs right now. when i hear it, i just want to make out.i especially like the part about sleeping alone, b/c i've been having nightmares too.
"Do you think Eddie Money had to put up with this shit?"-Broken Lizard's Club Dread
How can you not jam along to this in your car? Love it- one of my fave 80's tunes.
I can't believe Eddie Money hasn't been added until today! Take Me Home Tonight is one of the greatest 80's songs ever! It's just the way the music really pumps you up, and gets you goin. I love Eddie Money! lol
Good for you! I can't believe i never thought of looking him up before! you know, if you like him, maybe you'd like Peter Murphy. His song, "I'll Fall With Your Knife" is SO good!
corny 80s rock. it doesn't get any better than this
Who is Ronnie?
don't want to seem dumb, but who's Ronnie?
@wheresthelove Ronnie Spector, whose “Be My Baby” iš Interpolated into this song.
@wheresthelove <br /> <br /> Ronnie is the lead singer of the Ronettes - a girl group of the '60's famous for Be My Baby. Baby I Love You, and Walkin' in the Rain.