"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.
[Verse 1 (Will Smith)]
Uh, check, check
Yo, yo, yo
Across the room shared a little gaze with me
Crazy mama how your scent played with me
Eyes never hiding your heart angelic looking
Faking disinterest but I can tell you're looking
Face to face her eye to eye stance with me
Didn't even say nothing I felt you want to dance with me
You push me back a little when I kissed your hand
Said you was attracted to me truly but you had a man
I put my finger up don't say nothing
He ain't here is he? We can play or something
He at the crib oh, I see you live with him
What you gone get married to him and have some kids with him
Us could be just a weekend thing
Just a weekday thing, just a thing ma
Look we can have everything else
But for tonight let me have you for myself
Girl holla at me
[Chorus (Tra-Knox)]
You can have the rest of your life
Give me tonight
You can have the rest of your life
Give me tonight
You can have the rest of your life
Just give me tonight
You can have the rest of your life
Just give me tonight, give me tonight
[Verse 2 (Will Smith)]
Whoop! Whoop!
Big Will coming through like
Whoop! Whoop!
Tra-Knox coming through with
Whoop! Whoop!
East girls off the hook ain't they
Right, right
[Tra-Knox]
Baby girl
You know exactly what I want
No I'm not trying to replace your man
I just want one night to you all over
Baby girl
This our secret rondevue
Look in my eyes I'm telling you
All I'm tryin' to do is change your view
For a moment or two
Baby girl
I don't want to break up your happy home
Baby I don't want to be alone
So let me jump in the zone
Can't you feel the Jones
[Chorus]
[Verse 3 (Will Smith)]
Thinking of living your life as a hundred yards long
Give me a quarter-inch that's all I'm asking
Do the math I'm the sun you the earth
Its you-N-I-verse and its the worst
Cause I thirst to tape connect her
I know you got a life momma
Trust me I don't want to bring your life drama
I can barely hear my think slide with me
Dip out the side door take a ride with me
Let me hear about (Uh)
What you think about (Uh)
What you need to do (Uh)
The things you dream about
Your Body with me but I know where your heart's at
Let it ring ma call him back
Wishing I could stop the clock to make it last with you
Am I goin' be at home alone with a glass slipper
Is it a sin to pretend with another fella
Midnight the story ends like Cinderella
[Chorus: x2]
Uh, check, check
Yo, yo, yo
Across the room shared a little gaze with me
Crazy mama how your scent played with me
Eyes never hiding your heart angelic looking
Faking disinterest but I can tell you're looking
Face to face her eye to eye stance with me
Didn't even say nothing I felt you want to dance with me
You push me back a little when I kissed your hand
Said you was attracted to me truly but you had a man
I put my finger up don't say nothing
He ain't here is he? We can play or something
He at the crib oh, I see you live with him
What you gone get married to him and have some kids with him
Us could be just a weekend thing
Just a weekday thing, just a thing ma
Look we can have everything else
But for tonight let me have you for myself
Girl holla at me
[Chorus (Tra-Knox)]
You can have the rest of your life
Give me tonight
You can have the rest of your life
Give me tonight
You can have the rest of your life
Just give me tonight
You can have the rest of your life
Just give me tonight, give me tonight
[Verse 2 (Will Smith)]
Whoop! Whoop!
Big Will coming through like
Whoop! Whoop!
Tra-Knox coming through with
Whoop! Whoop!
East girls off the hook ain't they
Right, right
[Tra-Knox]
Baby girl
You know exactly what I want
No I'm not trying to replace your man
I just want one night to you all over
Baby girl
This our secret rondevue
Look in my eyes I'm telling you
All I'm tryin' to do is change your view
For a moment or two
Baby girl
I don't want to break up your happy home
Baby I don't want to be alone
So let me jump in the zone
Can't you feel the Jones
[Chorus]
[Verse 3 (Will Smith)]
Thinking of living your life as a hundred yards long
Give me a quarter-inch that's all I'm asking
Do the math I'm the sun you the earth
Its you-N-I-verse and its the worst
Cause I thirst to tape connect her
I know you got a life momma
Trust me I don't want to bring your life drama
I can barely hear my think slide with me
Dip out the side door take a ride with me
Let me hear about (Uh)
What you think about (Uh)
What you need to do (Uh)
The things you dream about
Your Body with me but I know where your heart's at
Let it ring ma call him back
Wishing I could stop the clock to make it last with you
Am I goin' be at home alone with a glass slipper
Is it a sin to pretend with another fella
Midnight the story ends like Cinderella
[Chorus: x2]
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
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.
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.