"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 wish - I wish that I had known
I would've never let you go
I was - I was too blind to know
I should've never let you go
I didn't know - when I had you
Taken for granted - now I've lost you
I never realized what you meant to me girl
I never knew we were meant to be girl
I can only blame myself
For the pain that I feel inside
I will always blame myself
For the love - I tried to hide
Too afraid of the pain you'd cause - I hurt myself
Memories of the loves - that I'd lost
You're the one I'll never forget
Losing you - is my one regret
I wish - I wish that I had known
I would've never let you go
I was - I was too blind to know
I should've never let you go
Well now it's too late and you're far away girl
I think about you every single day girl
Too afraid of the pain you'd cause
Memories of the loves I'd lost
And now you're just another memory
But I think about you every single day
And now you're just another memory
But I think about you every single day
You're the one - I'll never forget
Losing you -is my one regret
I would've never let you go
I was - I was too blind to know
I should've never let you go
I didn't know - when I had you
Taken for granted - now I've lost you
I never realized what you meant to me girl
I never knew we were meant to be girl
I can only blame myself
For the pain that I feel inside
I will always blame myself
For the love - I tried to hide
Too afraid of the pain you'd cause - I hurt myself
Memories of the loves - that I'd lost
You're the one I'll never forget
Losing you - is my one regret
I wish - I wish that I had known
I would've never let you go
I was - I was too blind to know
I should've never let you go
Well now it's too late and you're far away girl
I think about you every single day girl
Too afraid of the pain you'd cause
Memories of the loves I'd lost
And now you're just another memory
But I think about you every single day
And now you're just another memory
But I think about you every single day
You're the one - I'll never forget
Losing you -is my one regret
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.
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.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
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.
I just saw death threat live for the first time a few days ago and they're so awesome! this happens to be one of their best ever in my opinion. whatever though, all their songs are great! death threat is awesome